Embodying Christ's Love Through Personal Sacrifice

In this session on Colossians 1:24-26, we delve into the profound and somewhat perplexing statement by Paul about "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." At first glance, this might seem to suggest a deficiency in Christ's atoning work, but we affirm that nothing is lacking in the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. The atonement is complete, as evidenced by various scriptures, including Colossians 2, Romans 8, and Hebrews 9 and 10, which emphasize the finality and completeness of Christ's redemptive work.

The key to understanding Paul's statement lies in the concept of personal, bodily, and costly presentation of Christ's love and afflictions. By examining Philippians 2:29, where Epaphroditus is said to have fulfilled what was lacking in the Philippians' service to Paul, we see a parallel. The Philippians' love and gift were complete, but the personal delivery by Epaphroditus was necessary to make that love tangible and effective. Similarly, Paul’s sufferings serve as a personal embodiment of Christ’s afflictions, making the love and sacrifice of Christ visible and tangible to the church.

This understanding extends to the concept of world missions. Missionaries, as emissaries of Christ, embody the love and afflictions of Christ through their own sufferings. Their sacrifices serve as a living testament to the love of Christ, making His afflictions present and effective in the lives of those they serve. This personal and costly presentation of the gospel is crucial for the spread of the kingdom of God, as it demonstrates the depth of Christ's love in a tangible way.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The sufficiency of Christ's atoning work is complete and final. There is no deficiency in His sacrifice, as it fully accomplishes the redemption and justification of believers. This truth is affirmed in scriptures like Romans 8:3 and Hebrews 9:12, which emphasize the once-for-all nature of Christ's sacrifice. [03:19]
• 2. Paul's statement about "filling up what is lacking" refers to the personal and tangible presentation of Christ's afflictions through the sufferings of His followers. This is not about adding to the atonement but about making it visible and effective in the lives of others. [05:40]
• 3. The example of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:29 illustrates how personal sacrifice can fulfill what is lacking in the expression of love and service. His willingness to risk his life made the Philippians' love for Paul tangible and effective. [07:13]
• 4. World missions involve the incarnation of Christ's love through the afflictions of His emissaries. Missionaries embody the love and sacrifice of Christ, making His afflictions present and effective in the lives of those they serve. [11:02]
• 5. The costly work of missionaries serves as a beautiful representation of Christ's love, drawing people into the kingdom of God. Their personal sacrifices make the love of Christ tangible and compelling to those who witness it. [12:19]
  ** [12:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:14] - Introduction to Colossians 1:24-26
• [00:32] - Paul's Sufferings for the Church
• [01:09] - The Risky Statement
• [01:49] - The Completeness of Christ's Atonement
• [02:22] - Scriptural Affirmations of Sufficiency
• [03:19] - Romans and Hebrews on Atonement
• [05:01] - Once for All: The Finality of Christ's Work
• [05:40] - Understanding "Filling Up What is Lacking"
• [06:08] - The Example of Epaphroditus
• [07:13] - Personal Sacrifice and Love
• [08:32] - The Role of Emissaries
• [09:05] - Defining the Presentation of Afflictions
• [10:04] - Paul as an Emissary of Christ
• [11:02] - World Missions and Incarnation of Love
• [12:19] - The Impact of Missionary Sacrifice

1. In Colossians 1:24, Paul speaks about "filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." What does this phrase mean in the context of the passage? [00:32]
2. How does Philippians 2:29-30 illustrate the concept of personal sacrifice in the service of others, as seen in the example of Epaphroditus? [06:08]
3. According to Romans 8:3, what did God accomplish through sending His Son, and how does this relate to the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work? [03:19]
4. What role does personal suffering play in making Christ's love and afflictions tangible to others, according to the sermon? [09:05]

1. How does the example of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:29-30 help us understand Paul's statement about "filling up what is lacking" in Colossians 1:24? [07:13]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that missionaries embody the love and afflictions of Christ through their own sufferings? [11:02]
3. How does the sermon explain the relationship between personal sacrifice and the effectiveness of Christ's afflictions in the lives of others? [09:48]
4. What implications does the sermon draw about the role of world missions in demonstrating the love of Christ? [11:02]

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced or witnessed personal sacrifice in the service of others. How did it make Christ's love more tangible to you or those around you? [08:32]
2. How can you personally embody the love and afflictions of Christ in your daily life, especially in challenging situations? [11:43]
3. Consider the missionaries you know or have heard about. How can you support them in their work of making Christ's love visible and effective in the lives of others? [12:19]
4. What are some practical ways you can make the love of Christ tangible to those in your community who may not yet know Him? [11:59]
5. How can you prepare yourself to be an emissary of Christ's love, even if it involves personal sacrifice or suffering? [10:04]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you can take a step of faith to demonstrate Christ's love more visibly. What action will you take this week to make that happen? [09:05]
7. Reflect on the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work. How does this truth impact your understanding of your own role in sharing the gospel with others? [03:19]