JMA Missions Mid-Month March 2025
The Great Commission in the New Testament Series
The Great Commission in Colossians
The Missionary Ministry of the Great Commission
Colossians 1:24-28, 24"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, 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27To 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. 28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."
These verses can be difficult to understand at first glance. But if we apply the template of the Great Commission, it makes everything clear!
v24, "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ," The difficulty in this verse is that Paul appears to be saying that the afflictions of Christ were limited, and that he made up for that, or that he supplied something that Jesus didn't. No, what he is saying is that he has taken up the missionary mantle, and received the command to physically go into the places where Jesus didn't go. To make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19), to be an ambassador of the Kingdom of God (Ephesians 6:20), to be a light to the Gentiles (Acts 13:47). So, the sufferings Paul is referring to are described in 2 Corinthians 11, which are the persecutions he encountered while preaching the Gospel in the nations.
v24b, "for the sake of His body, which is the church." These little phrases reveal the heart motivations of Paul, and are the example of the missionary ministry that we ascribe to. Not for our sake, or fame, or any other thing that can be named, but everything we do is for the sake of the church. Also in 2 Corinthians 11, Paul gave us another glimpse into the heart that he is revealing here, v28, "besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches." In Matthew 16, Jesus said, "I will build My church", and the heart of the missionary has that same vision.
v25, "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 Great Commission is a calling, and a partnership with Holy Spirit, to take the Gospel into the nations, that those who believe may be established in faith. Colossians 2:6-7, 6As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
v26-27, 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27To 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." Making disciples in the new covenant means working out the realities of what "Christ in you" means, and how will we then live as a result. We are no longer orphans!
v28, "Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." We preach Jesus, not a denomination or a theological platform, not a religion, not behavior modification!
"Warning every man", if your discipleship program does not include a warning, you are doing it wrong! The Book of Hebrews has 5 major warnings for church people, y’all!
The word for 'perfect' here means to be complete or mature. It's not about perfection. It's about growing up. It's about setting our minds on the things that are above. It's about stepping into the reality of Who it is we now belong to, and the reality of who we have been changed into because of Him, and standing up to take our place as sons and daughters in our Father's house.
This is the heart of the Great Commission!
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