Colossians 1:28 – Perfect in Christ

Colossians 1:27-28
²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: ²⁸Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Paul made it clear by using the words “every man” three times that he was proclaiming Jesus to every man. All people could be saved. All people could know the hope of glory. Every person could make the choice to be in Christ. This was the glory of the great mystery hidden in ages past, but now revealed in Jesus. This revelation has gone out to the whole world—Gentiles included.

Now Paul’s role was to warn every man. To the unbeliever he warns of wrath to come. He warns of judgment for sins. To the believer he admonishes them to believe what they have received in the finished work of Jesus. Jesus chose Paul to remind them of the riches of the glory—the hope.

Paul was a teacher, called to share the message of grace and teach every man how that differed from living under the law. He taught that they we no longer under the dominion of sin, but they were forever forgiven. This is what being in Christ means. We have those riches. Paul is teaching the Word. We must allow the Word to take root in our hearts.

And finally, Paul both admonished and taught so that every man would know their place in Christ. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) Only one person—Jesus—was ever perfect in all ways. In Him we are perfect. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one…” (John 17:23)

The word “perfect,” also means mature. Through the admonitions and teaching of the Word, we grow, we mature. We are no longer babes in the Word, but understand and do the Word. We do that as a result of being in Christ.