Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

Part II--The Process Of Reconciliation With God

F. Lesson 12--We Must Be Faithful In Serving The Lord

15. READ: COLOSSIANS 1:24-29

c. What was so powerfully working in Paul?

Answer: The energy of Christ was powerfully working in Paul so that he could labor and struggle to proclaim Christ. Paul's labors were in admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, just as we are to do, (verses 28 and 29).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• The church, Christ's body--individual children of God--must teach with all wisdom so that we may increase our knowledge of God and comprehend our hope, our inheritance and the great power that works in us:

Ephesians 1:16-23: "I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills everything in every way."

• Paul received this gift of revealing the mystery of the Word of God by the grace of God, which was given to him by the working of God's power. God's power--the energy of Christ--was given to the church.

It is through the church--His power working in us--that God reveals His wisdom to the rulers and authorities in heaven. It is truly a staggering thought that the church on earth is seen--watched--by these spiritual powers. A spiritually united church shows these rulers and authorities in heaven the wisdom of God; God proudly displays us to them. The spiritual unity of Christ and the church--His power working in us--is God's triumphant display of the fulfillment of all of His wisdom, His great mystery that is revealed and spread abroad by the church through the power of Christ working in us:

Ephesians 3:7-13: "I [Paul] became a servant of this Gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, Who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory."