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Colossians 1:24-29 is a profound portion of the Word. In this chapter we need to look into the depths of this portion of the Word.
In Colossians 1:24 Paul says, “I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church.” Here we see that Paul was rejoicing in his sufferings, for his sufferings were making up what was lacking of the afflictions of Christ for the building up of His Body. The Lord Jesus had two kinds of sufferings: the suffering for redemption and the suffering for producing and building the Body, the church. Not many Christians realize that the Lord’s sufferings are of these two categories. None of us can have any share in His suffering for redemption. To say that we can participate in this suffering is to speak blasphemy. No, He only is the Redeemer, and His suffering for redemption was accomplished uniquely by Him. We are neither qualified nor positioned to share in the Lord’s suffering for the accomplishment of redemption. In typology, on the day of atonement, only the high priest, who made atonement for the people, was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies. The high priest was a prefigure of Christ as the unique One capable and qualified to accomplish redemption.
Although we cannot participate in Christ’s suffering for redemption, if we are faithful to Him, we must share in His suffering for the producing and building up of His Body. Paul was a pattern for us in this matter. Immediately after his conversion, he began to share in this suffering of Christ, partaking of the suffering of Christ for the sake of His Body.
This is against the theological concept that nothing related to Christ can be lacking. According to this concept, whatever Christ is and does is fully complete. But here is a word telling us that at least one thing related to Christ is lacking—His suffering for the producing and building up of His Body. For the producing of His Body, Christ suffered a great deal. Because this suffering has not been completed by Christ Himself, there is the need for His faithful ones to make up this shortage. Paul did not suffer for redemption; he suffered for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ.
The apostle Paul was a pattern for the believers to follow (1 Tim. 1:16). We must consider Paul as a pattern, not as someone who was so high that no one else can be like he was. Because Paul was set up by the Lord’s mercy to be a pattern for us, whatever he was, we can be also. We must believe in the Lord’s mercy. If the mercy of the Lord made Paul a pattern, then His mercy can accomplish in us the same thing that it did in Paul. Thus, we all can attain to the same standard.
What is our goal in preaching the gospel? It is not simply to save sinners from hell. Our goal is to obtain material for the building up of the Body of Christ. When I was in Christianity, I heard many messages encouraging us to preach the gospel. We were always asked to consider God’s love, pity, and sympathy for the pitiful sinners, and were told to have the same feeling toward them. Sometimes preachers would say, “Thousands are going to hell every day. Isn’t your heart touched by this?” Some would be inspired by this preaching and, with tears, respond to the altar call to become preachers and ministers of the gospel. The term soul winning is very common in today’s Christianity. But what is the purpose of soul winning? It is very rare to hear that soul winning is for Body building. Paul’s goal in preaching the gospel was the building up of the Body.
If you only preach the gospel for the sake of winning souls and rescuing people from hell, you probably will not suffer very much. In fact, you may find yourself welcomed in many places. However, if you take the building up of the Body as the goal of your gospel preaching, you must be prepared to suffer, especially at the hands of religion. Religion does not agree with the building up of the Body.
Were not the Jews during the time of the Lord Jesus and the apostles the people of God? Did they not daily offer up sacrifices to God? Did they not have the temple, which was built according to God’s revelation and instruction? The answer to all these questions is yes. But suddenly, Jesus came. He did not care for the temple like the Jewish religionists did. When His disciples were admiring the buildings of the temple, He said, “There shall by no means be left here a stone upon a stone, which shall not be thrown down” (Matt. 24:2). Who could have dared to say this? If you had been there and had spoken these words, the Jews would have killed you. This was the reason they persecuted the Lord Jesus. In the book of Acts we see that those in the Jewish synagogues accused the apostle Paul of being a “pest” (24:5). Wherever Paul went, he caused trouble and division. Wherever he went, there was no peace; he was opposed by the religious people, by the so-called people of God.
It is the same today. If we only preach the gospel for soul winning, for saving souls out of hell, we shall be welcomed everywhere. Some Christians have even lied about us, classifying us with those in cults and evil, blasphemous movements. In today’s Christianity there is no conscience or moral standard. In 2 Corinthians 6:8 Paul says that he had both evil report and good report. If, as you serve the Lord, you only receive a good report, I would question your faithfulness to the Lord. If you are faithful to the Lord, today’s Christianity will give you a bad name. Apparently, religion is for God; actually, it is wholly against His economy. Nothing is more subtle and damaging to God’s economy than religion. Winning souls does not affect religion; rather, it helps it a great deal. But whenever you talk about the building up of the Body, religion will be cut into pieces.
