WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:04.879 Colossians 1, 24 through 2 3. 00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:13.039 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and of completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for his body, that is the church. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:19.120 I have become its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:24.239 The mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:31.039 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:00:31.359 --> 00:00:38.240 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 00:00:38.479 --> 00:00:42.799 I lay before this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:50.000 For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in who lay Odyssey, and for all who have not seen me in person. 00:00:50.399 --> 00:00:59.759 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may all have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, Christ. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:04.560 In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:06.239 Let's pray. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:08.879 Lord, I thank you for this morning. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:10.719 I thank you for the blessing of being here. 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:12.079 I thank you for your word. 00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:24.000 As we study this passage, Lord, I ask that you would be glorified, that you would fill us all with your spirit to me to rightly teach the hearers to rightly divide and discern what is with you. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:30.640 That we would grow closer to you, that we would just continue to mature in you, and that uh you would be glorified in everything that's said and done today. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:31.359 In your name. 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:32.159 Amen. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:34.560 Alright, go ahead and have a seat. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:48.239 So we were making our way through the book of Colossians, and Paul is writing to the church in Colossae that he did not plant and he has not been to. 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:53.840 So he's writing a letter to not to people who have seen him, who know him, who have all this context. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:55.920 No context except what they've heard. 00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:03.040 It's just him writing to them to basically go over all the different basics and things that they have heard in that. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:06.799 Also important to know he is writing from prison. 00:02:07.519 --> 00:02:10.400 So, why is Paul in prison? 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:16.000 Many believe that this was written during his first prison experience. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:19.840 Not good to have multiple prison experiences, but that's not the point. 00:02:20.080 --> 00:02:23.039 So he is writing during that time. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:24.719 Why is he in prison? 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.280 This is actually somewhat relevant to what we're going to go over. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:43.280 If you look at the book of Acts, Paul is initially a Pharisee of Pharisees, the most religiously zealous, intense Jewish person to the point of persecuting the church. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.280 And then God gets a hold of him and he gives his life to Jesus. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:58.400 And then, in the eyes of the Jewish leaders, strike one, he gives his life to Jesus and starts proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. 00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:00.479 So they hate him for that. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:13.840 And then he goes a step further, because if that's not bad enough in their eyes, he then preaches Jesus and salvation of the Messiah to the Gentiles. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.919 And that is just, that's too far. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:20.000 You know, they wanted to kill him. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.240 Now they really, really want to kill him. 00:03:22.560 --> 00:03:23.759 Extra kill him. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:32.319 And so that is part of the issue and why he has to keep going to different places as he proclaims until he finally gets to get up and go somewhere else. 00:03:32.639 --> 00:03:37.840 And he comes back to Jerusalem, knowing what's going to happen to him. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:39.199 He was warned ahead of time. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:43.759 Comes back to Jerusalem with a Gentile believer with him. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:46.560 Gentile follower of Jesus. 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:55.439 The people assumed that he took the Gentile believer into the temple, which would be a huge no-no. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:57.280 Didn't actually happen. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:00.080 They just assumed that had been the case. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.759 That's the whole reason he was arrested. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:05.439 In the first place. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:13.919 They thought that he took a Gentile, where the Gentiles are not supposed to go, even though he didn't. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:18.240 And then he is arrested through that process. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.120 It's a rigged trial, but he's a Roman citizen. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:35.680 So he appeals to Caesar to get to bypass all of the attempts to kill him along the way, and ends up in prison on house arrest, actually in house arrest in Rome. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:42.319 So that's important to see what is going on here because he's talking about suffering. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:48.639 Suffering is not a fun topic. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:55.680 If you get excited about suffering, I'm a little worried about you. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:03.519 And this is something that we need to see here because he says, I rejoice in my sufferings for you. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:05.040 Number one, that's just weird. 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:06.319 I don't rejoice in sufferings. 00:05:06.480 --> 00:05:07.360 I don't like sufferings. 00:05:07.439 --> 00:05:09.680 I'm not going to pretend to like sufferings to appear more holy. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:11.199 I don't like it, I don't want it. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:19.680 But why is he rejoicing in his sufferings for them in verse 24? 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:30.000 Well, he also continues and says, as part of that, he's completing in his flesh what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for his body, that is the church. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:32.240 That's kind of a weird statement. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:33.759 We'll go over that in a second. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:35.759 But ultimately, his sufferings. