Christ The Hope In Us | Colossians 1:24-28

and turn with me to Colossians chapter 1 verses 24 to 28.

That passage again is Colossians chapter 1 verses 24 to 28.

Now before I read that for you this morning, might I just say that facts alone don't always change people, right? I mean, you can explain an idea clearly, give the evidence convincingly and make a solid argument, but often what makes people remember something is a personal story.

And that's because stories have a way of making the truth tangible as they help us see what an idea looks like in real life.

For example, when someone shares how they've experienced joy in suffering, hope in hardship, God's faithfulness through difficult times, the truth moves from merely being understood in theological terms to being felt in real time.

That's why we're encouraged as Christians to share our testimony daily.

with those around us.

Personal stories don't replace the truth of the gospel.

No, they illustrate it because they often put flesh on the principles that might otherwise have remained abstract.

Now I mention all of this to you because we're back in the book of Colossians this morning and Paul does something really interesting here.

You see, rather than simply explaining great big Christian truths in theoretical terms, he shares his own experience in regards to his serving of Christ.

He tells us about his suffering, his calling, his ministry, his purpose, all in personal terms, while pointing the people of God to Christ.

All this to say, his testimony here brings out some truths that are for all of us who have called upon the name of the Lord.

The first truth is that union with Christ's body will come with its fair share of sufferings.

The second truth is that though the gospel was a mystery, it's now been revealed.

And the third truth is that our only hope in life and death is union with Christ, our hope of glory.

So if you have your Bibles with you there this morning, we read these words in verses 24 to 28.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I'm filling up what's lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints." To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

Would you please join me in asking our Father to Help us understand these words this morning.

Father, we do thank you for your word.

It is a light to our feet, a lamp into our path.

And we ask that you would help us, give us wisdom this morning to understand what you want us to know.

And we ask for this in Jesus' name.

Amen.