Colossians 1:24... some thoughts.

[Carl Emerson]

Brother Carl, you raise some thought provoking questions.

The way I look at this is that the Cross is central to our Faith in that it shows what God through His Son Jesus did. The atonement was a once-for-all event. But it also shows God's Love for us. (John 3:16) And like God's love spans the eternal (Psalm 136:26), so has the fruit of Jesus sacrifice on the Cross. (John 12:23-24, Hebrews 10:12, Colossians 1:18-20)
Paul also says if Christ is not risen then our faith is in vain and we are yet in our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Therefore we look to the risen Christ as the seat of authority and power through whom all grace flows. (Colossians 2:10, John 1:16, Hebrews 12:2)

In regards to your original quote of Colossians 1:24 my view is that Paul is recognising his own shortcomings in taking up his own cross. But he later in the same chapter points to God's Glory and highlights how every man should be made perfect in Jesus. (Colossians 1:25-28) Surely this is not done by focusing on the Crucifixion, but rather by taking up our own cross, thereby following the example of Jesus.
We see that in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Paul also states how God has shown him that his strength is made perfect in weakness. Paul rejoices in his suffering for the Church (in Colossians) as he realises his strength (to exhort the Gospel) is made perfect in his weakness.
To me, it seems clear that any power we have comes not from the Crucifixion event itself, but rather Faith in the risen Christ who now works in us and through us with the Spirit, as God Wills.

I've had to take a lot of time in constructing this post as I'm not well versed in Scripture, so please forgive any inconsistencies or errors in my reasoning, including if I've misunderstood the point you were making. I'm still learning.

Your brother in Christ,
David

Thanks David, let's keep throwing this around for a bit...

You will see my response posted as you wrote.

I feel confident as we explore in the right attitude the Truth will prevail.

I wrote this essay some years back and posted it on CF...

It might be worth a read...

Returning to the Source of our Faith

I have another topic for our consideration.
Again I want to touch on a matter that is at the heart of our being effective as Christians.
Can we look this time at what should be the central resource for us yet we neglect drawing on this divine provision.
We often give heed to its centrality symbolically but rarely draw on its resources in practice.
Some will have guessed that I am referring to… the Cross.
The Cross is much more than a historical event to be remembered, it is a timeless event happening now. God in Jesus subdued every dark power, conquered every sickness, defeated death, disempowered sin, and secured our freedom, at the Cross then, for us now.
This event though spiritual in nature is no less real than the chair we sit on.
We can literally kneel in belief before the Cross and for example, give over our stress, He wants us to have a light burden and an easy yoke.

The key to understand is that Jesus on the Cross experienced our individual struggle and stress for us. If we can receive the truth of this and apply it, our lives will be much easier and the Chemist’s bill much lower. But there is a cost, we may need to pray for brokenness because the Lord detests a proud heart.

Paul spoke of dying daily, taking up the Cross daily. He clearly came back to the sacred hill often and I believe this was a key to his being able to endure extreme hardship.
So often today, hardship is seen as the fruit of a disobedient life, somehow indicating a separation from the blessings of God. We counsel those who struggle, not so much by kneeling together with them and appropriating the grace of God, but rather by encouraging self realisation, self esteem and self help. Many Pastors in fact have been taught to professionally manage their relationships with those in need, as if survival depends on it. In my life I have met few who will offer to kneel with me, and fewer that will weep.

I recall a vision I had about 25 years back. In the vision there was a throng of believers all walking in the same direction with indescribably beautiful music in the heavens overhead. On either side of this company of believers were well meaning officials indicating which way to walk. I was strongly aware that they in fact did not themselves know the way. As we walked there appeared on the horizon a single destination for all of us, you guessed it, it was the cross.

It is a travesty that Jesus went to so much trouble to provide release from all manner of impediments on the Cross, made available conquering power through the Cross, yet we generally seek release and power elsewhere.
Modern Christianity tends to be success orientated, ‘Knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection’ is often taught but the verse goes on… ‘and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death’. Jesus said ‘I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life’.

Paul speaks of a very different ministry than that to which we have become accustomed today, he summarises in this way… “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christs afflictions, for the sake of His body which is the church.”
No one looking for a career in Christianity would be attracted by this job description.
In modernising Christianity, we have departed from the very guts of what it means to walk as Jesus walked, we have substituted for the call of the cross sophisticated methods of Christian service assisted by every electronic aid imaginable.
As a result of this we have a disempowered church.
May the Lord have mercy and bring us back to the cross.

 

[Carl Emerson]

I might mention that a spiritual transition took place at the time of the crucifixion rather than at resurrection time.

Graves were opened and bodies were resurrected.

The Temple curtain was torn from the top.

There was sudden darkness and an earthquake.

This would suggest the power and authority of God's new creation was established then.