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:41.199 We need to categorize what he is talking about when he is talking about his sufferings. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:54.639 So we call anything bad or negative or unfortunate suffering in our day and age, oftentimes. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.519 So I just want to put some categories. 00:05:59.040 --> 00:06:13.759 For those of you who are minors here, if you were told to clean your room and you didn't, and then you have to pause whatever you were watching and go clean your room right now, not suffering. 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:16.079 Okay. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:37.199 If you happen to, and God forbid we do this because none of us would ever do this, but in some sort of online format, or completely belligerent, with that keyboard courage, and get a lot of pushback for that. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:40.000 Not suffering. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:51.680 If you're going through a very difficult time in life, whether through health, whether through interactions, relationships, all those different things, that is suffering. 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:54.720 That is not the suffering he's talking about here. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:57.120 That is valid. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:06:59.120 First two not valid. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:03.759 That one valid, but that's not the kind of suffering he's talking about here. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:04.639 Why do I say that? 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:09.600 Because his suffering is for the gospel. 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:14.480 He is in prison for the sole purpose of preaching the gospel. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.319 He's not in prison because he was a jerk. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:20.639 He's not in prison because he broke the law. 00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:26.480 He's in prison because he was preaching the gospel, and not only preaching the gospel, but to Gentiles. 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:29.439 Spoiler alert, Colossac, Gentiles. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:30.480 Gentile Aaron. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:31.920 So that's why this is relevant. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:41.199 So when he is rejoicing in his sufferings for them, he's not rejoicing because he's going through a bad experience and that makes him holy. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:52.240 He is rejoicing because his sufferings not only are a result of the furtherance of the gospel, but are a part of that expected process. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:56.720 So I'll put this a different way, and I have a slide for this. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.639 Why does he rejoice in sufferings? 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:05.040 Well, number one, he's fulfilling his calling and perpetuating the example of the gospel. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.720 He is right where he wants to be. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:11.519 As crazy as that sounds. 00:08:11.839 --> 00:08:19.279 He is, his mission, his life, his goal, his calling, is to preach the gospel and to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.240 And if that takes him to prison, cool. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.160 That's a part of what he is called to do in the first place. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:32.559 So he is not, even though his situation is bad, he's not mad about it. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:36.559 He's actually annoyingly chipper about it. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:42.000 Because at that point he goes, hey, captive audience, Roman guard, have you heard about Jesus? 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:45.360 No, Caesar's household, have you heard about Jesus? 00:08:45.600 --> 00:08:51.600 It's a different thing of like, man, is it a good thing he's a Roman citizen because otherwise he would have been killed ten times over just in prison. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:58.960 So number two, he is confident that this life is nothing compared to eternity. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:07.039 So what happens now is not the whole story. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.159 Think of a movie. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:34.960 You have a movie, and then now you have the credits, and then a random post-credit scene that's either funny or a spoiler for the next thing, or completely random. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:45.120 We think that the movie is our life on Earth, and heaven is the post-credit scene. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.120 This weird thing later that is the little thing. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:51.600 But what really matters is the movie here. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:57.039 In reality, big picture. 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:06.960 Our life, while important, is the little dancing snacks thing before the movie even begins. 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:09.919 Let's all go to the lobby. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:14.639 That is our eighty years on this planet. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:17.840 Doesn't mean it's not important, it is. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:23.200 But the main event is eternity. 00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:32.799 So when Paul can rejoice in his sufferings because he knows how small they are in light of eternity. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:35.440 The problem with that is we live in the now. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:37.360 That's a reality. 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:42.240 And so it is not fun to go through hardship. 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:48.159 But if we keep that eternal perspective in view, it looks like, oh, this is not that bad. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:57.919 I am convinced that I probably had a really bad day 31 years ago. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:02.159 I could not begin to tell you what it was, or what happened, or why. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.559 That day was probably really rough. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:08.879 But now I don't know what it was. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.480 That's the idea of his life is nothing compared to eternity. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:15.840 And also, here is the really important thing in this. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:27.840 Number three, rather than trying to win the Lord's favor through suffering and therefore earn the reward, he's confident he already has both in Christ. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.399 He already has the Lord's favor, he already has the reward. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:39.360 And so the suffering is just an inconvenience in that process. