How is the Word of God fully carried out? (Colossians 1:24-29)

Once I have read the following inscription on the window of a car “The truth is the shield of the soul.” The Lord Jesus Christ said that the truth sets us free and this truth is the Word of God. The deep knowledge of the Bible brings freedom, joy, fufilment on this earth and inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven. The lack of knowledge from the Holy Scriptures, or partial knowledge of this truth, makes us vulnerable to bad and heretical teachings, that can lead us to eternal death. That’s why, it is important to know the whole truth of God.

In the church from Colossae, as I have said in the previous articles, came heretical people, that brought a deceitful teaching that began to doubt the Word of God. It seems that the leader of that church, Epaphras couldn’t cope alone with the provocations of the heretics. That’s why, he went to ask for Apostle Paul’s help, who immediately interfered to “fully carry out the preaching of the word of God” in the church from Colossae. Here is how the Word of God has been carried out fully…

While writing this epistle, Apostle Paul was in prison and he said he was suffering for them, for Christians, because he had preached and continued to preach the message of the Gospel to them. But he also said that his sufferings were not in vain, but were a contribution to Christ’s sufferings for His church. Here is how Paul says this:

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. (Colossians 1:24)(NASB)

Through the dedication and insistance of the workers of Gospel

The knowledge of the Word of God is not a simple thing and it requests much effort from those who are called to teach people the Way of the Lord. Every servant has to understand how important it is to teach Christians the “whole plan of God” and to dedicate himself totally to this purpose. If one is not aware that he has this calling from God, or he doesn’t take it seriously, he wil not be able to contribute to carry out fully the Word of God in the lives of those who were called to serve. Paul understood well his calling and he lived and acted according to it, as he says:

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, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 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. (Colossians 1:25–27)(NASB)

Through the love of the servants of Gospel for all people

The Lord Jesus came for all people and God wants us to think in the same limits, to try to be useful to all people that God gives us the grace to meet and to serve them. I have heard from a young man who once took a train, and he was travelling in the same carriage with a man who, he found out later, was a priest. When he found out that, he rejoiced greatly and he asked him if he could put him some questions he had from the Bible. To his great wonder, he heard an answer that shocked him. The priest said: “I took a leave and I want to have a rest now…” In other words, he suggested him to come at the end of the leave. Paul’s attitude was a totally different one, when he wrote further on:

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

If you are a servant of the church, what do you do to fully carry out the preaching of the word of God to the understanding of the people God gave you the privilege to serve? Are you always ready to be in their service? How do you prepare and what quality is the teaching you are giving to them? How much do you personally study the Holy Scriptures and live in accord to them, so that you may be able to teach others the healthy teaching?

If you have recently known God, how much effort do you make and how great is your wish and passion to fully carry out the Word of God in your heart and understanding? This has a vital importance for your life of faith. Only this can protect you by the deceitful teachings of this world and by the things that depart people from God.

Do your utmost to fully carry out the Word of God in your life and in the lives of other people!

Translated by Djugostran Felicia