Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

1. A shift has been made by Paul from Christ’s person and work to the church. The church is made up of those who have received the blessings of God through faith in Christ’s person and work. Certain aspects of that work are: steadfastness of the church (23a), statement of the church (23b), suffering for the church (24), servant of the church (25).

2. Verse 23 begins with a condition, “if indeed” (ei ge). The idea of the conditional phrase is that reconciliation and sanctification have taken place “if indeed” they continue in the faith.

3. This does not mean that they will lose their salvation, but it may show that some among them were never saved if they do not remain established, steadfast, and not moved from the gospel. Moving from the gospel to a false gospel reveals that an individual did not truly know and/or believe the true gospel.

4. This is a revealing comment. Paul was saying that the false teachers were not only teaching a false gospel, but they were attempting to persuade some believers away from the true gospel.

B. Conditional Norm

1. The true believer will continue in the faith. This is the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, or better, the doctrine of the perseverance of the Savior in the life of a true believer (Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6, 14).

2. But we are to cooperate with this perseverance by becoming firmly established and steadfast in the knowledge of Christ and the gospel from the Scriptures (2Pe 1:10).

II. STATEMENT (MESSAGE) OF THE CHURCH (Col 1:23b)

A. Commission of the Gospel

1. The unredeemed have “no hope” because they are “without God in the world” (Eph 2:12). Only the true gospel gives “hope” (elpis - confident assurance of God’s promises and blessings), a “hope in Christ” (Eph 1:12), a “hope of the gospel (salvation, Col 1:23),” a “hope laid up in heaven” (Col 1:5), and a “hope of glory” (Col 1:27). The hope of the gospel is the message of the church. The Colossians heard the gospel, responded by faith, and became part of the church.

2. Paul stated that the gospel “was” (aor. pass. participle - kêrussō - “having been proclaimed”) proclaimed in all creation under heaven.

3. Paul was writing from Rome, which would have been the “remotest part of the earth,” initially fulfilling Jesus’ commission in Act 1:8.

4. But the Great Commission is not completely fulfilled. Believers today are called to continue carry out this Commission (Mat 28:19-20).

B. Commission of Paul

1. Paul himself was divinely commissioned as an apostle. He was set apart for the gospel (Rom 1:1), by the will of God (Col 1:1 cf. 1Co 1:1; Eph 1:1), and sent by the agency of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:1).

2. Paul’s apostolic calling made him a “minister” which is the Greek word diakonos. Diakonos, according to some, … comes from diakonis, [which means] in the dust laboring, or running through dust [or perhaps ones who stirs up dust by labor] (Zod). This context is not be taken as a “Deacon,” an official in the church, but as an honorable (apostolic) title (Eph 3:7), honorable character (Col 1:23; 1Ti 4:6), and honorable stewardship (Col 1:25).

III. SUFFERING FOR THE CHURCH (Col 1:24)

A. Suffering for the Sake of the Church

1. Paul’s response toward suffering and imprisonment (Col 4:3, 18 cf. Act 28:16, 30), was one of rejoicing (Php 4:4). Why would Paul rejoice in the light of suffering?

a. He considered Christ’s sufferings (Heb 12:2)

b. He would have been considered worthy to suffer (Act 5:41).

c. He would know Christ better (Php 3:10).

d. He would spread the gospel (Php 1:13).

e. He would embolden other believers (Php 1:14).

f. He would be able to exult in Christ’s glory (1Pe 4:13).

g. He would do it for the sake and strength of the church (Col 1:24).

2. One of Paul’s motivations for accepting suffering was on behalf of His body, which is the church. He was sharing and teaching the gospel in spite of persecution, so that believers, like the Colossians, were built up and emboldened in the faith. Paul was defending the gospel and standing against all false teachers for the sake of the church.

3. Paul’s suffering took place in his flesh, that is in his physical body. Perhaps, this may have been a reference against the Gnostics who say that being in material bodies is evil in itself and considered as suffering. However, having material bodies in and of themselves are not evil because God created these bodies. Furthermore, it is through these bodies that we are able to serve God and do His will, which includes suffering for Christ.

B. Suffering for the Sake of Christ

1. What does Paul mean when he states that he is filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions?

2. The Roman Catholics hold that the sufferings of the righteous fill up the Treasury of Merits as a satisfaction that can be applied toward the salvation of others through indulgences.