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:41.039 So why do I say that? 00:11:41.279 --> 00:12:02.080 Because I mean, multiple things, this is like almost the basis of uh pagan worship to a certain extent, is your struggle, your suffering will actually gain you the attention of your God so that they will notice you, deem you worthy, and reward you as such. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:16.080 The suffering is almost like a Hail Mary pass to get to where he notices you, the deity, and then gives you a blessing as a result. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:26.720 This is what uh is all flipped on its head here through Jesus is that we already, through Jesus, through faith in him, we already have God's favor. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:35.840 We already have the reward reserved in heaven, inheritance, reserved, undefiled, imperishable, that we see in 1 Peter 1. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:46.159 And so therefore, we don't suffer as a way to try to earn that, but rather because we're confident we already have both and they cannot be taken away from us. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:50.799 Then we're like, oh, this is a bummer, but better things ahead. 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:52.639 That makes certain surrative sense. 00:12:52.799 --> 00:12:56.720 These are the different things why I see him rejoicing in his suffering for them. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:59.279 Number one, because that's his calling. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.799 Right where he wants it to be. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:04.559 Number two, he knows this is the blink of an eye in the grand scheme of eternity. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:16.639 And number three, he already knows that he has God's favor through Jesus, and also knows that he already has inheritance reward in heaven through Jesus, and therefore is not too concerned about it. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:22.159 There is no uncertainty, and gosh, I hope that God's not mad at me today. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:27.120 So, he can rejoice in his sufferings for them. 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:29.039 For you, sufferings for you. 00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.159 Why would he say that? 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.840 Well, because they're Gentiles. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:41.679 He's in prison because he preached the gospel to Gentiles, because they thought that he was bringing Gentiles into the Jewish area. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:47.840 Everything in his ministry points to him proclaiming the gospel to Gentiles. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.840 So he is suffering for them in that sense. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:53.200 Okay, foundationally, that is crucial to all of this. 00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:59.679 But here he is completing in his flesh what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:13.519 I'm not really lacking. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:16.799 You are completing in your flesh. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:20.159 What is lacking in Christ's afflictions? 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.320 Oh that's so much. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:22.799 Okay. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:25.600 Here's what this does not mean. 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:35.519 This does not mean that there is an inadequacy, deficiency, or incompleteness in the salvific, big word, work of Jesus on the cross. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.440 That's not what that means. 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:49.279 Um Jesus on the cross, paying a sinless sacrifice, dying for our sins, at the end says, it is finished. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:51.600 Nobody was like, well. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.279 It doesn't work that way. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:01.120 He completed everything that was required for salvation on the cross. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:02.480 Forever and ever, amen. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:03.519 The end. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.159 So what does this mean? 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:20.960 I believe that means that Paul is demonstrating, after Christ's ascension, the surpassing value of the gospel to the church. 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:26.559 He is, Jesus suffered once for all and then ascended. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:33.759 He didn't continue to stay there, continue to suffer, continue to demonstrate that to continuing generations. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:46.559 Paul gets to demonstrate that as a human in his flesh to demonstrate that the gospel is real and is valuable and is better. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:58.639 And he gets to show that surpassing value to the church in perpetuity through the church of all of us, not just that one moment on the cross with Jesus. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:03.840 Christ, the head, his atoning work was completed on the cross. 00:16:04.080 --> 00:16:06.480 The example carries on in the body. 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:16.080 So that's what I think that means is that basically he gets to continue that example that Christ set on in the life of the church. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.840 Spoiler alert, we get that too. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:24.879 That's uh difficulty, suffering is uh expected. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:28.399 That's a part of the package, and I don't like that one bit. 00:16:29.039 --> 00:16:33.519 But here's what I see in 1 Peter 4, 12 through 16. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.960 I have a slide for that. 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:44.720 Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes upon you, among you, to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:51.919 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:58.080 If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you're blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:02.720 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:10.160 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in having that name. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:17.759 Peter's fancy way of saying, hey, if you're suffering as a Christian, you're not special. 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:25.680 That's normal, but rejoice, because it's a part of the thing and a part of being a follower of Jesus. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:27.599 And then he qualifies. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:32.960 It doesn't count if you suffer for doing the wrong thing. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.319 That's not suffering. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.799 Those are called consequences. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:45.519 But suffering, as a Christian, don't be ashamed, but glorify God in having that name. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:47.359 We should not be surprised. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:18:06.160 Let me back up, if the world of which we were once a part of it, uh, is antagonistic toward Jesus, toward the gospel, toward the message of salvation, as we once were. