Colossians 1:26-29
 
Col 1:26 (KJB)
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
 
Here the Apostle Paul is telling the Colossians that the great mysteries which have been planted in the pages of Scripture by God are now being made manifest to the Saints. This means those things which were hidden to the understanding of those in the past are now being revealed. The greatest revealed mystery of the Old Testament was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. His incarnation, the virgin birth, the sacrifice on Calvary and finally the Lord’s resurrection and ascension. Then there was the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all the true believers. These things were not revealed until the time of the New Testament. This is why Paul stated in the previous verse the phrase “fulfill the word of God.” All those things which were mysteries in the Old Testament are now fulfilled in the New Testament.
 
Col 1:27 (KJB)
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
 
Make known - Revealed
Hope - Expectation
 
Paul states that God is going to make known the riches or wealth of the glory of this mystery, as He has already done among the Jews, He will now reveal it to those Gentiles He is planning to save. The great mystery of the ages is the Lord Jesus Christ who died for His people to grant them eternal life. When we become saved, the Holy Spirit indwells us and He plants in us the great expectation of Heaven or glory. The fact that the Lord Jesus Christ indwells every one of His believers, is a great mystery yet has been revealed but even though it has been revealed, there is still an air of mystery about it.
 
Col 1:28 (KJB)
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
 
Warning - Admonishing
We may present - Offer, provide, or show
Perfect - Complete or whole
 
Paul’s three-fold ministry is contained in this one verse. He states that he preaches or declares the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then he says that he warns or admonishes every man, that is the unbelievers among the Colossians and everywhere else that if they remain unsaved, then they will wind up under eternal damnation. Then he turns to the believers stating that he teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of seeing these believers continue to grow. He does not teach in the wisdom of the world but he teaches in the wisdom given to him by the Holy Spirit. We must never do ministry in the realm of the wisdom of the world. Paul’s desire was that in the end, he could present all these believers as totally mature in the Lord Jesus Christ, lacking nothing. Paul was not only satisfied with having fellowship with the Lord himself but his desire was to see as many as possible enjoy that same fellowship.
 
Col 1:29 (KJB)
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
 
Labour - Labour hard
Striving - Contending or agonizing
 
Here is an interesting verse as Paul wrote this Epistle from prison and he states that he was laboring hard and agonizing according to His working. The word “working” in the Greek is where we get our English word “energy” from. Just as those who participated in the Grecian games, Paul was stating that he was agonizing with the same fervor. Paul speaks of the power of God which under girds his ministry. He takes no credit for any of the power he has manifested in his ministry. One of his fervent ministries in prison was probably the ministry of prayer, since he could not go anywhere to visit. Our situations can never hinder the ministry of prayer which is just as important as all the other necessary ministries we partake in, yet, it is the most neglected and the most powerful.

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