3. However, the Scriptures have made it quite clear that Christ’s atonement alone is sufficient (Col 1:20-22), is complete (Heb 7:27; 1Pe 3:18), and finished, so that nothing can be added to it (Joh 19:30).

4. In addition, the word “afflictions” (thlipsis - affliction, tribulation, Rom 5:3) “is never used of the sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross” (SLJ).

5. The meaning of this phrase has to do with the promised persecution on the church and the truth that when the church suffers, Christ Himself suffers with them.

a. Believers, corporately called the church, were taught by Jesus that because the world hated Him, the world will hate them (Joh 15:18; Mat 24:9; Mar 13:13; Php 1:29).

b. When the church, the body of Christ suffers, Christ suffers with them (Act 9:4; Mat 25:40 cf. 1Co 12:26).

6. Paul was told that he would personally have to suffer (Act 9:15-16). He responded to that by and receiving suffering willingly and was “filling up in turn” (anatanaplêroō - take one’s turn in filling something up) Christ’s afflictions, i.e. the afflictions of church).

7. As long as the church is on earth, it will have to endure suffering. It could be said that there is an amount of suffering for the church. Paul is doing his share in taking an amount of suffering or doing his share toward “what is lacking.”

IV. SERVANT OF THE CHURCH (Col 1:25)

A. Fulfill the Calling

1. In Col 1:23, Paul said he was a servant of the gospel. Here he stated that he was a servant of the church. Paul gives further detail on his calling a minister (diakonos) of the church.

2. Paul emphasizes that his ministry was not a personal vocational choice. Rather he was “made” a minister, it came according to “God’s stewardship,” and it was “bestowed on” him.

3. Paul’s apostleship came through the “stewardship of God” (1Co 9:17; Eph 3:2). “Stewardship” is the Greek word oikonomia and literally means “house law.” It is a word that can mean household administration or management. A steward was a slave who managed his master’s household, supervising the other servants, dispensing resources, and handling business and financial affairs (MSB).

4. The administration of apostleship was “bestowed on” Paul and he was carrying out the stewardship or management of an apostle for God. Only an apostle was God’s appointed spokesman and manger concerning the church and its doctrine.

5. Paul’s apostleship was for the benefit of the Colossians (church). Therefore, Paul had absolute authority to warn the church about the false teachers and their teaching.

B. Fulfill the Word of God

1. One of the main responsibilities of an apostle as a servant and steward of God’s church is to fulfill the ministry of the Word of God.

2. Literally the phrase is, “to fulfil the Word of God.” The NASB adds the phrase, “the preaching of” the Word of God, which is most likely the meaning.

3. Paul’s responsibility and desire was to “full carry out” the ministry of the Word.

a. It was to fully preach the Word of God and not tickle ears (2Ti 4:1-4).

b. It was to fully preach the whole counsel of God (Act 20:26-27).

c. It was to fully preach the gospel to as many people as possible (Rom 15:19).

d. It was to fully preach the gospel to those who have not heard (Rom 15:20).

e. It was to fully preach and strengthen the church (Act 15:35; Act 16:5; Col 3:16).

V. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS

A. Servants of Christ - “stir up the dust doing the Master’s work”

1. In a sense Christ’s work in the church is through His servants

2. Servant of the gospel (ambassadors, servants, bearers, and defenders)

3. Servant of the church (and local church)

4. Servant of the Word (every ministry is to be based on, bathed in, and boldly proclaimed)

5. Fulfill the Word

B. Stewardship of Christ

1. Men what stewardship has God given you?

2. Family

3. Ministry

4. Gifts

5. Opportunities

6. A local church

C. Suffering for the Sake of the Church

1. He considered Christ’s sufferings (Heb 12:2)

2. He was considered worthy to suffer (Act 5:41).

3. He would know Christ better (Php 3:10).

4. He would spread the gospel (Php 1:13).

5. He would embolden other believers (Php 1:14).

6. He would be able to exult in Christ’s glory (1Pe 4:13).

7. He would do it for the sake and strength of the church (Col 1:24).

8. One of Paul’s motivations for accepting suffering was on behalf of His body, which is the church. He was sharing and teaching the gospel in spite of persecution, so that believers, like the Colossians, were built up and emboldened in the faith. Paul was defending the gospel and standing against all false teachers for the sake of the church.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516