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:18.000 We should not be surprised that when we confess and believe Jesus and carry on that message, that the world is antagonistic toward us. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:20.000 That should not be a surprise. 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:24.000 Because really, like I'll put it this way. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:37.200 Um when Paul suffers for the gospel as someone who once would like arrest people who are Christians, throw them in prison, ascend to their murders. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:42.079 I could see like the other Christians in the room being being like, no one feels bad for you. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:51.839 You deserve this! But uh, in the same way, it's like this is just a part of what to expect in that in that way. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:58.400 I'm not gonna go looking for it, but it shouldn't be a surprise when it happens. 00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.279 Okay. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:02.480 So then we continue here. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:06.240 He's rejoicing in the suffering, so he's completing his flesh. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:11.759 And verse 25, I become its servant, which went over we went over really, really well last Sunday. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:15.680 So I if you weren't here, I'd recommend checking that out in that definition. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:23.680 According to God's commission that was given to me for you, God commissioned him to serve the church, the body of Christ. 00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.440 For what purpose? 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:29.279 To make the word of God fully known. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.599 Fully known. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:41.279 His commission from God is to make the word of God fully known. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:48.079 That is the core of the ministry to the church. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:49.200 That's everything. 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.119 Make the word of God fully known. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:57.680 And what that looks like here, uh, fully known implies including to you Gentiles. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:01.279 His salvation, the mystery we're gonna look at in a little bit, salvation to the Gentiles. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:09.039 But ultimately, everything we well, I'll put it this way value number one for a for our church is the word of God is a compass for everything we do. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:13.839 That is the core and the basis of everything we do, and everything flows out of that. 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:23.440 Um, salvation, growth, maturity, uh, sanctification, that all comes through the word of God. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:29.759 And active and inactive in a body in setting, not in isolation. 00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:37.680 So his mission there is making the word of God fully known. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:44.559 But here's the cool thing: it's a mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:53.200 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:06.319 It's not like God set forth a great cosmic puzzle, and then someone figured it out, and God was like, Oh man, you got it, you figured it out. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:07.279 Well, I guess I'm out. 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:11.279 I actually did want to save the Gentiles, but I didn't want you guys to know about that. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:18.079 His desire is for this to be made known, and I think it's really, really important here. 00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:21.440 First, what is this mystery? 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:23.359 Easiest explanation. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:30.400 Verse 27, mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:54.400 He's speaking to a Gentile population, and he is telling them that the mystery here is that God willed to bring about salvation not only for the Jew, but also for the Gentile, and allowed both Jew and Gentile to share the same hope of eternity and inheritance as such, part of the same body. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.000 Easiest way to look at that. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:59.759 If you want more on that, I recommend checking out when we went through Ephesians 3. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.480 Three, we went through that a little bit more what this mystery is. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:15.759 But with that in mind, the easiest thing here is that it is God bringing about salvation through Jesus for Jew and Gentile, one body, no distinction. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.599 Why is it a mystery? 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:24.400 It's not a mystery because it was hidden and cryptic that God didn't want to do, but it was something that was not understood. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:27.279 And then was revealed. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.519 Unveiling. 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:31.359 That's the word for revelation. 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:34.400 It's an unveiling of what was there. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:37.920 So, that mystery that is proclaimed. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:41.759 God wanted to make that known. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.559 Paul is commissioned to make that known. 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.000 That is his calling. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.359 So, what does this look like? 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.640 We see his efforts here. 00:22:52.880 --> 00:23:01.039 In verse 28, we proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so we may present everyone mature in Christ. 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.880 What are his efforts here? 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:07.839 Again, we have a slide for that as well. 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.440 First of all, proclaiming him. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.359 Number one, proclaiming Jesus. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.519 We proclaim him. 00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:20.319 Number two, we warn and teach everyone with all wisdom. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.759 Warning. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:29.599 Super famous word, Nufethael, which is to admonish, to warn, to exhort, to caution. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:31.839 Warning. 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:42.880 When you see the warning like signs on the road, those are to um alert you to potential danger. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:47.200 They are not to say, doing great, guys. 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:56.240 That's a different word that is also important, but which we'll get to in a little bit, but ultimately it is a caution and a warning and an exhortation. