The Mystery of God
Introduction:
Many in the church at Colossi were being
confronted with those who said Jesus wasn’t truly God, that He was not
sufficient to save them, that they needed some “secret knowledge,” known
to only a few, to reach heaven. In our text, Paul reflects this latter
teaching and scripture that the “mystery” has been fully revealed in the
gospel.
Text:
Colossians 1:24 – 2:3
Body:
I.
The Mystery Is No Longer a Mystery
Colossians 1:24-27
“I now rejoice
in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the
afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of
which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which
was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which
has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been
revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ
in you, the hope of glory.”
NKJV
A.
Read
Colossians 1:23.
“if
indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not
moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was
preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a
minister.”
NKJV
Paul was a
minister of the gospel because he boldly proclaimed that gospel. He was
in prison in Rome during writing this letter to the church at Colosse.
But he was thankful that he was allowed to suffer for the sake of
the church, as a member of it, a Christian. (I
Peter 4:16)
“Yet if anyone
suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God
in this matter.”
NKJV
He was also a
minister of the church, a work given Paul by God, a responsibility as a
steward. (I
Corinthians 9:16)
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity
is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!”
NKJV
B.
Mystery: It is called this because it was in times past hidden or not
revealed. (Ephesians
3:1-8)
“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles
– if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which
was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the
mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you
may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other
ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles
should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise
in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to
the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His
power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace
was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ,”
NKJV
The
unsearchable riches of Christ: The redemption all can
have through Christ. [Jew and Gentile] God wanted Gentiles to know
the marvelous blessings of the gospel age. (I
Corinthians 2:6-10)
“However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom
of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God
ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this
age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory. But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor
have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for
those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His
Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of
God.”
NKJV
What great
hope this provides us today, a glorious hope based on Jesus Christ.
II.
Preaching Christ
Colossians 1:28-29
“Him we preach,
warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor,
striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
NKJV
A.
Preaching Christ and
preaching the gospel are the same. (I
Corinthians 15:1-4)
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to
you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you
are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless
you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I
also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day
according to the Scriptures,”
NKJV
We, as Paul
did, should labor diligently to proclaim the message. (I
Corinthians 1:18)
“For
the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but
to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
NKJV
B.
Warning and teaching are both essential.
“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. . .”
(II
Corinthians 5:11) We are to
“warn those who are
unruly,”
those who are not submitting to the Lord. (I
Thessalonians 5:14)
“Now
we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”
We have a
responsibility to warn those who are not faithful; we cannot shirk this
for any reason. Our teaching should have as its goal to present every
man perfect in Christ, whole, mature. First, teach those outside Christ
to be immersed for the forgiveness of sins and become a part of the body
of Christ, the church. (Ephesians
5:25-27)
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and
gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the
washing of water by the word,”
NKJV
Then teach
Christians to mature in faith, grow in the “Christian graces,” faith,
virtue, knowledge, and go on unto perfection. (II
Peter 1:5-10)
“But also for
this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to
virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly
kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours
and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge
of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is
shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed
from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make
your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never
stumble;”
NKJV
This work should be a part of every Christian’s spiritual service, in
one way or another.
III.
The Treasures One Finds in Christ
Colossians 2:1-3
“For I want you
to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and
for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may
be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches
of the full assurance of understand, to the knowledge of the mystery of
God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
NKJV
Paul was
greatly concerned for Christians at Colosse as well as for all
Christians. He did not want them to believe they needed someone besides
Christ or that they couldn’t come to an understanding of the mystery.
He desired encouragement and comfort on their behalf as well as a close
bond of unity between the Christians. A unity based on love is one of
the highest order. (Philippians
2:1-3)
“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or
conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than
himself.”
NKJV
He further desired on their part an assurance of understanding. They
could know and understand the mystery he just wrote about – that
redemption has been granted to the Gentiles. These words were spoken by
the apostle Peter to those in Jerusalem after he told them that
Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit. (Acts
11:17-18)
“If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed
on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God? When
they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God,
saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.’
”
NKJV
Paul now
emphasized that all real treasures are found in Christ, such as
forgiveness and redemption, sanctification, encouragement and comfort,
strength, joy, and ultimately heaven. (Ephesians
1:3)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
(Ephesians
1:7)
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
NKJV
(I
Corinthians 1:2)
“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in
every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and
ours:”
NKJV
(Philippians
2:1)
“Therefore if there is any consolation In Christ, if any comfort
of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
(Philippians
4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
(Philippians
4:4)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Revelation
14:13)
“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write; Blessed
are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit,
‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’ ”
NKJV
Invitation:
We are a very
privileged people to live in the gospel age and enjoy treasures in
Christ. Will you accept His invitation today?
Bobby
Stafford
January 1,
2017 [Evening] Colossians: Lesson 5
Colossians 1:24 – 2:1-3
Video
MS
Word
