Colossians 1:24-29 (NKJV) I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
V24 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…” The word rejoice is used 11X in Colossians. How can one rejoice when they are suffering? They don’t enjoy or rejoice over the suffering itself, but rejoice in God, His watchful care, His promises, the dross burning strengthening one’s faith, the experience to help comfort others who are suffering, and learning patience, Compare Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 1:5-7, and 2 Timothy 1:8. “He wants to know also in an experiential way the power of Christ’s resurrection. That is he wants to experience the same power which raised Christ from the dead surging through his own being, overcoming sin in his life and producing the Christian graces” (Wuest’s Word Studies on Philippians 3:10-11). Like the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 2:9-10), we want to know (learned only by suffering) God’s reward for suffering for Christ and perfecting our faith (also, 1 Peter 5:1). In suffering, we are to pray (James 5:13). Christians suffer in this life, but unbelievers suffer eternally. (Jude 1:5). When we suffer, Jesus also suffers. The word “body” refers to the church itself (believers). The illustration is that Jesus is the head and believers are the body (Ephesians 1:23, Ephesians 4:12, and Hebrews 12:23).
V25 “…of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God…” Paul is a minister. His official titles are believer and Apostle. All believers are given a ministry to glory God, bear fruit, be a witness to a spiritually dead world, and help each other. We are all stewards responsible to carry out our commission (gift of the Spirit). Our ministry, like Paul’s, are for each other and to fulfill the word of God (the Gospel). We fulfill it by believing it (the initial faith), then speaking it and living it.
V26 “…the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.” The Gospel, particularly to the Gentiles, was revealed in the Old Testament but not known until Jesus and His church. The plan of salvation by faith, not works (keeping Mosaic Law) was also revealed (Genesis 15:6), but it was not understood until the Lord Jesus came to earth. See Romans 9:30 and Romans 15:9-12. Saints are believers who have been justified by faith in the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures are clear in Genesis 15:6 that Abraham believed, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Most other Old Testament believers showed their faith in the words (prophets and life) and living (Rahab in James 2:25). Our lives must also reflect a changed heart.
V27 “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” To those who believe, it is God’s will to know the riches of this glory, that is, we are saved from God’s wrath, justified, reconciled, adopted, etc. Jesus Christ IS our hope for eternal life in heaven and its glory. Only Jesus is savior.