Does Colossians 1:24 teach that Christ’s death was lacking in being sufficient for salvation?
Problem:
The Bible declares that Christ’s death on the Cross was sufficient and final for our Salvation.[1] Yet Paul has made the statement in this verse that we are to be “filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.” The issue appears to be how can Christ’s sacrifice be all-sufficient and still be lacking in suffering?
Solution:
The point we need to clarify at the start, is that the sufferings of Paul were not redemptive. He cannot suffer for himself, or for others, to provide redemption. Paul is careful in his wording, when he speaks of redemption he does not use terms such as suffering, but he speaks of a cross, a death, or His blood.
J. Vernon McGee speaks of two types of suffering.[2] He calls these ministerial and mediatorial. The sufferings of Christ were mediatorial. Some of His sufferings we cannot share in, His suffering as a man, His suffering as the Son of God, and His sacrifice for the sin of the world. On the other hand, we can share in His suffering for righteousness (see 1 Peter 3:14), and His suffering as we identify ourselves with Christ in the proclamation of the Gospel (consider 1 John 4:17; John 15:18 – 19; Acts 9:4; and 1 Peter 4:12 – 13).
So, there is a difference between the mediatorial work of Christ (our redemption) and the ministerial work that we can share in, when we are active in proclaiming and standing for the righteousness given by our redemption.
Prayer: Spirit of Understanding, give me insight and wisdom to see that Your Word does not contradict itself. Help me to spend the time to look closely at what Your are teaching us. Father, I thank You that Jesus did it all for me, and I seek to fulfill what I need to do with what He did. Guide me, O Great Yahweh in the proper way to walk. Amen.
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[1] John 19:30; Hebrews 1:3
[2] McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible. Vol. V. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1983. V vols. Pages 343 - 345.
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