Proclaiming the Mystery

Kingship.Church
5 days ago
3 min read

Colossians 1:24-29

[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.

Writing this letter is very personal for Paul. Not because the people of Colassae are of high esteem or close personal friends of Paul’s, but because of the gospel message Paul proclaims.

Affliction -

Delivering the Word of God to others is considered his joy, even in the face of affliction and suffering. The magnitude of the church now being able to fully know God because of the full truth of God’s Word revealed outweighs any hardship or suffering Paul might face. He was not led to a life of comfort but to a life of being a minister.

According -

This is not something of his own doing. Paul wouldn’t necessarily choose this life on his own accord. What is stressed in this passage is that proclaiming the Word of God is a calling. God calls for the richness of His Word to be revealed through the use of ministry to those who would believe. For Paul, the ears of Gentiles was that calling, which is how the church of Colossae ever came to be.

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 10:14-15

The good news of the gospel is a mystery waiting to be revealed to those who hunger for the truth of the Word of God. Paul rejoices in being a preacher; as we can too, when we share the gospel among our neighbors. We proclaim to warn of folly and false teaching, which leads to death. And we proclaim to help disciple others into becoming mature followers of Christ. Both do not rely on our own strength but are fueled by Christ, who strengthens us for the ministry to which He calls us.

Even our ability to share the gospel is an act of faith, not work, that acknowledges the sovereign power of God to carry us through terrible difficulty for the joy of God’s glory being revealed.