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THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST: The Ministry of Paul!
Colossians 1:24-2:7
We are in the 2nd section of Colossians, the doctrinal section and today we explore Paul’s theology of ministry and the church.
- Paul’s view of the ministry. 1:24-29
In these few verses we are shown 8 aspects of Paul’s ministry. Let’s take a look at the first 4 now:
- The source of the ministry.
- The spirit of the ministry.
- The suffering of the ministry.
- The scope of the ministry.
Colossians 1:24-25, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering 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. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness”
Being a minister of Jesus Christ is not what Paul planned for his life. On the contrary, Paul actually was a persecutor of the church.
1 Timothy 1:12-13, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.”
Saul of Tarsus was called to serve by Jesus Himself on the road to Damascus. He was headed there to persecute the church.
Acts 9:1-2, “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.”
That was Saul, but Jesus reached out to him, calling him to serve. God choose Saul and put His finger on him, calling him to serve. As a result, Paul saw himself as a servant. Paul lived out this humility and is an example for all of us. We are not called to lead, but to serve.
Despite seeking a different path Paul is able to say, “Now I rejoice.” Paul was rejoicing in his ministry, not one he pursued, but was appointed to him by God. This is what he rejoiced in: he was stoned, persecuted, shipwrecked, imprisoned, but he rejoiced. Would you rejoice in any of these situations?
Do you rejoice when the heat goes out, the car breaks down, you fail to get the raise you expected? Do you rejoice? Paul does!
Joy is generated in humility, people lose their joy when they are self-centered, seeking their own way, their own preferences. “My way is the best way!” Is this your thought? Do you know someone like this? Their way is the best way, and they can show you a Bible verse that supports their position. That’s pride.
Pride steals your joy. When everyone must do it your way you steal the joy in those relationships and you end up isolating yourself from others, stealing the encouragement you could have had in a healthy relationship.
Paul’s words didn’t stop at “Now I rejoice” but he continues that thought with “in what I am suffering for you.” Paul is in prison for preaching the Gospel!
You see, Paul’s joy is a result of his suffering.
Scripture gives us 5 reasons why suffering is a cause for joy:
- Suffering brings us closer to Christ.
In suffering we begin to understand the price Jesus paid for our redemption.
- Suffering assures us that we belong to Christ.
Suffering drives us to see the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Suffering brings future reward.
- Suffering can result in the salvation of others.
When we endure suffering joyously it gives testimony of Christ’s work in us.
- Suffering frustrates Satan.
Satan wants suffering to hurt us, but God uses it for good. Persecution purifies the church.
The scope of Paul’s ministry was simply preaching the Word of God. That is why we focus on the Word in our messages. The Word has the power to transform us, not cleaver and cute stories for a happy life.
The 5th aspect of Paul’s ministry is:
- The subject of the Ministry.
Colossians 1:26-27, “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 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.”
The mystery that Paul describes here isn’t some secret teaching. God simply hasn’t revealed everything that He knows to humanity and in this case He has now revealed the mystery, the truth that has been revealed to all believers in the New Testament.
Some of the mystery is how God became incarnate in the birth of Jesus. How Jew and Gentile have been united in the church. How God will wrap up the end of the story in the end times.
This mystery has been revealed to all and is available to us when we open His Word. Mystery, not secret.
The most profound New Testament mystery we see in verse 27. The mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Our salvation, our sealing in the Holy Spirit, the hope we have in Jesus, what greater mystery, what greater truth can we experience?
The next 2 aspects are:
- The style of the ministry.
- The sum of the ministry.
Colossians 1:28, “He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Paul was proclaiming, admonishing and teaching everyone. To proclaim means that something is publicly declared. Paul certainly did that.
To admonish is to give counsel regarding sin & punishment. It is the encouragement to live a holy life.
Teaching simply means that he was imparting truth. This is how Paul approached his ministry and sets the model for how we can build our ministry. We must share Jesus publicly. We must share the dire state of humanity and the consequences of sin and potential punishment. And it must be based on the truth of Scripture.
Paul’s goal, as should be ours, is to strive that each person be “complete” in Christ. To be complete means that we are mature, fully grown, evidenced by becoming like Jesus. That should be our goal every single day, become a little bit more like Jesus.
The 8th aspect of Paul’s ministry is:
- The strength of the ministry
Colossians 1:29, “To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”
The word “strenuously” here means that Paul worked to the point of exhaustion. And “contend” holds the concept similar to an athletic event. What this verse is saying is that Paul is giving it all he has. It’s like an athlete who is taking a beating, but he keeps coming and coming, he won’t be denied his victory.
Remember, Paul was a volunteer, he wasn’t a paid missionary. Paul made and sold tents to make a living. Paul is modeling ministry for each of us, not just the paid pastors and missionaries.
That covers Paul’s view of ministry. Now we turn to:
- Paul’s love for the church. 2:1-7
This is the driving force behind Paul’s ministry. If we truly love Christ we will love the church.
Just like any parent who desires the best for their children, Paul desires the best for the church. In these 7 verses Paul shares 5 goals he has for the church.
- Strong in heart.
- United in love.
Colossians 2:1-2a, “I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love”
The word “encouraged” here holds the idea of two people walking on a journey together side by side. This is how Paul strengthened his disciples, like Timothy and Titus. He walked side by side with them and encouraged them and taught them. He modeled the Christian life.
Now, notice when Paul refers to unity it is linked to love. When the mind is filled with Biblical truth the emotions respond properly. They are linked, if there is not the emotional response of love something is wrong.
Having a strong mind must be balanced with fervent love. Christianity includes both orthodoxy and enthusiasm.
This “unity in love” is the testimony of Christ to the world around us. You remember the words to the song, “They will know that we are Christians by our love.”
Disunity is the testimony of Anti-Christ.
Humility is the key which unlocks the door to unity and love. The 3rd goal:
- Settle in understanding.
Colossians 2:2b-5, “so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.”
The wealth of the Christian life comes in understanding the knowledge of Christ! This is the source of wisdom and knowledge.
- Walking in Christ.
Colossians 2:6-7a, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,”
To continue in Christ means we continue in the journey with Jesus. It’s a choice we make every day. Will I walk with Him today?
If we are to be rooted and built up in Him, we must walk faithfully with Him. The more we commit to that walk the firmer we become in Him.
- Overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 2:7b, “and overflowing with thankfulness.”
This gratitude comes from being firmly rooted, from being built up in Him, from being strengthened in faith. When this happens, we are overflowing with gratitude. Are you overflowing with gratitude? If you aren’t overflowing with gratitude, ask yourself this question: Am I rooted, am I being built up, am I being strengthened in my faith? Without gratitude one of those things if not all, are missing.
Volunteers please stand:
Look around, these are the ones you need to invite to walk alongside you.
Those sitting, look at these standing. They are the ones you need to join in the journey.
My ministry mission statement is:
Colossians 2:2-3, “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
2:7 Rooted and built up in Him…