Consider what Paul did when he was Saul of Tarsus. He was a leader in his religion, laboring and doing everything possible to derive benefit from that religion. However, on the way to Damascus he was caught by the Lord. After his conversion, whatever he did amounted to a tearing down of religion. Paul was bold. The Lord Jesus had annulled the Sabbath day, but Paul was bold to annul something more important to Judaism—circumcision. In the Jewish religion nothing is more vital than circumcision. According to the record in Acts, the Jews condemned Paul for teaching people to discontinue the practice of circumcision. If Paul had only been concerned for soul winning, he would not have offended people. Paul did not say, “I must keep the doors open for so many others. I shouldn’t say a word about circumcision or the Sabbath. I should not say anything against the Jewish religion. For the sake of soul winning, I must maintain a good relationship with the Jewish people.” If he had only been concerned for soul winning, he could have practiced this. But since he was for the building up of the Body, there was no way for him to do this. Therefore, for the purpose of producing and building up the Body of Christ, Paul shared in the sufferings of Christ.
Colossians 1:25 says, “Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship of God, which was given to me for you, to complete the word of God.” There is a difference between a preacher and a minister. A preacher preaches doctrine, and a minister ministers Christ. A minister resembles a waitress. A waitress in a restaurant not only gives you a menu but also serves you, that is, ministers food to you. In Greek the word minister is the same word as for a serving one. A minister is a serving one who ministers Christ to you.
In this verse Paul said that he became a minister “according to the stewardship God.” The King James Version says “according to the dispensation of God.” Although the translation “dispensation” is correct, its meaning has been ruined, for it is commonly understood to refer to a certain age. In its place, we use the word stewardship, the anglicized form of the Greek word. It is difficult, however, for people to understand what this stewardship is. God has a stewardship, which is to dispense Himself in Christ into the believers so that they may become His members and be built up as His universal Body to express Him. Paul was a serving one ministering Christ to others according to this stewardship of God.
In the same verse Paul also speaks of completing the word of God. My burden in this chapter is mainly on this point. The King James Version uses the word “fulfill” in place of “complete,” but that is not the meaning here. Another rendering given in the margin is “fully to preach the word of God.” As we contact people, we must progressively, continually, and gradually preach the word in full. To preach the word fully, or to fully preach the word, is to complete the word. Among so many Christians today, there surely is a great need of this completing of the word. Recently, a magazine stated that in the United States there are fifty million regenerated Christians. How many of them know God’s purpose in saving them? Very few. In Christianity the word of God has been preached, but it has not been preached in full. The preaching of today’s Christianity has not completed the word of God. Thus, there is an urgent need of this completion.
What is the kernel, the central and vital point of God’s gospel? If you would address this question to a hundred Christians, probably not one of them could answer accurately. Consider an almond seed. If there is no kernel within the seed, it means that the seed does not have the life germ. The kernel of any seed is the life germ of that seed. What is the life germ of the gospel we preach? In order to answer this question we must consider verses 26 and 27.
These verses say, “The mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations but now has been manifested to His saints; to whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The word of God that needs completion is this mystery. Christians preach the word of God, but hardly any tell people what God’s mystery is. The word of God preached in His gospel is not about escaping hell and going to heaven; neither is it about peace, joy, and a happy life. As far as the kernel of the gospel is concerned, all this is extraneous. What is the kernel of the word of God? This kernel has been overlooked and neglected to such an extent that in Paul’s time there was the need to complete the word of God. It is the same today. What is the word that needs to be completed? It is “the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations.” This mystery is concealed, hidden. If it were not hidden, it would no longer be a mystery. The mystery concealed from the ages and from the generations is the word of God that must now be completed. This concealed mystery, which has been made manifest to God’s saints, is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The kernel of God’s gospel is Christ in us. The kernel is not Christ Himself; it is Christ in us. If Christ were not in us, He would not be the kernel, for He would still be outside the shell. Heaven is not the shell; we are the shell. When Christ gets into us, He becomes the kernel. Although I have heard the preaching of the gospel for years, I have never heard a message saying that when someone believes in Jesus Christ, He will not only save him but also come into his spirit and remain there as his life. Most of the preaching in today’s Christianity is not like this. Hence, there is the need of the completion of the word of God.
