Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
—Colossians 4:2–6 

Is Jesus enough? That is the question that the Book of Colossians addresses. Is Jesus all-satisfying? Is Jesus all-sufficient? Or do we need some other additive or supplement in addition to Jesus? Perhaps Jesus plus good health, Jesus plus well behaved children, Jesus plus financial security, Jesus plus respect, honor, and recognition, Jesus plus comfort, ease, and prosperity, Jesus plus the promise of a spouse, or Jesus plus the promise of healing.

The Apostle Paul pulls no punches in Colossians when he declares with emphatic clarity that Jesus is in fact enough. He is sufficient, satisfying, Savior, Lord, God incarnate, supreme, preeminent, and over all things. And if this is true, and we believe it, then how then are we to live and relate to outsiders. That’s the fundamental question that I want to ask this morning.

Our passage in Colossians comes at the end of the second main section. First half of Colossians (1:1–3:4) is about what you should believe about Jesus. The second half of Colossians (3:5–4:6) is about how you should live in light of Jesus. Our section comes at the end of that, instructing us how to relate to those outside of the Christian community.

The main point of our passage is this: Because we have been united to Christ, we can freely share the all-satisfying Savior.

My aim is that we would be known as much for our love for the lost and our eagerness to welcome others into the family of God as much as we are known for our commitment to preaching and teaching the Bible. This are not contradictory or at odds with one another. Rather, as we hear, believe, and obey the teaching of the Bible, we will look more like Jesus, labor more like Jesus, and love more like Jesus. 

So here’s our plan:

• Paul’s request for open doors to share Christ (Colossians 4:2–4)
• Paul’s exhortation for open hearts that are ready to share Christ (Colossians 4:5–6)

Opening General Exhortation to Prayer (v. 2)

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 is not a throwaway phrase. Paul is calling them to persevering prayer, which he himself has modeled. Look at Colossians 1:9, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding...”

What did Paul hear? Of their faith in Christ and their love for the saints (1:4) through the preaching of Epaphras (1:7). This has been Paul’s practice on behalf of his spiritual grandchildren. Paul’s instruction suggests that there is a certain level of alertness/awareness and thanksgiving/thankfulness that characterizes the Christian life.

Paul tells them to be alert and watchful. False teaching had crept into the church. They were spiritually lazy, going with the flow. Christianity requires a certain level of “situational awareness.” Do you understand who you are and where you’re headed? Wake up; be ready!

Thanksgiving ought to characterize our prayers. If our prayers lack thanksgiving, we may fail to understand who we are, what God has done in Jesus Christ, and how he is now at work in the world. Don’t forget that this is begin written by a man in prison—house arrest. Paul is calling for a perspective that is broader and informed by more than our situation and circumstances, but by the global truths and realities of what God has accomplished in Christ Jesus. Paul transitions from a general exhortation to now his specific request of the Colossians.

#1 – Paul’s Request for Open Doors to Share Christ (vv. 3–4)

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.—Colossians 4:3–4

Paul—perhaps the greatest missionary and evangelist that Christianity has ever known—is asking for prayer. What’s the content of Paul’s request? Three things:

• open door for the word,
• to declare the mystery of Christ, and
• make it clear as he ought to speak.

There is almost a personification with God’s word just like in Colossians 1:5–6 where it says “the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing.” The point is the “word does the work.” The word of God is what convicts, exposes, bears fruit, increases, and transforms lives. So Paul is saying pray that there is an open door—not for me—but for God’s word! This is instructive when we consider evangelism; it’s not about you as much as it’s about God’s word doing the work of convicting, saving, and confronting. We just need to be faithful. 

The second thing Paul requests is that he would declare the mystery of Christ. Now what is this “mystery” that Paul has in view? The word mystery is used in Colossians 1:26–27 and 2:2, and then here in our passage.

The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.—Colossians 1:26–27 

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.—Colossians 2:2  

This “mystery” is different from the emphasis in Ephesians, which is that Jews and Gentiles are members of the same body. Here in Colossians, the emphasis of the mystery is that we have been brought into union with Jesus Christ. We are united with Christ—together as one people.

Christians are to identify with Jesus more than any other identification—more than earthly citizenship, more than ethnic identity, more than political party, more than age and demographic, more than anything else. And especially as it refers to ethnic identity—since Jews and Gentile are in view—Gentiles do not need to assimilate to the broader culture of the Jews to be a part of God’s family. 

Connection With Daniel 2

Paul draws on language from the OT, particularly Daniel 2. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream, calls all of his magicians, sorcerers, and enchanters to both tell him the dream and its interpretation, with the threat of being torn limb from limb if they don’t. The “wise men” tell the king they’ll interpret the dream if the king would tell them the content of the dream first. The king refuses, and they are all about to be executed. Daniel, the exiled Hebrew finds out, and tells his friends, they pray, and here is the pertinent part in Daniel 2:19, “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”

The connection isn’t with this one word but rather conceptually with the whole of chapter 2. The mysterious dream is that of a statue of a being, a head of gold, silver arms and chest, middle and thighs of bronze, then legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. But a stone strikes the image such that it not only collapses, but that all of it turns to dust and chaff that the wind drives away so that there is no trace of it at all whatsoever. And the stone that strikes it, turns into a great and glorious mountain that fills the whole earth. Daniel interprets it as the coming kingdom where God will establish one king and kingdom that will last forever.

