Paul's Ministry & Motivations (1:23-2:5) Series

Paul's Ministry & Motivations

So far, as we have studied Paul's introduction to his letter to the Colossians we have looked at what Paul says that he, and how he prays for them. This evening we will look at what Paul says that he does for them. In Colossians 1:24-2:5 Paul describes his ministry and motivations.

Colossians 1:23 (ESV)

"if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

Paul's desire for the Christians in the small local church in Colossians is that they would "continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel." Here we hear the depth of Paul's connection with the God that he serves. God's intention for us is that we complete the journey of the Christian life successfully. He does not want us to get mixed up or lost along the way. There is an aspect of the faith that is solid and immovable, but there is also an aspect of faith that is dynamic. As we walk along the journey, it is important that we obey the things that God reveals to us along the way.

In his book about the spiritual journey of A.D. Urshan, Daniel Segraves tells about the way Urshan was born into a family of Orthodox Christians in Persia. He was baptized as an infant by missionaries and later had an encounter with God as a young man in another church-sponsored school. When he came to the US, eventually his cousin, who was a member of another church, convinced him that the Bible taught that baptism by immersion. Urshan was then rebaptized in the characteristic way of that group. He was immersed three times face-forward in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Still later as he read the Bible and prayed, God revealed to him that the NT church baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus. And so once more, he was baptized. This time as the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ was called over his life. If he saw it in the Bible, he wanted to do it!

In Acts 19:1-5, when Paul found disciples at Ephesus who had not received the Holy Spirit when they believed, he inquired about their baptism. They had been baptized under John the Baptist's ministry. Paul had them re-baptized in the Name of Jesus and laid hands on them so that they might receive the Spirit.

Paul wants them to continue in what they have, but also to move on to the things that God wants them to have. There is stability in the Gospel. Jesus is the Way; without Him, there is no going. Jesus is the Truth; without Him, there is no knowing. Jesus is the Life; without Him, there is no growing.

After declaring that he is a servant of the gospel, Paul makes a statement that has been difficult for commentators.

Colossians 1:24 (ESV)

"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..."

Paul is glad to experience suffering for the church at Colossae. There is work that we can do in which the pain is a delight because we know that the end result will be joy. We never lose when laboring for the gospel. We never lose when laboring for love. Suffering is a part of the human experience, even for the people of God. In fact, Paul seems to indicate that one of the reasons why he is suffering is because he is a part of the church. It is his connection to Christ that causes the type of suffering he is experiencing.

The Jewish eschatology of Paul's day broke the history of the world into two ages: the present evil age and the age to come. Paul took this understanding and did not teach that the people of his day were on the edge of the fulfillment of the coming age, but that the coming age had begun while the old age was ongoing. There was an overlap. This is why Christians can experience the wonderful things of the Spirit and the world to come, while at the same time experiencing the brokenness of the present world.

First-century Jewish eschatology also taught that leading up to the coming of the wonderous age, there would be what has been called the Messianic Woes. The people of God would suffer. Jesus is the Messiah and He suffered and died on the cross for our sins, to destroy the works of satan, and as an example to us. He was the first to suffer. When Paul says that he "fills up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ" he is not saying that his sufferings somehow add to the finished work of Christ on the Cross. He is saying that just as Christ suffered for others, so does he. He is acknowledging that the world is up against the return of Christ. When things get bad, it is the world groaning in birth pangs, ready to give birth (Romans 8)! As Jesus died only to raise from the grave, Paul rejoices because he knows that troubles don't last always! Weeping may endure for a night, it is just a temporary guest, but joy some in the morning. Joy is not a passing guest, but a permanent resident in the Christian's life! Paul rejoices in his sufferings.