A Life for the Gospel Colossians 1:24 – 2:7 © John Stevenson, 2010 www/JohnStevenson.net

Paul’s Prayer 1:1-14 Christ 1:15-23 What Paul does as a result of what Christ did 1:24 – 2:7 Who He is What He did

Colossians 1:21-22 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--

Colossians 1:23 …if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Colossians 1:23 …if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. dia,kon oj  Diakonos

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Paul’s fleshly body Christ’s spiritual body On behalf of

Colossians 1:25-26 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, dia,kon oj  Diakonos

Colossians 1:25-26 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,

Colossians 1:26-27 …that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The Mystery Christ in you The hope of glory

Ephesians Stresses the message that you are in Christ Colossians Stresses the message that Christ is in you Looks to the heavenly reality of your position in Christ Looks to the reality of your experience of Christ’s indwelling Spirit

We are in Christ Our position in Christ, having been united with Him through faith Christ is in Us The indwelling Spirit of God that takes up residence within us The Baptism of the Spirit The Indwelling of the Spirit

We are in Christ Christ is in Us For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him (Romans 8:9).

Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. evne,rg eia  energeia evnerge, w  energeo

Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. avgwni,zo mai  agonizomai

Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,avgwn  agon

Colossians 2:1-2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,

Christ in you A true knowledge of God’s mystery A full assurance of understanding Resulting in… Which is…

Colossians 2:2-3 …that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of under- standing, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Colossians 2:4-5 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…

As you have received Christ In that same way you are to walk in Christ How did you receive Christ? How are you to walk in Christ? By Faith!

Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. Present active indicative Perfect passive participle Present passive participle Present active participle

As you have received So walk As you were rooted Be built up As you were instructed Be established in faith