Lessons

Colossians Study – Part 6. Colossians 1:24-29 puts before us one of the most important aspects of our calling today and it is impossible for us to recognize this calling apart from the teaching of Paul. Starting with verse 24, Paul is explaining the suffering he personally endured that was told to him by God when he was converted on the road to Damascus. God said to Paul that he would suffer some things for my sake which he is now referring to in verse 24. From the time Paul was converted in Acts 9 through Acts 28, he had suffered many things for the hope of Israel… but that suffering changed at the close of Acts because Paul was given a special ministry that was hidden in God, before the foundation of the world. In Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus, Philemon, 1 & 2 Timothy, Paul was acting only for the body of Christ to propagate the Mystery as is referenced in Colossians 1:25. Much of this message from Paul is overlooked by Christianity and much of this is ignored by lumping it in with what has been promised to Israel. The fact that Christians overlook this calling is a sad thing because God has given to us, as the body of Christ, a unique calling and unforeseen ministry in the world. Let’s take a look at what this ministry is in Colossians 1:24-25 (KJV) “24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” There are four points to call out from verse 25: 1. Paul’s ministry as a minister. 2. A dispensation of God was given specifically to Paul. 3. This Dispensation was given to Paul for you, and 4. This message completed the Word of God. So what is this dispensation that Paul was given to preach to the Gentiles? Paul calls it “The Mystery”. Colossians 1:26 (KJV) says “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:”.