Colossians: Week 3, September 23,2018

Istrouma Baptist Church Podcast

People love a good mystery. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave us Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr. Watson. Agatha Christie delighted her audiences with the exploits of Hercule Poirot. My generation grew up with the adventures of the Hardy Boys. The companion series especially for girls was Nancy Drew. Even current TV shows likeStranger Things, 24, and NCIS have elements of the mystery genre.

The most famous type of mystery is probably the “Whodunit.” The plot twists and turns and the reader is left to figure out who is guilty of the crime. Often the writer leads the readers down rabbit trails with the hope of totally surprising them with an unexpected conclusion.

History’s greatest mystery is this: “How can sinful humanity be made right with a loving, yet holy God.” We are sinners. That much is plain. God does love us. In his love He would forgive our sins, but, His holiness requires that sin and wrong be punished. Will He love us and forgive us? Or, will He do what is just and punish our sins? How is this mystery solved? Whodunit?

The Bible was not written to lead us down rabbit trails. Instead, it is written to clearly reveal “whodunit.” This Sunday we will see in crystal-clear terms how God solved history’s greatest mystery.

Jesus Reigns

“History’s Greatest Mystery”

Colossians 1:24-29

1. Glad ministry

24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25of 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(1:24-25).

1. A ministry of suffering
2. A ministry of stewardship

2. Glorious mystery

26The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.27 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(1:26-27).

1. A mystery that is revealed
2. A mystery that is relational

3. Growing maturity

28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me(1:28-29).

1. A maturity that requires God’s wisdom
2. A maturity that requires God’s work