{"id":361,"date":"2015-04-19T00:31:12","date_gmt":"2015-04-18T23:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=361"},"modified":"2015-04-19T00:31:12","modified_gmt":"2015-04-18T23:31:12","slug":"completing-the-sufferings-of-christ-a-study-of-colossians-124","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=361","title":{"rendered":"Completing the sufferings of Christ – a study of Colossians 1:24"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colossians 1 24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ\u2019s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness\u2014 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. (NIV)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was suffered for you\u201d = \u201cfor your benefit\u201d, NOT \u201cin your place\u201d
\nFill up = complete \/ participate in
\nChrist\u2019s afflictions = a word for trials \/ sufferings which is not used anywhere to refer to the cross
\nFor the sake of his body, relates to Paul\u2019s suffering for the church, NOT to Christ\u2019s suffering.
\n24 I am happy in my sufferings for you. There are things that Christ must still suffer through his body, the church. I am accepting, in my body, my part of these things that must be suffered. (New Century Bible)
\n24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. (New Living Translation)<\/p>\n

Christ\u2019s death is central to our salvation
\nGod\u2019s holiness and justice demand punishment for human sin. Christ died as a sacrifice to pay that penalty for sin which we could never pay. The whole of the Old Testament system of sacrifices foreshadowed Christ\u2019s death. Christ died in our place \u2013 penal substitution.
\nChrist\u2019s death is vicarious \u2013 for our benefit\t\t\t\t\tMark 10:45
\nChrist\u2019s death is representative \u2013 He repents and obeys on our behalf\t2 Corinthians 5:19-21
\nChrist\u2019s death is sacrifical \u2013 voluntarily offering Himself for our benefit\tIsaiah 53:10-12
\nChrist\u2019s death is atonement \u2013 the sacrifice offered to take sin away\t\t1 Peter 2:21-25
\n1 Peter 1:18-25; Romans 3:22-25
\nChrist\u2019s death is \u201cexpiation\u201d \u2013 dealing with the consequences of sin in our lives \tHebrews 2:14-17
\nChrist\u2019s death is \u201cpropitiation\u201d \u2013 dealing with God\u2019s wrath against sinners 1 John 2:1-2
\nChrist\u2019s death is substitutionary \u2013 in MY place\tIsaiah 53:6-7\t1 Peter 3:18
\nIt is a Roman Catholic error to suggest that Christ\u2019s sacrifice needs to be completed by the suffering of the saints. Christ\u2019s sacrifice is entirely sufficient ! 1 Corinthians 1:13; Colossians 2:11-15<\/p>\n

In comparison to all these aspects of Christ\u2019s suffering, Paul\u2019s suffering can only be vicarious.
\nAs Christians we are united with Christ. Christ\u2019s sufferings with His people continue. Acts 9:4-5
\nSo how can our sufferings bring blessing to others?
\nEphesians 3:13\t\t2 Corinthians 1:3-7 \t\t2 Corinthians 4:7-12<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Colossians 1 24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in…<\/span><\/p>\n

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