Some of my friends have advised me, saying, “Brother Lee, don’t say that Christ is the life-giving Spirit. If you say this, many Christians will be offended.” Twelve years ago, before I gave a series of messages that were later printed as the book, The Economy of God, a friend of mine advised me in this manner, saying, “The Bible says that Christ is the life-giving Spirit. You are not unscriptural for saying this. But if you say that Christ is the life-giving Spirit, you will offend people.” I replied, “Brother, since you have said that this is according to the Scriptures, will you please give me the liberty to speak it? My burden is on this very matter. If you do not allow me to speak on this, I shall be jobless and have nothing to do. I am familiar with other doctrines of the Bible, but I have no burden to speak on them. My unique burden is to minister Christ as the life-giving Spirit. I know that Christianity will rise up against this. If there is no opposition, I will be surprised.” My friend was offended. A couple of weeks later, I gave those messages on the economy of God. His advice was an encouragement to me because it stirred my spirit and showed me the need of the completion of the word of God.
If Christ were not the life-giving Spirit, how could He be in us? Recently, a few brothers met with the leading ones from an opposing group. They condemn us for saying that Christ is the life-giving Spirit. The brothers asked them how Christ could be in them if He were not the life-giving Spirit. They denied that Christ was in them but said that the Holy Spirit, who represents Christ, was in them. What twisting! There is not a verse in the Bible saying that the Holy Spirit represents Christ in us. They accuse us of damaging the person of Christ. According to them, Christ is only the Son, and the Son can never be the Spirit. However, when the brothers asked them about 2 Corinthians 3:17—“The Lord is the Spirit”—they had nothing to say. We are not fighting over doctrine. I have the adequate experience to support what I am saying in this chapter. If my Christ were not the life-giving Spirit, how could I live by Him today? Our critics say that Christ is only a person sitting on the throne in the heavens and that the Holy Spirit comes into us to represent Him. From where do they get this teaching? And they condemn us for being heretical! Who is heretical—those, like us, who believe the Bible according to the clear black and white letters, or those who twist the Word of God? In a sense, I sympathize with our critics because they are under the influence of traditional concepts. We are not arguing for a doctrine. We are for Christ in us, the hope of glory.
Some from the same opposing group argued with our brothers, saying, “Luke 24 says that after Christ was resurrected, He came to His disciples with a body of bones and flesh, and His disciples touched Him. How can Witness Lee say that after His resurrection Christ became a life-giving Spirit? Doesn’t he believe Luke 24?” They thought that they had won the case. But a little knowledge is dangerous. I believe Luke 24 more than they do. I have published a book stating that the resurrected Christ possesses a physical body, not a natural physical body but a resurrected one. Therefore, according to their explanation, they have the problem. Christ possesses a physical body of bones and flesh, but He came into the closed room where His disciples were. How did He get in? Do not attempt to understand the Bible according to your limited mentality. How can a Christ with flesh and bones be in us? We cannot explain this.
Every truth in the Bible has two sides. Nothing, not even a thin handkerchief, can exist without having two sides. Robert Govett has written a booklet entitled The Twofoldness of Divine Truth. More than twenty-eight years ago we translated this booklet into Chinese. From the side of Luke 24, which we fully believe, the resurrected Christ possesses a physical body of bones and flesh. This is not a natural body but a resurrected body. On the other side, the Bible also says that Christ today is the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17). How can we reconcile this? I do not know and I do not try. I cannot reconcile it, because I am not God. I simply believe both sides. Our critics may be right, but they are right on just one side. They should not condemn others because of their shortsightedness and lack of knowledge. Rather, they should reread their Bible, not deleting any verse or adding any words. If they take away anything, they will miss the blessing, and if they add anything, they will receive the curse. We should simply take the pure Word whether we understand it or not.
There are many things in our human living that we do not understand. Every day I eat a variety of foods, but I understand very little about them. If I did not eat any food until I understood it, I would have been buried long ago. I was born before I knew anything. Even now, I do not know how I was born. There are many things that we do not know. Do you know in what part of the universe you are today? Let me say a word to our critics: Your knowledge is too limited. If you think that you know everything about the Trinity, you are foolish. We cannot adequately understand the Trinity, because it is altogether a mystery. Nevertheless, it is an undeniable fact that, as revealed in the Bible, Christ is in me. But how can He be in us as long as He possesses a physical body of bones and flesh? I do not know. But I do believe He has a physical body. He is now in the heavens with a resurrected physical body, and He will come with a physical body. Every eye will see Him. There are many things in the Bible that we simply cannot reconcile. Since Christ is already in us, why does He need to come? Forget reconciling, take the pure Word, and care for your experience. We are fighting against any doctrine that tells people of a Christ who cannot be experienced. The Bible reveals a Christ who can be experienced by us continually. This is Christ in us, the hope of glory.