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:03.039 This specific word is a part of a leader leading in the Bible. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:16.400 We see that in Acts 20, 31, 1 Corinthians 4, 14, 1 Thessalonians 5, 12, that it is expected for leaders to warn, to caution, to admonish. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:26.160 Also, we see this word teaching, which is didasco. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:30.079 Idea of didactic teaching, that's where that word comes from. 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:33.680 And that is just simply to impart instruction. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:35.519 Here's the interesting thing. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:46.480 Warning is not necessarily a dual-sided contract. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:49.359 You can warn someone even if they don't want to hear the warning. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:51.839 They may not receive and act on it, but they have that. 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:56.960 Teaching is both the impartation and the receiving. 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:03.920 You could have the best teacher, the most gifted, knowledgeable, and eloquent teacher. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:09.359 But if the learner does not want to learn, it is not going to be effective. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:12.160 And that's not the fault of the teacher. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:24.480 And so, in that sense, teaching is both is basically a contract between the instructor and the hearer for the purpose of imparting information. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:31.920 And so those two things, both the warning, but then also the relational aspect of teaching. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:35.839 Everyone with all wisdom. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:39.440 So number one, proclaiming him. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:41.680 Number two, warning everyone. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:47.440 Number three, teaching everyone with all wisdom. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:50.000 If you look at James, one, where do we get wisdom from? 00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:50.880 God. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.079 How do you get it? 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.279 You ask. 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.680 That's pretty cool, right? 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:57.119 I mean, that's that's a nice thing. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:03.839 It's not like, well, first you need to create the first you need to go through these arduous trials and overcome them. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:12.559 And then you need to go into this didactic experience and learn the secret knowledge, which is going to come into play later in this book. 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:16.720 Uh it's ask God, and he likes to give it. 00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.079 So wisdom. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:20.480 For what purpose? 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:24.480 So that we may present everyone. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.759 Mature in Christ. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:33.599 Spoiler, by the way, no, just something to let you know. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:39.359 Um, it drives me crazy when half the passage is on one page and then I have to flip it, it's on the other side. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:42.400 That also is not suffering, but I don't like it. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:44.640 So, mature in Christ. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.319 The goal to present everyone in Christ. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:49.759 Mature in Christ. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:54.319 Mature, complete, fully grown. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:27:03.359 Think of a plant growing to maturity to the purpose of what's what is the maturity of a plant? 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:05.599 Bearing fruit, propagating, right? 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:08.960 Uh think of an animal growing to maturity. 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.839 Same thing. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:19.920 It can survive, it could survive on its own, doesn't have to, but also can um bear young, growing to maturity in that way. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:22.480 So, how do they present people mature? 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:26.160 Teaching, warning, proclaiming Jesus. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.720 Now, I get the feeling Paul takes this seriously. 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:39.440 And here's what I see in verse 29 through verse 1 of chapter 2. 00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:45.119 I labor for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:48.480 I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you. 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:54.400 Labor, striving slash struggling. 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:57.119 Words, those words have the same root. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:03.599 To labor with wearisome effort, to toil. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:07.359 The word comes from the concept of to feel fatigue. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:15.759 After cleaning up from the past week of storms, I felt fatigue. 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:19.680 Greenwood's containers felt fatigue. 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.240 Striving. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:28.000 That word is to contend, almost as if to compete for a prize. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:36.000 Pushing, striving, training, working for a goal to win. 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:40.319 And then he says, I want you to know how greatly I am, struggling for you. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.680 And Laodicea. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:47.279 And those who haven't seen me in person, Laodicea, nearby city as well, to another church he has not been to. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.799 He did write a letter to them. 00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.839 We don't have that letter. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:50.319 Why? 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.279 I don't know. 00:28:51.599 --> 00:29:02.000 So he's not sitting there going, hey, I have this commission and calling, and that's cool, and I'm just gonna osmos into eternity. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:07.279 He's working, and that's good. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:16.400 He has efforts, he has sweat equity into these people he has never met before. 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:18.240 That's pretty cool. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:28.960 So his work as a servant of God involves laboring and striving. 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.680 In what? 