What Paul does is tap into all of that biblical background and imagery to say that we—because we have been brought into union with Christ—are part of that great and glorious mountain that will never be destroyed. Yes, Jews and Gentiles, full inclusion. And all believers from all time are part of a kingdom that will never end, and never be destroyed.

This mystery is Christ in us (1:27). We have been brought into union with the glorious Lord of all things. Here just for a second all that Colossians says about Jesus in what is commonly called the Christ hymn:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.—Colossians 1:15–20

Christ in you, so walk in him. False teaching says you need something in addition to Jesus. Paul demolishes the lie not with a sledgehammer but with a wrecking ball. Let me tell you who this Jesus is—his supremacy, preeminence, and glory, and he’s in you, and you’re in him. This is massive earth-shattering reality.

Paul is asking for clarity for making the most profound, complex, and world-changing realities clear. The gospel can be one of the most complex and overwhelming realities in all the world. You could spend a lifetime plumbing the depths of it and never exhaust it. And the gospel is simple. A few words fitly spoken, called to mind decades later, can save. If someone says “Well, what do you believe?” ... Can you give them a winsome answer in 60 seconds? What if they say, “What do you think about the New Zealand shooting?” 

Perhaps something like the following (including key concepts of God, Man/Sin, Christ) …

I’m so deeply saddened by the shooting in New Zealand to see that lives were lost. Even though I’m a Christian, I grieve that Muslims were killed, because my faith teaches me that all people are made in the image of God. I believe that God grieves over this violence as well because people are not following his good design for the world.

And it’s so apparent that our world is broken (Man/Sin). Hostility, anger, violence, hatred, murder, and wars are far too common. In many ways we don’t even blind an eye over such mass violence anymore. I think our world is hurting and broken. The Bible talks about how all creation groans under the weight of its bondage to corruption. I saw that New Zealand Prime Minister is seeking to ban all assault rifles. And while I understand the instinct to regulate such deadly weapons, I don’t know if it’s going to solve the fundamental issue, which is sin, evil, and corruption in the world. We all know we have capacity to do evil. To hurt others that anger us. In Christianity we call it sin—and it’s powerful and innate in every person (Man).

But the Bible offers a way to deal with your own heart, your own corruption, your own sin and falling short of God’s perfect standard he’s set forth for his creation, and he offers that solution in a person, Jesus Christ. Jesus lived 2,000 years ago, came to rescue us from our sin by dying to take our punishment, and by his perfect life we get forgiveness, we get washed clean, we are reconciled to God, and we are no longer imprisoned by sin and corruption within us. And the best news is that this is a free offer to anyone who will believe and surrender to Jesus. Do you want to learn more about that? 

Application

If Paul needs to ask for prayer so that he would have open doors for the word, how much more do we need the same partnership in prayer? One very tangible application of this is asking others to pray with you and for you for the lost. You should never be hesitant to ask others to pray with you and for you as you share the gospel with others.

Here are two stories of how I’ve seen this work itself out the last few months here at the North Campus: 

• A North Campus member has been praying for her father for decades. Dozens of others have joined her in praying for his salvation. Just maybe a month ago, as her father had been in greater decline, she had asked for prayer for just one more opportunity to share Jesus with her dad, and for him to have a cogent mind to hear the truth. As she shared with him again, he for the first time replied, “ok, I want that.” She was so blown away she repeated herself to make sure he understood. He replied again yes. She did it one more time, and again he said he wanted to receive Christ. So she led him in prayer to receive and surrender to Jesus.

She writes:

I do want to say that the Lord sweetly used the Jonah sermon series, which happened to be during my dad’s deteriorating condition, to grow a hope for my Dad rooted in God’s mercy! My pleadings with the Lord felt empowered by calling on His mercy as I was reminded of His mercy- that this is His bent, His character, His heart! It was important for me to acknowledge that He did not owe me (or my Dad) this mercy, but that His mercy was vast and great, fueling my prayers.

Our prayers are rooted in God’s power and Christ’s mercy and desire to save!

Consider this question: “If God answered every prayer you prayed this last week, would there be anyone new in the kingdom?”

• And then there is the other story of a North Campus couple that had been praying for their son. They had solicited dozens of other friends, family, and church members to pray with them for his salvation. And by God’s grace, at the Christmas Eve service, the son said he would come to please his parents. And God opened his heart and mind to see that he really needed Jesus and he received Christ. And now there are dozens who are sharing in the joy with this couple that their son was once spiritually dead, and is now spiritually alive forever. I texted the couple to see if I could share this and they agreed, and they think over 200 people prayed for their son so he would walk with Jesus. Our partnership in prayer is how we will bear fruit 30, 60, 100 fold!  