In Colossians 1:28 and 29 Paul, speaking of Christ, says, “Whom we announce, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every man full-grown in Christ; for which also I labor, struggling according to His operation which operates in me in power.” Paul’s desire was to present every man full-grown in Christ. The word full-grown is related to in Christ. When a man is full-grown in Christ, he is qualified to be presented to God. We become full-grown by growing, and we grow by having more life. In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly.” To have life is to be regenerated, and to have life abundantly is to grow into maturity. Once again, we come to the crucial point of Christ’s having to be the life-giving Spirit. If He were not the Spirit of life, how could He be our life and life supply? It would be impossible. We are not fighting for doctrine; we are fighting for Christ’s reality. This reality, the reality of Christ’s being in us, has been overlooked and neglected for centuries. This is one of the main items of the Lord’s recovery today.
In Colossians 1:29 Paul says that he labored, “struggling according to His operation which operates in me in power.” Paul was laboring, struggling, fighting. If we simply preach the gospel for the sake of winning souls, there will be no need to fight. Many people think that I am stupid for offending people. But in the eyes of the Lord, I am wise. If I did not offend anyone, then I would be the most stupid one. In order to minister Christ for the completion of the word of God, there is the need of fighting. Because Satan is so subtle, we cannot avoid this. Satan uses many things to preoccupy people. Even religion is an instrument used by Satan to occupy man. Thus, we must fight against the traditional concepts of today’s religion. We must tell people that Christ is not only objective but that our Christ is very subjective. He who is joined to Him is one spirit (1 Cor. 6:17). Not only is He the life-giving Spirit, but we are one spirit with Him. How subjective this is! This is the crucial point that we are fighting for.
During the past fourteen years in this country, I have not charged the sisters to submit to their husbands. I did not pass on such a teaching. Years ago, I did this, but it was unsuccessful. Always the sisters would say, “Brother Lee, what you told me to practice was only good for two days. What shall I do now?” I gave them a further teaching on the same line. That teaching was like an injection of a drug that only lasted a short time. After a few days, the sisters would return for another injection. Eventually, I quit doing this. I said to the Lord, “Doesn’t Your word say that wives should submit to their husbands?” I read Ephesians 5 to the Lord, saying, “Lord, I didn’t preach the teachings of Confucius. I taught Your holy word in Ephesians 5. Is this not Your word? I have been preaching this for years without any success. What is the matter?” The Lord said to me, “Stupid child, didn’t you see that Ephesians 5:18 says to be filled in spirit? After that it says that wives should submit and that husbands should love.” If you have no gasoline in your car, then you may have to push it. But if the gas tank is filled with gasoline, then you can drive without any effort. Never again will I be one who pushes; I am an enjoyer, enjoying the unlimited divine gasoline. When we are filled in our spirit with Christ, then we have something with which to submit and to love. This is the way to complete the word of God.
The crucial point in this portion of Colossians is the indwelling Christ. Paul was made a minister according to the economy of God to complete the word of God—to make the crucial matter of Christ’s being in us clear to everyone. This is to complete the word.
As you meet Christians today, you will discover the need for such a completion of the word of God. Christians know that God created the heavens and the earth, that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, that He was crucified for their redemption, and that after three days He was resurrected. We also believe this. They also know that the blood of Jesus washes away their sins. We know this and believe it at least as much as they do. However, among most Christians one thing is missing: the fact that Christ is in us this very moment. This Christ is not simple. In order to complete the word of God we must emphasize the crucial matter that Christ is the life-giving Spirit.
This life-giving Spirit is the compound Spirit. Many have never heard of this term. Thus, you must help them, through the study of typology, to see the holy ointment, which was a compound of various spices (Exo. 30:22-33). This ointment was a compound of four spices mixed with olive oil. Formerly, the oil was merely the oil, but after the spices had been added to it, the oil became a compound. One of the spices signifies the death of Christ and another the resurrection of Christ. If you read carefully, you will see that all the spices indicate the human nature of Christ. This implies that in the compound Spirit there is the humanity of Jesus as well as His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. This is the all-inclusive Spirit who gives life and who is Christ Himself. During the past years, many messages have been delivered along this line.
In typology, the meal offering contained oil mingled with fine flour (Lev. 2:5). Even the King James Version uses the word mingled in Leviticus 2. Many have criticized us for using the word mingle, saying, “How could God lose His nature and be mingled with our nature?” It is stupid to argue this way. When the oil mingles with fine flour, the oil does not lose its nature. When tea is put into the water to form tea-water, the tea and the water do not lose their nature. It is foolish to say that they do. Although they are mingled, they remain two different elements.
