C) THE WORK OF CHRIST. 1:19-29 1. The Description of His Reconciling Work. 1:19-23 2. The Application of His Reconciling Work. 1:24-29 1. The Description of His Reconciling Work. 1:19-23 V.19 a) Pleasing - Fullness dwells in Him. I. The fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ by the Father’ s pleasure. Col.2:10 II. Dwell (Gr. katoikeo) means to house permanently and refer to that the fullness dwells permanently in Christ. V.20 b) Peace - Fullness of peace in Him. All the reasons of rejection and alienation is taken away in Christ. Christ is our peace. Eph.2:14 V.21 c) Past Condition - Foreigners before but now reconciled. I. Past Rejected by God. (Alienation) II. Presently Reconciled by Christ. (Alignment) V.22 d) Presentation - Flesh of Jesus reconciled. III. Presented Righteous by Christ. (Appearance) False teachers like the Docetists taught that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body, because they believed physical flesh is inherently evil. Perhaps therefore Paul teaches reconciliation through Christ’ s body. V.23 e) Present Continuation - Faith and hope of the Gospel. IV. Present Rooting by the saints. (Abiding) Eph.3:17; 1.Tim.3:15; Matt.7:24-27; 2.Pet.1:10 2. The Application of His Reconciling Work. 1:24-29 V.24 a) Filling up - Suffering for you in Christ. Christ suffers through us. Acts 9:4; Matt.25:31-40 All saints have a cup to drink. Matt.20:22-23; 2.Tim.3:12 V.25 b) Fulfilling - Stewardship from God for you. Paul’ s ministry was to get the Word out to people and he did it through: I. Revelation. v.26 II. Preaching. v.28 III. Warning. v.28 IV. Teaching. v.28 V. Wisdom. v.28 VI. Labour. v.29 V.26 c) Forwarding - Secret now revealed to the saints. Paul was an agent God used to reveal the mystery of Christ. Eph.3:1-7 V.27 d) Favour - Spirit of Christ in you. I. The favour of God for ages had been upon the Jews, now God showed the Gentiles His underserved favour II. To the Ephesians Paul revealed “ you in Christ” but to the Colossians it was “ Christ in you” . V.28 e) Founding and Forming - Serving every man. I. The Method - Preaching, warning and teaching. II. The Manner - All wisdom f) Finality - Separation unto perfection. I. The purpose of it was presentation and perfection. Paul’ s goal for people was not alone salvation but maturity. Heb.5:12-14; Matt.28:20 II. 3 times emphasis upon “ every man” , Paul wanted all to reach maturity. V.29 g) Fellow-working - Striving in Christ. Paul was working and so was God through him. John 3:21; 1.Cor.15:10 The testimony of the life of Paul: I. Willingness to suffer for Christ. II. Readiness to share the Gospel. III. Faithfulness in stewardship to God. IV. Striving through the power of the Holy Spirit.