CHRIST: THE MYSTERY WE PREACH - PART 3

SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2023

Whenever we proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ, the joy of our salvation multiplies, which means that it's not a pointless practice. To that effect, John noted the dignified level of the joyous satisfaction the proclamation of the Lord brings: "What we have seen and heard we also proclaim to you, so that you too may have fellowship [as partners] with us. And indeed our fellowship [which is a distinguishing mark of born-again believers] is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be made complete by having you share in the joy of salvation]" (1 John 1:3-4 AMP). This points to the reason why there are many passages in Pauline epistolary undertone in which he rose to magnificent thoughts, as he expressed more dignified zeal in preaching Christ with joy.

Reference: Colossians 1:28-29 New International Version (NIV) "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me."

Having expounded the first segment in part 2, which is "Christ is the one we proclaim", the next segment to discuss in this article is: Admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom.

The keywords here are:

1. Admonition 2. Teaching 3. Everyone 4. With all wisdom

By considering the above, we can agree in understanding that the sense in which the terms "admonishing" and "teaching" are found to be commonly used by Paul is rooted in the fact that He was not just an apostle, he was a Bible scholar (great teacher). His communicative utterances are replete with the gospel truths that instigated both terms. Got it?

Firstly, while proclaiming Christ, Paul admonished. To admonish means to advise or urge (someone) earnestly, by depositing and instilling accurate truth into that person's thoughts. It might take the form of discipline, encouragement, affirmation, disapproval or correction. However, they are infused into the person's perceptive or wit system in a way that will conduce more to the benefit of their spiritual growth.

Admonition is the Greek Grammar, "nouthesia", which denotes God-inspired warning through teaching, that inbues the mind of Christ in a person, and also enhances a person's reasoning so they can reach God's solution – i.e. by assimilating a divine "thought" process, with pure intellectual power, highly influenced by a solemn capacity of spiritual knowledge.

Everyone: Here it points to everyone that is in contact with him. That means he aimed to introduce Christ to everyone at any given opportunity, which shows that he was a zealous preacher. It equally gives greater emphasis to the august articulation of his "boldness" in dealing with all men. And more so, it denotes his eagerness in imparting spiritual, informative realities, which implies that he was very active in spreading the gospel truth. In other words, in him was an anxious interest in rescuing men from the kingdom of darkness and transferring them to the Kingdom of light. To that effect, the apostle noted, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16 NIV).

The last keyword in the sentence, "with all wisdom" doesn't only suggest all the passages and knowledgeable insights in the written Word, but also it implies: with all his energy and largeness of his heart, which are in accordance with the capacity of godly wisdom that is invested and flows within Him. In other words, he admonished and taught everyone with all the spiritual wisdom and understanding he had gained by diligent study, practical experience and fervent tenacity. Zero wonder he said to Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). Got it? Hallelujah! Stay tuned for part 4. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Colossians 1:9; Romans 10:17; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:8.

Exuberant Declaration: By the necessity of my genuine faith in Christ, I pride myself on spreading the aroma of His knowledge everywhere, like a sweet perfume, as I function in conformity to the Word. By accessing the secrets of the Kingdom which are beyond human understanding, I arm myself with profound spiritual realities, and I live by admonishing and teaching everyone with the consciousness of divine wisdom at work in me. Hallelujah!