Colossians 1:24-29

We are changed precept by precept by the power of Holy Spirit into the image of Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father.

Christ in us the hope of glory!

Colossians 1:24-29

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, 25 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, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 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. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

Paul refers to his imprisonment, which he considers part of his calling—not a cause for shame. His attitude serves as a model for the Colossians of how to endure hardship for the sake of others. This difficult phrase might refer to the hardships traditionally expected to befall the Messiah’s people in advance of His return (sometimes called the “messianic woes”). The idea behind this tradition was that a certain amount of suffering was necessary before God’s people would be vindicated. Paul seems to be referring here to this remainder of afflictions that the Church must endure. He considers his own sufferings to represent some portion of this remainder; in this way, he is suffering on behalf of the Church. God’s plan of salvation was revealed through the death and resurrection of Christ. This specifically involves Christ’s ministry of reconciliation, which unites Gentiles (non-Jews, such as the Colossians) with Jews and creates one people of God.  The Colossians’ non-Jewish ethnicity did not exclude them or disqualify them from God’s promises and plan. On the contrary, the work of Christ makes them eligible to share in the inheritance of God’s people. The inclusion of Gentiles  into the people of God was always part of God’s plan of salvation. 

 Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

False teachers may have promoted special knowledge that was available only to a select few. Paul wants the Colossians to understand that the truth and wisdom of the gospel is available to everyone in their congregation; all believers are called to full maturity in Christ. Paul explains that he, too, is on the path to Christian maturity. Like all believers, he is pursuing the hard work of discipleship in cooperation with Christ’s indwelling presence. Faithlife Bible.

Paul is making the point that a Christian will endure the sufferings that Christ would be enduring if He were still in the world. Christ had told His disciples that if the world hated Him it would hate His followers. If people persecuted Him they would persecute His followers. Paul believed he was suffering the afflictions God wanted him to endure. Instead of facing his difficulties with dread, Paul saw his troubles as a time of joy, because they were producing an eternal reward.

In Greek pagan religions, a mystery was a secret teaching reserved for a few spiritual teachers who had been initiated into an inner circle. Paul uses the word to refer to knowledge that had been hidden from ages and from generations but was now being revealed by God. The Lord had revealed this mystery to Paul and called him to be a steward of it. The mystery is that Christ now lives within Gentile believers: Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is in harmony with Ephesians. In that letter, Paul states that the mystery is the union of Jews and Gentiles in one body, Christ’s church. The concept of perfection in the NT means completeness or maturity. Here the reference is probably to the coming of Christ, when every believer will experience the completion of Christ’s work in him or her. Paul toiled and agonized for the perfection of his fellow believers not in his own strength but by the power of God working in him. NKJ Bible.

Romans 8:10 | And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Romans 8:11 | But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.