A Minister of the Gospel Mystery

The Apostle Paul insisted that he was made to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Eph 3:7; Col 1:23, 25). Jesus Christ Himself is the Gospel of God, that is, the previously hidden mystery now revealed to Jews and Gentiles by means of oral proclamation.

True Gospel minsters preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 1:18, 23; 2:2, 4). We proclaim Him, who is the wisdom of God and the power of God unto salvation for those who believe our report (Is 53:1; Rom 1:16–17; 1 Cor 1:24; Col 1:28–29). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ, the Word of truth (Jn 17:17; Rom 10:17).

The whole counsel of God for His people is the Holy Bible. God is there; and He has spoken through the prophets, Christ the Son, and through the apostles (Heb 1:1–2). His message to us is good news (Gospel) about Himself and what He has done to reconcile us to the position of righteousness and peace with Him (Rom 5:1; 14:17; Eph 2:14–15).

The world, under the rule and influence of Satan, is blinded from seeing the truth that would set people free from slavery to sin (Jn 8:44; 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Rom 6:6; 2 Cor 4:4). Sinners are lawless rebels at enmity with God because they are under the judgment of God, which warrants the righteous wrath of God (Gen 18:25; Rom 1:18; 1 Jn 3:4). The threat of eternal punishment turns the natural man into a hater of God (Ps 2; Mt 25:41, 46; Rom 1:30; 1 Cor 2:14; Jude 7), hater of Christ (Jn 7:7), and hater of Christians (Jn 15:18–25).

This is the reason Christian ministers suffer the scorn, ridicule, and persecution of godless men (Mt 5:10–12; Col 1:24). The faithful and true minister of God’s revealed mystery — Jesus Christ — promote the kingdom and the King opposed to the ruler and kingdom of this world.

God is calling all men, everywhere to repent of their sins and hostility toward God (Acts 17:30). He is calling them to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all their hearts (Prv 3:5–6; Acts 16:31). The Gospel minister persuades people by heralding the King of kings, the Lord our righteousness (Jer 23:6; 33:16; 2 Cor 5:11; 1 Tim 6:15).

Although the Gospel call is heralded to all people, everywhere (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15), it is only made effectual by the interposing presence of the Holy Spirit (Is 61:1; Lk 4:18; Rom 1:9; 15:19; 1 Cor 2:4; 1 Pet 1:12; 4:6), the third Person of the Trinitarian Godhead, sent into the world by God the Father and God the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26). The world, however, cannot receive the Spirit of Christ (Jn 14:17); but to those for whom He is sent and manifested (Col 1:26), there is regeneration and transformation (Jn 3:1–8; Rom 12:1–3; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:3).

The Spirit of adoption causes God’s chosen people to be born again of God (Rom 8:15, 23). God’s elect are made alive in Christ when they are transferred from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Eph 2:5; Col 1:13; 2:13). God’s motive in adopting some rebel sinners into His family is love (1 Jn 3:1; 4:9). The love of God is set upon elect souls from every nation — both Jew and Gentile (Rom 5:5; Rev 5:9; 7:9). The recipient of Christ (Jn 1:12), by the will of God (Jn 1:13; Col 1:27), has received the token of His love poured out into his or her heart (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14).

The knowledge and wisdom of God is revealed to us by the foolishness of Gospel preaching (1 Cor 1:18, 23). This public act of proclamation is humiliating to the minister, which humbles the proclaimer (Micah 6:8; 1 Cor 4:10); but it is done with power and in a demonstration of the Spirit, who fills the minister (Lk 1:67; Acts 1:8; 2:4; 4:8, 31; 13:52; 18:28; 1 Cor 2:4). The true preacher is not ashamed of the Gospel, however.

The goal of Gospel ministry is for each saint to grow up into Christ and to be complete in Him (Rom 8:29; Col 1:28). Just as the fullness of God was in Christ (Col 1:19; 2:9), so the fullness of Christ is to be in every believer by His Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11). In the end, it is for Christ’s church, His body of believing members, to be presented holy and blameless before God the Father in glory (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22).

The saints have a hope and a future because of our union with our God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 1:4; 2:13; 2 Pet 1:1). We are one with Him even as He is one with God the Father (Jn 10:30; Phil 3:9). The Christian is positioned “in Christ” (1 Cor 1:30); while the Spirit of Christ is in us. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). Thus, the Christian life is a mutual indwelling.

The entrusted stewardship is an appointment and a calling by God (Mk 3:14; Acts 26:16; 1 Cor 9:17; Eph 3:2; Col 1:25; 1 Tim 2:7; 2 Tim 1:11), for the man of God to study to show himself approved as one who is faithful (Eph 6:21; 2 Tim 2:15). Many false teachers and false prophets, deceivers, have gone out into the world (1 Jn 4:1; 2 Jn 1:7), to lead people away from the purity and simplicity of the Gospel message. This is why one must grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ — firmly established and steadfast (Col 1:11, 23; 2 Pet 3:17–18).

Because God is immutable, His message is unchanging (Heb 6:17–18). Therefore, the called man of God must be unwavering in his commitment to proclaim the excellencies of Him who calls God’s elect redeemed, regenerate people out of darkness and into his marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9). No one comes to Christ unless God drags him (Jn 6:44).

In this spiritual warfare between kingdoms in bitter conflict (Eph 6:10–20; Rev 11:15), the victor victorious is the King of glory (Ps 24; 2 Cor 2:14), who suffered, bled, and died in an act of war. Jesus laid down His life in battle, in order to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

At the cross, Jesus bore our sins in His body and cancelled out our debt of sin (Col 2:14; 1 Pet 2:24). He paid the price for our eternal redemption (Heb 9:12, 15); and with His precious blood He purchased His church — all those given to Him by the Father before the world began (Acts 20:28; Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9; 1 Pet 1:19). He saved us (Titus 3:5), as there is only one Name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

For the merits of His perfect work in life and death, God highly exalted His only begotten Son and gave Him the Name above every other name (Eph 1:21; Phil 2:9). Only one man in the history of the world has secured right standing before the holy God; and this is the God-man, Jesus Messiah. Every knee must bow to Him and every tongue must confess that Jesus is Lord of all (Acts 10:36; Phil 2:11).

The minister of this mystery — now revealed to all — will indeed suffer in diverse manners; but it is a joy for him to suffer for the sake of Christ’s church (Col 1:24; Jas 1:2–4). It is an honor to be afflicted in the manner of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us that we might share in the sufferings and also the riches of His glory (Eph 1:18; 3:16; Phil 4:19; Col 1:27). Let this Gospel mystery, Christ Jesus our Lord, be known to you by the faithful minister; and may God grant you His grace to believe our report from this day forth and forevermore (Eph 2:8–9; Phil 1:29).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

January 25, 2024

Colossians 1:24–29