 

[David's Harp]

Thanks Carl. I've been reading your last couple of posts including the one in reply to @com7fy8. It's a lot to unpack for me. I don't have any real experience of 'burden bearing' in prayer (if that's what you're meaning). I want to continue in this discussion, but I'll have to take a little time out to do some more study. God Bless

[EDIT]: Just a quick note also to say thanks for reminding me of the wounds Christ still bears. That's a very important point I feel.

 

[David's Harp]

Ok Carl, here're my thoughts. I recognise that we are all at different stages in our walk with Christ; we have different interpretations, along with different gifts. I, like you, have a heart of compassion, which is why I'm taking an interest in this.
Now. I feel that I am at the stage of trying to run before I can walk in my understanding. I suppose I'm much in line with the traditional view you referenced in your article and post. But I am curious, as I feel there is value in what you're proposing. At least as a learning exercise, and possibly a lot more.
So let me see if I can try to put into words what your getting at.
In the act of intercession you - or the person praying - is appropriating the burden by taking it through the Cross - as Jesus did - in full faith that their affliction has already been dealt with, and offering it the Lord, with the hope that He can show grace in accordance with His Will.
If so, then how does the personal cross of the person praying affect this?

I'm also having a hard time trying to fathom the Crucifixion event as something still living - if that makes sense. I know it spans eternity, yet I keep looking back on it as something done, as it was something achieved at a particular point in time. At the same time, I know that it is through the Cross that all our sins are forgiven and we are healed. I think my sticking point is the part on healing. I've always equated this more to a spiritual healing than a physical one.

I think the Lord shows us different things according to our stage and faith, that's why I'm having difficulty with it. I'm not ready yet.

 

[Carl Emerson]

If so, then how does the personal cross of the person praying affect this?

If you mean taking up your cross daily, this is a separate issue altogether.

If an event is eternal and timeless it spans history including every 'today'

The stripes were physical.

Hey - thanks for being willing to learn together.

 

[David's Harp]

If you mean taking up your cross daily, this is a separate issue altogether.

Right. I was asking more how this would affect the act of intercession. Could you also explain the interaction between the two? The Cross, in intercession, and our daily cross.

If an event is eternal and timeless it spans history including every 'today'

Sure. But do the majority of Christians experience the Cross as a timeless event?

The stripes were physical.

Agreed. And they are physical now, although in His Glorified body. I really think this is a key part of the message you're trying to convey. At least, it is for me. I've had something of a revelation since I wrote my last post, and as I've been meditating on it. This brings alive the Power in the Crucifixion. It brings it closer. I can't adequately put it into words.

Hey - thanks for being willing to learn together.

Yes. Thank you too Carl. God Bless

 

[Carl Emerson]

I was asking more how this would affect the act of intercession. Could you also explain the interaction between the two? The Cross, in intercession, and our daily cross.

Well if His Spirit takes hold of you and His compassion wells up within you - especially during a public meeting when you are presenting the formal prayers - you can appear 'unhinged' for being overcome by the burden and be reduced to a blubbering mess.

So yes in that sense it is part of your cross.

Paul's thorn in the flesh would be similar it seems.

So I guess if you are kicking against your cross you may miss the anointing...

 

[Clare73]

Colossians 1:24
English Standard Version

Paul's Ministry to the Church
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church...

==================================

Here is an insight into what Paul is meaning here.

How can Christs afflictions be lacking ???

Paul was deeply into intercession and understood the centrality of the Cross in all his effort to serve His Saviour and share in His sufferings.

What happened on the Cross was very profound, impacting all of creation and humanity.

Paul realised that the ministers of Christ have a calling and purpose to enter into the the work of the Cross with Christ, sharing in His sufferings for the sake of His Body the Church...

Jesus carried all our sickness, cares and burdens but the healing comes as we share with Jesus on behalf of the suffering, reaching out with His Love and healing.

So the grace to meet the healing needs of his brothers and sisters, although complete on the Cross, was yet to be appropriated and completed by those reach out with healing love in His name.

So reaching out in full confidence in what is completed on the Cross is central to healing ministry. This ministry will not be complete until He returns.

I also think this verse should be central in understanding the Ministry of Intercession.

Your thoughts appreciated.

The gospel could not be planted in that time without much resistance and, therefore, suffering for its ministers, all necessary and required for the work.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Right. I was asking more how this would affect the act of intercession. Could you also explain the interaction between the two? The Cross, in intercession, and our daily cross.

Sure. But do the majority of Christians experience the Cross as a timeless event?

Agreed. And they are physical now, although in His Glorified body. I really think this is a key part of the message you're trying to convey. At least, it is for me. I've had something of a revelation since I wrote my last post, and as I've been meditating on it. This brings alive the Power in the Crucifixion. It brings it closer. I can't adequately put it into words.

Yes. Thank you too Carl. God Bless

Another example of a timeless event is the Word spoken by God and referred to in Heb 4 regarding entering God's rest. This is a perpetual invitation as long as the seventh day of creation remains. 'Today if you hear my voice' is being heard every day of every age. This is why entering His Sabbath rest by faith any and everyday is His gift to the faithful.