Explore the Bible: October 24

The Gospel’s Goal • Colossians 1:24-2:3

By Don Hicks

The Apostle Paul said his goal in the work of ministry was: “We proclaim him (Christ Jesus), warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28 CSB).

“Warning and teaching everyone” is Paul’s commitment to preaching and teaching the “everyone” that Jesus included in the very familiar John 3:16, “whosoever.”

Paul warned everyone to whom he could reach that they should believe that Jesus Christ was God’s one and only Son and warned them, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18 KJV). Paul warned all that would hear him, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 CSB).

It is very important to pay attention to Jesus’ emphasis on “whosoever” with no limitation on race, nationality, social, or economic group. Paul traveled the known world of his day to teach the mystery. That mystery was: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27b CSB). Paul wanted the Colossian Christians to know why he had struggled so hard to share with them Christ’s love for them.

Travel and communication was much harder in Paul’s world than in ours. In Colossians 2:1, Paul tells those reading his letter, “For I want you to know how greatly I am struggling for you, for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me in person” (CSB).

Paul’s commitment to all those who had not seen him in person is again emphasizing his commitment to everyone in Colossians 1:28. Jesus came and died for all people. For a Jewish man who grew up in Israel to say, “God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 CSB), is very unusual. Traditionally, Jewish people did not want to share glorious wealth and even the hope of glory with those who were not the decedents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Paul was definitely an international missionary (and of course a home missionary among his own people). Seeing Paul’s commitment to share with all people, even those who had not seen him in person, should rekindle our commitment to support missions around the world with our own tithes and also a meaningful offering to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

Now would be a good time for you to encourage others in your Sunday School class to begin praying to determine what they will do this year.

The Apostle Paul considered himself a servant to the church. He says it this way in the end of verse 24 and verse 25. “For his body, that is, the church. 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.”

God’s commission for us can be found in Christ’s own words at the end of Matthew’s Gospel: “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’” (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).

This command or commission is so important we find it also in Luke’s writings: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 CSB).

We started this week’s lesson with Colossians 1:28: “We proclaim him (Christ Jesus), warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (CSB). The Old Testament gives us real insight about how to find the wisdom Paul wants to teach everyone. King Solomon wrote in this proverb concerning wisdom and the fear of God:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his instructions have good insight.
His praises endure forever” (Psalms 111:10 CSB).

If we want our children and grandchildren to have wisdom, we must first teach them the fear of God and his one and only Son, Jesus the Christ. If we want wise leaders in America, we must first choose and vote for those who clearly fear the one true God.

Hicks is missions director for Jasper Association in Bay Springs. He may be contacted at donaldwhicks@gmail.com.