APOSTLES MUST MODEL THE PRINCIPLE OF OBEDIENCE Apostles must model the priniciple of obedience to Christ and set an example to the believers and the church. Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24 NIV). I have been off and on for some time studying and meditating on this verse, and I have concluded that there are 2 ways to view this. The first is ESCHATOLOGICAL: Revelation 6:11 clearly states that there was a certain number of first century believers that would follow Jesus in the ultimate sacrifice as a testimony and witness of obedience to the word of God - being martyred for Christ, which would prepare the way for the judgments to come, and for the the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Paul was not only severely persecuted, tortured and beaten, but finally killed for his obedience to the gospel. The second is MISSIOLOGICAL: Christs sufferings is for propitiation - Pauls sharing in Christs sufferings is for propagation, and so is it from generation to generation - a strategic plan of God that helps present the mystery of Christ to the nations. We now fill up what is lacking for propagation - by extending the sufferings of Christ through our obedience to the people they were meant to save, as we are sent as messengers of the good news to the nations. The Kingdom of God and the Mystery of Christ continues to advance today in many restricted access nations such as China, Pakistan, Iran, etc. through much suffering, persecution, and even martyrdom of the sent ones and also of those who receive it. It has been said that the blood of the martyrs in a nation can become the seedbed for revival and a great harvest. And this is so true.th It is summoned up in one word: OBEDIENCE. Obedience to Christ, his word and his will, is the most powerful principle that will advance His Kingdom both in us, and through our lives of obedience in the earth. Apostles must model this obedience.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 18:08:45 +0000
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