Paul's Labor for the Church

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Paul's Labor for the Church

Date: Feb. 23, 2021

Passage

Colossians 1:24-2:5 (ESV)

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1:28

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

1. Christ is sufficient for all (1:24-29)

We can rejoice in our suffering when it is for those we love. Paul rejoiced in his suffering for the church. He was commissioned by God to present the word of God in all its fullness and it was exactly what the brothers and sisters in Colossae needed. The true mystery, the only mystery revealed by God, is the mystery of Christ. In Christ we have all the wisdom we need to become fully mature. He is all sufficient! There is no reason to look anywhere else. Filled with the power of Christ, Paul labored with all his might to reveal this truth.

2. Do not be deceived (2:1-5)

Paul labored even for those he had never met in person, encouraging and uniting them in love so that they would have the full riches of understanding in Christ. They did not have to look anywhere else for this. They were to watch out and not be deceived by false teachers and ideologies. These same dangers exist today. Yet, it is in Christ where we find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. We must be disciplined and firm in our faith in Christ to avoid these traps.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I cling to you and you alone.

One Word: Jesus is the one we proclai

God’s Plan for Rebekah’s Twin Sons

Genesis 25:19-34

Key Verse: 25:23

Today's Question

What does the third commandment require?

See answer and references