English

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟

As the Church becomes more and more mature in Jesus Christ, the gospel will have a greater impact among other people, on campuses, in communities, and in the rest of the world.

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗

𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮, 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩. 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟭:𝟮𝟴

Read also: 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦 𝟮:𝟳; 𝟯:𝟭𝟮–𝟭𝟳 

𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧

The apostle Paul explains who we proclaim—Christ and Christ alone. 

This proclamation comes both as a 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 and a 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. Paul’s letter to the Colossians was an exhortation to believers to stand their ground against deceptive and false philosophies that were influencing their church at that time.

That’s why Paul wrote first to emphasize the preeminence of Christ, who alone is truly supreme and authoritative. He is over all created things, including spiritual strongholds and powers in their city and region. Paul gave this strong warning to the church so that they would not just believe anything or become deluded by false teachings. As Christ is continually taught, believers will have a strong foundation in Christ, 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 (Colossians 2:7). 

The goal is the maturity of all believers in Christ. We are conformed to His image and are to be more like Him every day. As those who have been saved by the gospel, we are also continually being sanctified by it. This lifelong process includes being careful with and responding to the warnings we receive, to turn away from who we were, to run from what is false, and to mature instead in the wisdom of God’s ways. 

This maturity does not merely apply to us as individual believers. The maturity we are working towards is that of the Church. When we look around at our state and the brokenness we still find ourselves in, it may seem impossible to imagine a mature Church that will be presented to Christ. Since the spiritual maturity of the believers is related to their being more and more Christlike, a mature Church is a Church where we see people loving one another deeply, demonstrating forgiveness, and having their hope fixed on Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:12–17). This is part of God’s goal and plan for us, where we will fully see the fruit of Christ’s finished work on the cross, and what we look forward to and proclaim. As the Church becomes more and more mature in Jesus Christ, the gospel will have a greater impact among other people, on campuses, in communities, and in the rest of the world. 

𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗗

• As a follower of Christ, what are some things God may be warning you to turn away from? How can you be rooted in Him continually? 

• How can you reflect who Christ is in your families and communities? 

• Our goal is to proclaim Christ. Identify how you can accomplish this, and ask God for boldness, courage, and opportunities to minister. 

𝗣𝗥𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥

Lord Jesus, We believe You are preeminent, supreme, and authoritative. May our lives be built on this truth and may we reflect You in all we do. May the Church grow in maturity and may we proclaim You through our words, actions, and life. May we become more like You every day. Amen.