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:44.400 Well, if you look back, proclaiming God, warning, teaching, for the purpose of creating or bringing people to maturity in all wisdom. 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:52.559 None of that is about earning salvation he already has. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:56.000 So he's striving, he's struggling, these kinds of things. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:59.359 At no point does he say, I do that in order to win God's favor. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.559 He already has it. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:04.559 We've been over that in detail, but it's important to point that out. 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:07.200 Is his work here is not works. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:18.720 It is not the attempt to win God's favor and ultimately attain to holiness so that he can receive salvation and eternal standing. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.000 He already has all of that. 00:30:20.160 --> 00:30:27.039 Rather, because he has all of that, he labors and works for the well-being of others. 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:30.400 And that's the key here. 00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:34.480 How crazy is it that he is laboring and striving for people he's never even met. 00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:39.839 That is pretty epic. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.480 What's the key here? 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:45.920 Well, we see that in verse 29. 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:53.359 Striving with his strength that works powerfully in me. 00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:58.640 He is striving with God's strength working through him. 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.000 That's important. 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.920 That's really, really, really important. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:12.480 You see in Ephesians 3:7, Paul says he was made a minister of this gospel by the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:21.920 So even all of this labor, labor, and effort is an active response to the active work of God and his power and ability and doing in that. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:25.039 Paul cannot generate these things on his own. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:37.519 He cannot strategize in his own efforts the way to effectively bring Christians to maturity. 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:43.119 That is important through the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.480 Those two married together. 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:50.480 When he's doing it by his own power and work and will, then that is not going to bring about that fruit. 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:55.599 His efforts as a result of God's power. 00:31:56.079 --> 00:32:01.599 So why is he struggling? 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.039 For what purpose? 00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.240 Verse 2. 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:10.960 I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:19.200 Encouraged, to encourage, to strengthen, to call near. 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:25.200 Same word that they that we see in John 14 through 16 for the Holy Spirit, the comforter. 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:27.039 Call alongside. 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:29.519 He wants them to be comforted and encouraged. 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:35.680 And also joined together, to be knit together. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:43.279 And then in what? 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.880 In love. 00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:53.440 What uh encourages them, what knits them together in this is love. 00:32:53.599 --> 00:32:55.359 No, no, we don't define that. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.759 Define what that love is. 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:02.640 Um the best way I can put that, because is that agape love that we see in scripture? 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:10.319 There is connection and commitment for the well-being of the other. 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:18.000 Connection can be cheap, can be selfish. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:23.359 Commitment can be devoid of affection. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:29.920 Connection and commitment for the purpose of the well-being of the other. 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:41.680 We'll see a little more in the next chapter when we talk about marriage, husbands, wives, when we talk about uh fathers, children, things like that. 00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:43.359 It's for the purpose of the well-being of the other. 00:33:43.440 --> 00:33:58.079 And Paul is embodying this and uh exemplary, I think, this through caring for the church in this way that he hasn't even met for their well-being, pouring out his life for that. 00:33:58.640 --> 00:34:10.559 So, this love that we're talking about is not just a squishy feeling, it is that connection and that commitment for the purpose of the well-being of the other. 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:21.599 So, that will cause them to both be encouraged, but also will cause them to both be, will cause them to be joined together. 00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:36.239 So that they have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, Christ. 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:39.119 Why is he saying these things? 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:45.440 Fully known, complete understanding, God's mystery, which is Jesus, all these different things. 00:34:45.519 --> 00:34:47.599 Why is he making such a big deal out of this? 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:55.760 We're going to see here that there are going to be those that are going to come in and say, Well, it's cool that you have your faith. 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:57.119 I'm not going to mess with that. 00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:59.840 That's cool, but what you really need is this. 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:03.440 This is what you really, really need. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:05.440 And Paul would say, No. 00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:19.440 The truth, the word of God, the mystery, the riches of complete understanding are fully known and encapsuled in Jesus and in the Word of God. 00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:30.559 There is not an addendum that needs to be made in order to make you even, even, even more holy, or even more in God's favor, or have a better inheritance in heaven. 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:36.880 So he's hammering home this point that they, if they have Jesus, they have everything. 00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:47.440 And him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:55.039 All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the storehouse of that. 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:59.840 Fort Knox, spiritually speaking, is Jesus. 00:36:01.440 --> 00:36:05.119 And he's telling them, you already have access to that. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:19.119