Colossians 1:28

whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;

'WHOM WE PROCLAIM' -i.e. Christ

'ADMONISHING' -3560. noutheteo noo-thet-eh'-o; from the same as 3559; to put in mind, i.e. (by implication) to caution or reprove gently: -admonish, warn.

Points to Note:

1. Proclaiming Christ involves warning and teaching! Now, some are telling us that preaching Christ simply involves talking about the life of Christ, or talking about what Christ did for us, without any negative overtones that someone in the audience just might be in sin.

2. How do you preach Christ without preaching on sin? For the primary purpose of Jesus' mission to this earth was to die for our sins. How do you preach Christ without preaching on hell. For, what was Jesus trying to save us from? How do you preach Christ without preaching on human accountability and responsibility? For doesn't the love of God manifested in the sacrifice of His Son ethically demand an intense gratitude from the human race?

3. Preaching Christ includes warning, admonition, rebuke, exhortation, and teaching (i.e. DOCTRINE). (2 Timothy 4:2). Away with this silly idea that you can teach the man, but not the plan.

4. 'Clearly for Paul and his colleagues evangelistic and missionary outreach was not effected by some superficial presentation of the saving message about Christ to the world, but rather was prosecuted through warning and intensive teaching..' (O'Brien pp. 87-88)

'TEACHING' -1321. didasko did-as'-ko;. prolonged (causative) form of. primary verb dao (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): -teach.

Points to Note:

1. The word "admonition" infers that people need to be "warned", i.e. sin is bad and hell exists. The word "teaching" infers that everyone needs "doctrine". Everyone needs doctrine because: (a) Correct doctrine isn't instinctive (Proverbs 16:25). (b). tremendous amount of false doctrine exists (1 John 4:1). (c) Correct doctrine isn't always pleasing to the ears of man (2 Timothy 4:3).

2. Whether people accept it or not, our salvation is inherently linked with believing the correct doctrines (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 John 1:9).

3. Therefore: (a) "Every man" can believe the truth. The Bible only teaches one body of truth. (b) Religious division isn't God's fault or due to some inadequacy in the Divine Word. (c) False doctrines arise from ulterior motives within man himself (2 Peter 3:16 ff; 2 Timothy 4:3 ff).

'EVERY MAN' -

Points to Note:

1. 'The Gnostic would never have agreed that every man could be warned and taught and presented complete to God. He believed that the knowledge necessary for salvation was so involved and difficult that it must be the possession of the spiritual aristocracy and the chosen few.' (Barclay p. 126)

2. 'the only thing in this world which is for every man is Christ..Not every man can master every craft, or even every game..There are those who are tone-deaf..Not every man can be. writer...There are gifts. man will never possess; there are privileges. man will never enjoy; there are heights of this world's attainment which. man will never scale; but to every man there is open the good news of the gospel..' (Barclay p. 127)

3. Every man can UNDERSTAND the gospel.

4. Again we see the universal nature of the gospel message. How can anyone claim that Christianity is "intolerant" or "narrow-minded", when the gospel is open to all? And when every man can become. mature Christian.

5. Every man needs the gospel! (Romans 3:23)

'IN ALL WISDOM' -'in the whole range of wisdom' (Ber). 'Thus opposed to the idea of esoteric...wisdom represented by the false teachers; higher knowledge for the few philosophic minds, and blind faith for the masses. In Christian teaching the highest wisdom is freely open to all.' (Vincent p. 480) (John 8:32; Colossians 2:2) 'There is no part of Christian teaching that is to be reserved for. spiritual elite. All the truth of God is for all the people of God.' (Bruce p. 87)

This also infers that God's wisdom can be understood by every member. When. preacher proclaims the gospel, he doesn't have to hold back on even the greatest of truths. That's just how plain the gospel message is (Acts 20:27).

'THAT WE' -Paul and his co-workers.

'PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN CHRIST' -'complete in Christ' (Rhm); 'full grown' (Con); 'mature' (Wms).

'PERFECT' -5046. teleios tel'-i-os; from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness: -of full age, man, perfect.

Points to Note:

1. Such maturity is accomplished through the teaching previously mentioned in this verse. This isn't. maturity that happens by accident. Rather, it is the result of good preaching and good listening and application (Hebrews 5:12).

2. Paul didn't envision. class of Christians who couldn't mature because of certain factors outside of their control, i.e. environment or heredity.

3. This means that members who fail to grow have only themselves to blame. But this also means that "every man" can succeed at being. faithful and happy Christian, if they only make use of the teaching found in the Scriptures.

4. The work of elders, preachers and teachers is to see that members mature in the faith and learn how to serve (Ephesians 4:11)