05 True Christian Service

In the preceding passages, Paul had discussed the importance for the believer to remain steadfast in the faith:

1 Corinthians 1:23

1 Being Invested

Paul began by showing the importance for believers to show a great commitment in their walk and service for the Lord.

He used the term “not moved away” which would have been very relevant to those from the Lycus Valley were Colossae was located. The reason is that the area experienced several earthquakes. In the original Greek, the phrase “moved away” can me “earthquake stricken” describing how the earth itself was often moved away.

Paul was showing the Colossian believers, that if they remained steadfast in the Lord, then nothing would be able to shake the foundation of their faith.

It is when the believer remains steadfast in Christ, that they are able to withstand those difficulties of life, which would ordinarily shake their foundation.

• Christians must understand, that while they aren’t saved by their abiding in Christ (which would qualify as work) they abide, because they’re saved.

2 Investing by Serving

The apostle Paul was a great example of someone who was fully invested in serving the Lord.

From his earliest days as a believer, Paul understood that his life wasn’t his own, but that his life belonged to the Lord.

Paul didn’t look upon even difficulties as a reason to limit or stop serving:

Colossians 1:24-25

Not only didn’t Paul view difficulties and sufferings as reasons to cease serving, but he “rejoiced” in his afflictions.

It wasn’t that Paul enjoyed the act of suffering, but rather, he understood that the occasion of his present sufferings (a Roman prison) was enabling him to write this letter to the young Colossian church.

Paul actually wrote several of his epistles during times of imprisonment, therefore what were times of extreme difficulty for him, ended up being for the benefit of many believers.

Paul then extending his thoughts with the following statement:

Colossians 1:24b

Paul wasn’t suggesting that the Lord’s sufferings at Calvary weren’t sufficient, and that he needed to supplement what Christ had done.

The Greek grammar of the New Testament itself, puts that notion to rest, since the word “affliction” was never used when referring to the Lord’s sufferings upon the cross.

Therefore, most expositors take this to mean Paul was referring to “afflictions” Jesus endured at the hands of the Jewish leadership during His daily ministry.

So, Paul was saying that those afflictions weren’t completed, since the Lord so closely identifies with us, that He endures afflictions when we do in ministry.

Much of the early church shared Paul’s perspective, considering it a privilege to suffer for Christ, understanding that He was identifying with them, while they were representing Him.

In verse 25, Paul displayed the proper perspective for all ministers, understanding that his ministry was only a stewardship from God. It was the same attitude seen at the very beginning of his epistle:

Colossians 1:1

Therefore, Paul was declaring that his entire ministry was by the will of God.

Paul shows that his ministry was not one of self-will, as he states he “became a minister” which in the original language shows that he “was brought to ministry”.

Paul then showed, he was aware, that the purpose of his ministry was to present the word of God.

Paul articulated his desire was for every believer to have the same attitude.

3 A Great Mystery

Even though Paul then presented a new thought, it would still be in the context of what he had just written:

Colossians 1:26-29

While at the end of verse 25, Paul had spoken of his ministry to fulfill the word of God, in verse 26, he then spoke of a “mystery which had been hidden from ages and generations,”.

To fully understand what Paul was saying, one must understand what our word “mystery” means in the original Greek.

In the original language, the word speaks of something “nor previously revealed, or not clearly revealed”.

Therefore, Paul was referring to something which had not been clearly revealed under the Old Covenant.

He made similar statements in his letter to the church of Ephesus:

Ephesians 3:3-4

And:

Ephesians 3:9

Even though the Old Testament pointed to the coming of the Messiah, it left much undisclosed. Paul established that fact in several passages here in Colossians chapter 1. Here’s one example:

Colossians 1:17

Paul showed how God had kept hidden, that in the last days, He would work through the Gentile, thus establishing His church.

• That would have been a confusing and unacceptable idea to those in Israel under the Old Covenant.
• In addition, Paul made another statement which Old Covenant Jews would have found confusing, when Paul said “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

In the days of the Old Testament, while the Holy Spirit would come upon certain believers, and empower them for service, He did not reside within (indwell) them. That only took place under the New Covenant, as promised by Jesus:

John 14:7

Therefore, to those during the Old Covenant, all of these things would be considered a great mystery.

By Paul describing Christ as the believer’s “hope of glory” he was also declaring, that without Christ, an individual has no hope for eternal life.

The chapter concludes with Paul in effect declaring his life’s purpose:

Colossians 1:28-29

Paul’s ministry was only about declaring Christ, which is the same attitude every believer should have.

In the passage, Paul also gave a “warning”. But again, we need to have am understanding of the meaning of the Greek work, to properly understand what he was communicating.

The Greek word he used <noutheountes> means to “counsel” or to “impart understanding”.

But even so, it should be understood, that there’s an inherent warning in the Gospel, since it declares that the only way to receive eternal life, is through acceptance of Christ a one’s personal Savior.

Rejection of Christ, means that the individual as not heeded the warning, and has rejected the only means of salvation.