to keep becoming more complete in Christ as we grow older.
We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me (Colossians 1.28-29).
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11.1).
Dr Hal Habecker's Comments
God has pressed Colossians 1.28 and 29 deeply into my heart. I believe its message should mark the desires of our relationships. God wants to use us to help and encourage others to grow as Christians following Christ. To help each other mature. We need each other. We need each other to press on towards maturity. If we keep our lives to ourselves, we end up being self-centered and childish – thinking only of ourselves.
Commentary (ref www.BibleRef.com)
Colossians 1.28: In this verse, Paul notes four ways he communicates Christ. First, the idea of proclaiming involved communicating to a large audience, similar to an announcement made to a city or village.
Second, Paul notes he communicated Christ through "warning." This word in Greek is nouthetountes, which can also be translated "counseling." This refers to the use of the gospel and biblical teaching to help people with problem areas in life. Third, Paul communicated through teaching or instruction, offering information to help others know the gospel and understand a Christian worldview.
Fourth, Paul was not content with only converting people to Christ; he also desired maturity. Ephesians 4:12–14 notes a goal of church leaders is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes."
Colossians 1:24–29 completes this passage with an emphasis on Paul's work as a minister. According to Paul, his suffering is a service he offers for the sake of Christ, on behalf of the other believers. Paul's work for the sake for the church is just that: work. He is striving, fighting, and ''toiling'' on behalf of his faith. All the same, Paul recognizes that anything he accomplishes is only through the power given through Christ.