Colossians 1:24 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Colossians 1:24

Comments

The apostle tells us that he rejoices even though he is suffering, because of what those sufferings are accomplishing among the people of God. He weighs all that happens to him, the purpose behind everything and the accomplishments which come about, and that leads to his rejoicing. You could say that if there is no opposition, if there are no troubles, if there are no rejections of one sort or another, then it is very likely we have no witness. We cannot be representing the Lord, or standing for him in life and in lip, because the teaching of Scripture, and the example of the apostle Paul, tells us that this brings many sufferings. Well, he said he has learned to rejoice in his suffering – not to enjoy them, not to find them pleasant. They are deeply distressing at times and extremely painful. And yet he can look at them and he can find cause for rejoicing, because this is what he has been called to experience, and he is assured that wonderful things are being accomplished, that souls are being touched, hearts are being moved. He uses this curious language in verse 24 and he says that he fills up ‘that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ’ in his flesh. He completes the afflictions that were meted out to Christ. Now first of all we make it quite plain that does not mean that he shares in anyway the vicarious sufferings of Christ for sinners. That is impossible. No man could share that. Christ, the eternal Son came, and he suffered and died to bear the punishment of our sin. Only he could do that. And when he did it, he said, ‘It is finished.’ He had accomplished that work fully. The afflictions of Christ referred to here are the hostility and the opposition which he faced for Christ’s sake. And we too, who are now the body of Christ. share the same rejection that Christ suffered. ‘If they persecute me,’ said the Lord, ‘they will persecute you also.’ ‘That which is behind,’ means our share, not of the vicarious sufferings of, but of the rejection of Christ and the hostility shown towards him. ‘In my flesh,’ in my body, he says. He was lashed, he was stoned, all manner of things. ‘For his body’s sake, which is the church.’ He does it for the church.

Application

The Christian life leads to rejection and to difficulty if it is really lived for Christ. And alongside that there are trials allowed to us by the Lord, and we are having to learn to sacrifice for him and to labour for him. There are many lessons, in dependence and faith. We are left short sometimes, in great need one way or another in order that we trust him and pray to him and prove him. We are being led down a pathway which means the forsaking of ease. The middle-class comfortable Christian, who knows no great stresses and rejection; he or she expends no great effort for the Lord, expends no real witness, and everything goes calmly and smoothly. No training from God, no opposition from the enemy of souls. But that is not the experience of Paul. ‘Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you.’

Now we are taught in the Scripture that what one member of the body suffers they all suffer. And the head similarly suffers. A pain in the limb is suffered in the mind, in the body, the whole body. And so it is with the church. And if we suffer for Christ’s sake, Christ shares our suffering and identifies with us. We are partners with him. What a privilege to be a partner with Christ and a sharer, a partaker of his earthly sufferings of rejection and repudiation.

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Colossians 1:24 Commentary and Bible Study