Colossians 1:27-29 NIV
[27] “To them, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. [28] He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. [29] To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.”

Paul’s letter to the Colossians, a church that came into being, not through Paul, but through the ministry of another believer, Epaphras, is an explanation of the supremacy of Jesus, above and beyond every other contender. He is not part of but active in creation, sustaining the universe by the mighty power of His Word. He is sovereign and supreme in the church. He is present and at work in every believer.

There is now no difference between Jew and Gentile. Through His reconciling work on the cross, Jesus has obliterated the past with its history of hostility between Jew and Gentile and created a new nation out of the two.

Galatians 3:27-29 NIV
[26] “So in Christ Jesus, all are children of God through faith,
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Since God revealed His plan to Paul and called him to spearhead this mission, Paul gave himself to fulfilling his calling with every ounce of energy and strength God supplied.

His adversaries were many. Both natural Gentiles and Jews hated him for his faithful commitment to his task. He was buffeted and bruised from every side.

This part of his life, suffering and testing, was part of his calling. Every move brought another wave of hatred against him. Jail at times was almost his second home!

So bad had persecution become that Paul pleaded with the Lord to take it away, but God said no. He provided enough grace to overcome Paul’s misery and give him joy in suffering, remembering that his identity with his Master was to reason for his suffering.

So, Paul gave himself to his task with vigour, knowing that God was working in and through him to accomplish His great purpose.

What was Paul’s geatest mission? In seven (English) words, he states his purpose. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” He bent all his energies towards achieving this goal. All his travelling, all his preaching, all his teaching, all his writing, yes, even all his suffering wa focused in this one goal, that Jesus Christ would reside in and change the lives of everyone who believed in Him, through His Spirit.

In partnership with the Holy Spirit, going where He led, preaching and teaching what He revealed, and guiding believers towards obedience to the truth, Paul laboured faithfully with joy.

As his life drew to an end, Paul had the confidence to pass the baton on to young Timothy …

2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5-8 NIV
[1] “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: [2] Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction….
[5] But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”

…And to testify…

[6] “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Paul could do no more than begin the work of presenting God’s message to the Gentiles. Others down the centuries would take the baton on. The tragedy is that many have taken the baton and turned into something that no longer resembles the original charge. Many leaders in the church have become “lord” in place of Jesus.

Only those who have faithfully passed on the message of God’s grace in Christ to all nations will share in the rewards of a commission faithfully discharged.

God has entrusted to the church a body of truth, which He instructed His people to guard, to live by, and to pass on to the next generation intact and unchanged. Any additions or subtractions will bring judgment in those who made them.

The church may not carry this responsibility with the same consequences Paul experienced, but the mission is the same. To every nation, we have the charge, to preach Jesus as Lord and to bring them to faith and obedience to the gospel so that Christ Himself will be formed in them.