#311 Colossians Series# 4, The Ministry Of Christ In You

#311 Colossians Series# 4, The Ministry Of Christ In You
By: Pastor Karl Thomas

In a place where religious pluralism and syncretism is encouraged … (Truth being diluted for the sake of unity)… Paul asserts the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.
Jesus is Lord! Therefore He is fully able qualify us as saints.

Primarily written to confront rising heresies (false teachings) of the day.
In a combative tone and abrupt style Paul exalts Christ.
Confronts four basic heresies: 1. Gnosticism   2. Legalism   3. Mysticism     4. Asceticism

Last week we examined one of the greatest “Christological” segments in the entire Bible.
Paul, inspired by Holy Spirit, explains exactly Who Jesus is, what He has done, and what He continues to do as our risen Saviour.

How is Jesus qualified to complete such a thorough redemptive work?
Because of Jesus Preeminance (Proteuo) He is able to, in the one act of shedding His blood, reconcile and restore all things to Himself.   He has Supremacy and Sufficiency!!!

Colossians 1:24-2:5
Paul now gets very personal about his specific responsibility to the call of God on his life.
These eleven verses are filled with first person pronoun “I”.

Colossians 1:24-25 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, (taking my turn) 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,…”

Colossians 1:26-27
“…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.”

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.”
Perfect (teleios):— brought to its end, finished wanting nothing necessary to completeness, perfect, full grown, adult, of full age, mature. Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Colossians 2:1-3
“For I want you to know what a great conflict (agon) 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 understanding, 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.…”

Colossians 2:4-5
“Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

Three Summary Observations
1. Paul’s Passion
“I now rejoice in my sufferings … I became a minister (diakonos) … fulfill the word of God … I also labor, striving … great conflict I have for you…”
Diakonos:—lit. raise dust by hastening, waiter of tables, menial

Acts 9:15-16
“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

2 Corinthians 11:23
“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.”
Message “…at death’s door time after time.”

2. Paul’s Power
“…according to His working which works in me mightily.”
2 Corinthians 12:9  (NLT)
“So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Romans 15:18-19
“Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me,. … They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ…”

3. Paul’s Purpose
Vs 27-28 “Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” 

GETTING CHRIST IN YOU — ONE STEP PROGRAM — FREE FROM SIN DEVIL SHAME ACCUSATION SICKNESS DEATH FEAR BROKENESS HOPELESSNESS

Numbers 14:21 “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory”

“It may be that the Deity can forgive sins, but I do not see how.”  Socrates, to Plato, 500 B.C.

F.F. Bruce
“It is because man bears the image of his Creator that it was possible for the Son of man to become incarnate as man and in his humanity to display the glory of the invisible God.”
And the incarnation continues through you … filling the earth!!!

Jesus Christ, did not come to make bad men good; but to give dead men life! A dead man can’t save himself no matter how much he may try.
Luke 15:24 “…for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”

Romans 6:23 (NLT)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

311 Colossians Series# 3, Ministry, PowerPoint Slides

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