Nevertheless, some Christians are offended by this completion of the word of God. Because they do not have the completion, they miss a great deal. Instead of having the whole seed with the shell and the kernel, they only have some part of the shell. They condemn us for being heretical, for having the kernel as well as the shell. If you oppose what I am saying, you will miss the blessing. I can testify that I have come here with much blessing. I have not suffered any loss, but you may suffer a loss. In all the messages given during the past years, I have been doing nothing except completing the word of God. Many can say that they have never heard these things before. The reason is that there was a great lack. Now, thank the Lord that in His recovery we are seeing the completion of the word of God.
You can never complete the word of God in a full way in a short time. Although I have given hundreds of messages over the past twelve years, the word of God has still not been completed. Do not expect to do a quick work. Rather, preach the gospel in the way of completing the word of God. To complete means to cover every point. If I would only speak of the kernel and not the shell, this also would be incomplete. We need to be complete on every side and in every aspect, point, and element. Only then will the word of God be completed. When you reach people, do not expect them to be saved overnight. Even after they are saved, they will need completion. Do not be disappointed at this word. You all need much learning. There is a great deal that you need to know: God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the devil, sin, redemption, the effectiveness of Christ’s prevailing blood, objective and subjective righteousness, objective holiness, subjective sanctification, the redemption of your body, how Christ dwells in your spirit, and the difference between the spirit and the soul. Without exaggerating, I can say that there are many, many items you need to know.
When you contact people, do not preach to them; instead, reach them by getting into their situation, circumstances, and condition. If you contact a person in this way, you will realize what part of the Word he is ready for. If he is not ready to hear of redemption, do not mention it. If you would tell him about it, he would not accept it. Be like a doctor who dispenses different kinds of medicine. When a “patient” comes to you, you must exercise your discernment to know what medicine is suitable for his condition. After several days, you may need to change the medication. We must learn and practice this, for, in the long run, this will avail.
Do not follow the way of the Jesus people. Only a few years ago, thousands were baptized in the ocean; but where are they now? The Lord desires a living testimony. As long as He has some to be His living testimony, it does not matter whether the number is large or small. We must gain those who are practically available for the Lord’s recovery. If we see that the Lord’s desire is to have a living testimony, then we shall not expect to see people saved so quickly. Rather, we would prefer to work on them, completing in them the word of God.
After a certain time, you will realize that the one on whom you are working is ready for a particular point. Then you will help him in that very matter. In order to do this, you must have some learning, some revelation, concerning God, Christ, the cross, redemption, the divine life, rebirth, and many other things. Do not think that there are too many things to learn. Often when you contact people, you will realize that you are short in a particular matter. Some years ago, we prepared our hymnal containing one thousand and eighty hymns. Although this is a large number, when we are in a certain situation, we realize that we do not have a proper hymn to meet it. But if we are rich in songs, then whatever the situation, we shall have a suitable hymn for it. Likewise, if your revelation and learning in the Lord are rich, you will be able to afford people help in any kind of situation.
People cannot take things in once for all. Those who acquire a college education spend at least sixteen years in school: six years in elementary school, three years in junior high school, three years in high school, and four years in college. If you want to obtain a masters degree or a Ph.D., you will need even more time. According to Paul’s pattern, we should not only help people to be saved, to be forgiven of their sins, and to be regenerated; we must also help them grow. A mother not only gives birth to her child but cares for her child daily for at least eighteen years. Do not cling to the concept that as long as a person is saved, everything is all right. This is like a mother neglecting her child as soon as he is born. If you do this, you are cruel and have no kindness. We must love our babes and care for them.
Paul says, “Though you have ten thousand guides in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:15). He even speaks of Timothy as his “genuine child in faith” (1 Tim. 1:2). We all should adopt this concept. Those who are converted, being our children, should be precious to us. If, beginning now, we are all impressed that this is the Lord’s way of outreach in His recovery and practice this way, a year from now we all shall have a child in faith. It is a human desire for married people to want children, but in the eyes of God this is not as crucial as having children in faith. Children in the flesh are only good to cross us out. I crossed out my mother time and time again, and I have been crossed out many times by my own children. Praise the Lord that there is another kind of child—a true child in the faith. A child in the faith is dear and precious. I hope that in a few months many of us will be “pregnant” and that by the end of the year many will give birth to a child. If the Lord delays His coming back, you may deliver a child in faith every year. Later, some of them may become elders in the churches or ministers of the Word in the Lord’s recovery. How wonderful this would be!
We must practice this way. Humanly speaking, we need much learning and, spiritually speaking, we need a great deal of revelation. Then we shall be able to help people and to feed them. If you have this learning and revelation, you will know the proper time to give the supply to the one on whom you are working. I hope that many of you will practice this way, not only by yourselves but in groups, coming together to pray, to fellowship, and to learn. I believe that the Lord will afford us the grace we need. Then in His recovery we shall have a solid foundation for a proper increase.
