Colossians 1:24-29
Here is the Word .doc for the following lesson. Colossians Study 6
Mystery
There is something about a mystery that intrigues us. It has fueled worldwide exploration, sold millions of tickets at the box office and sadly driven many into bottomless pits of despair looking for spiritual rest. Such is the backdrop in the Colossian Church. A group of unregenerate snake-oil salesman are attempting to pawn off a system of spiritualism that is attained by mystical experiences. And as luck would have it, they were the only ones who knew the ceremonies that needed to be observed in order to reach the next level of enlightenment. A convenient system for the powerful elite that keeps its subjects continually under thumb looking for their next ecstatic experience. It is upon this stage that the Apostle Paul presents one of the great unsolved dramas “that has been kept hidden from ages and generations”, Col 1:26. Let’s read our text.
“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. ” (Colossians 1:24–29, NIV)
Paul will continue his focus upon the Church, first spoken of in vs.18. The word Church has become synonymous with many things today. Some good, some bad. But for the purposes of this study, let’s use Paul’s metaphor of a body to derive our purpose as a church. Christ is our head and we as his body carry out His wishes.
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