“So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God’s presence as a mature person in Christ. To do this, I work and struggle, using Christ’s great strength that works so powerfully in me,” Colossians 1:28-29.
Look at vs 28, in the King James Version.
“Whom we preach, warning every man or mankind, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus,” Colossians 1:28.
The word ‘perfect’ in the text means to be presented as mature or reaching the place of maturity. This is not to say that you are flawless, perfect, pure, error-free, tip-top, or without blemish. You are maturing spirituality as a believer in Christ Jesus. You are becoming more like Christ, even as you go through the process that is unending in your development as a new person with a new life. You are becoming more and more like Him. When we take on the attributes of Christ, we are more humble. We show humility, obedience to the will of God, patience, and faithfulness. We have more self-control. In other words we know how to control our emotions and respond appropriately to life’s situations. We honor others and don’t seek selfish gain. We live in truth, not finding pleasure in evil. We delight in the truth, and in being a peacemaker not a troublemaker. This is the difference between ‘I need’ and ‘I want.’
I need to be kind; I won’t be mean. I need to love; I won’t hate. I need to be forgiving; I won’t be indifferent or uncaring. I need to be open minded; I won’t be closed minded.
Paul’s desire is for the believers in Christ to have the mindset of Christ—to mature spiritually and not look at the ‘want’ but the ‘need.’ The apostle informs the church to work and strive not in their own strength but in the power and strength of Jesus Christ and God’s spirit that is at work in all of us. This is why we preach the message of Christ. This is for your salvation through faith in Him who is your hope of glory. Paul told the church that ‘as Christ works in you, you will know the riches of glory and the mysteries among you who are Gentiles.’ They were once the enemies of God in their minds by wicked works, but through the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross, they were reconciled to the fullness of God’s pleasures to give them life. Like them, you now have access to all things.
“I want you to know how hard I work for you, those of you that are in Laodicea, and others who have never seen me. I want you to know and to be strengthened and joined together with love so that you may be rich in understanding. This leads to knowing fully God’s secret. This is Christ Himself. In Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are safely kept for all mankind to know,” Colossians 2:1-2.
In the city of Laodicea there were a lot of false teachers that were spreading false words that had the people believing that they didn’t need salvation in Jesus Christ to have new life. Laodicea was a rich city and the people were wealthy and well-to-do with means and success. The city was a trade site for commerce, with the only focus being riches and great trade. The people said, ‘We don’t need to have new life; we have life. We are live very well, wonderfully.’ But they really had nothing. You are without the glory if you don’t know Jesus Christ. Paul makes this so plain to them: ‘Know Christ and have new life.’
