The text for this morning's message is taken from Colossians chapter 1 verse 24 to 29.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of his

body which is the church in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God

bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the

word of God. That is the mystery which has been

manifested to a saint.

To whom God will to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

And we proclaim him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present

every man complete in Christ.

And for this purpose, I also, I labor, striving according to his power, which mightily works within me.

And specifically on that phrase, filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.

I want to pose the question that you probably have afflictions. How in the world can anybody fill up what's lacking in Christ's afflictions?

How can there be any lack? How can there be any deficiency in the

afflictions of Jesus? Is not the suffering and the death of the Son of God infinitely valuable and infinitely sufficient

such that all the sins of those who look to him would be covered.

What could Paul possibly mean by saying he, in his

suffering on behalf of the church, is filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Jesus.

Well, that's the question.

Now, to answer it, I think we had best

get the verse in its context and to do that let me read the text backward with you as it were starting in verse 29 and moving from 28 to 27 and so on and when we arrive at 24 I think we may

have a better handle on what Paul is up to here.

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