Let us open our Bibles again to Colossians. We have already had one address in this series on Paul’s doctrine and its bearing on our life and testimony in these last days. Last time we traced the bringing in of the church historically and the conversion of the Apostle Paul, together with the testimony that was committed to him. We saw in his ministry how he sought to bring all the saints into full fellowship with the revelation that had been given to him as the special Apostle of God. Confessedly, the Apostle has a unique position unlike that of other apostles. Of those spoken of in Scripture as “apostles,” Paul was not a whit behind the very chiefest! Paul was the chosen vessel through whom Christ revealed the truth of the church. In fact, Paul is the only one of the eight authors of the New Testament who speaks of “the church of God.” To be sure, others of the apostles speak of “the church,” but Paul only, I believe, uses the expression, “The church of God” (Acts 20:2828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28); 1 Cor. 1:2; 10:32; 11:22; 15:9; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1313For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: (Galatians 1:13); 1 Tim. 3:5).
In our last address, we followed Paul down to the first chapter of Colossians, and we laid emphasis on this statement: “Christ . . . whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily” (Col. 1:2729). Then, in the next chapter: “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God” (ch. 2:12). Leave out the remainder of that verse. You will find it omitted in the better translations. “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (vs. 3). The Apostle’s exercise there is that there should be the acknowledgment in your life and mine of the whole truth of the mystery of God. And the mystery of God is connected with Christ and the church.