#2 – Paul’s Exhortation for Open Hearts to Be Ready to Share Christ (vv. 5–6)

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.—Colossians 4:5–6 

Notice three things that Paul exhorts the Colossians to …

• walk in wisdom,
• make the most of the time, and
• speak with graciousness

Walk in Wisdom (5a)

Some translate this as “conduct yourselves with wisdom,” but the emphasis is in light of who we are in Christ, live wisely towards outsiders. As you immerse yourself in Christ, let that new way of living flow out of you. Don’t withdraw because of false teaching, but engage fellow citizens with wisdom and to seek to win them to Jesus. In Colossians 1:9 Paul had prayed for the Colossians to know spiritual wisdom, and now he calls them to live it out.

• For some of us it means being wise in what we post on social media.
• For some of us it means sharing with others that we’re followers of Christ.
• For some of us it means being quick to listen and slow to speak in our interactions.
• For some of us it means actually walking and engaging and relating to unbelievers.

The phrase “making the best use of the time” literally means “buying back the time” and it is derived from Daniel 2:8 where King Nebuchadnezzar accuses the wise men, enchanters, magicians, and astrologers of stalling when they kept asking the King to tell them the dream. Here, Paul doesn’t have stalling in view in so much as they is calling them to maximize the time they have to share Christ. The shared principle is that time is of the essence. It’s important; we have a limited amount. And the connection back to Daniel ought to remind us that we’re part of God’s everlasting kingdom that will never end. We are part of this cosmic and global renewal that has come in Christ, and has not yet been full consummated. There is an evangelistic urgency.

Then Paul calls them to speak with graciousness. There ought to be a gracious and attractive tone to our speech about our faith and the things we believe.

I once heard Jerry Root, a professor at Wheaton College, share about how he replies to the accusation that all Christians are hypocrites. In conversation they say, “I don’t want anything to do with Jesus. There are too many hypocrites in the church.” How do you respond to that? Begin with your own struggle. He answers, “That’s very perceptive of you. I think it’s true.” They ask how? He says “I say I believe in the high ideal of love, but I’ve said hurtful words to the ones I love most. I believe in justice, but there have been times I’m unfair in my treatment of others. I know there are hypocrites in the church, I’m one of them.” What this does is remove our defensiveness, and rather puts us side-by-side with others on a journey to discover who we are in this world.

Paul exhorts the Colossians to have gracious words, fit for the time and place. It’s like Proverbs 25:11 says “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” To put this into modern language it’s like saying a gracious word is like a perfectly cut diamond, with no blemishes, perfect clarity and color, in a perfect setting so that it sparkles. Are you ready to respond with a winsome word?

• I noticed, why don’t you ever curse like the rest of the guys?
• I could never be that patient with my children like you, how do you do that?
• I saw how you apologized after that blow up; I really respect that.
• Why does it seem like you have it all together?
• Well I could never be a “good” Christian like you?
• Christianity just isn’t for me, I’ve done some bad things in my life.

Are you ready to respond to questions or statements like that when they come at work, at the gym, at the park, or in your neighborhood? It’s an opportunity to speak clear, winsome, and wise words.

Jerry also tells a story of another instance where he had lunch meetings every day at the same restaurant. He would go to the same place even though he tired of the food because he wanted to meet the workers. And he put on his prayer list the manager of the restaurant and prayed for him every day. After about three weeks, occasional small talk, he told him, “you know, I pray for you every day.” Then about three weeks later he told him again that he prays for him, and the man Brad said can you pray for my boys. Every three weeks Jerry would share with Brad that he was praying for him. At that the man remarked that he must really do so since he said it before as well. After 9 months of regular interaction with him, that man one day asked if he could talk to him after lunch. They went to a coffee shop and the man shared that his life was unraveling and poured out his story. After 3 hours he replied I think you need Jesus. The man said he does need Jesus but he wanted to clean his life up first. Jerry said that’s not how it works, but go ahead and let me know how it goes. After a few weeks Brad came to him and said my way isn’t working, I need Jesus, and he had the privilege of leading him to the Lord. O, that we would have words season with salt that would point people to Jesus. 

Summary

Paul asks for open doors for the gospel, which instructs us to partner together in praying for each other and for the lost. We’re all in it together. Some of you don’t know any unbelievers, so you need to be praying for all the unbelievers your friends have. Paul then calls the Colossians to walk in wisdom towards outsiders, being ready to speak wise and timely words of Christ. He’s essentially calling them to have open hearts towards the lost and be on the lookout for those without Jesus.

Conclusion

Let me end where we started. The main point this morning is because we have been united to Christ, we can freely share the all-satisfying Savior. Sharing Jesus is not some Ponzi scheme or multi-level-marketing thing. Where if I get more people in my downstream it somehow financially benefits me. But I will tell you how it does operate that way a little for us Christian Hedonists: it multiples our joy.

Our mission statement is not just a tagline: “We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.” We are preaching on evangelism for your joy. There is nothing more satisfying and strengthening for my faith than sharing the gospel and seeing others come to faith.

We are calling you to more of Jesus. All the fullness of God dwells in him, and you have been united to him. You have his power at your disposal to love the unlovely. You have his Spirit to walk in wisdom. You have his word in your heart and on your lips to speak to others. You have everything you need in Christ, and this is a call to more joy in Jesus as more and more are ushered into the kingdom for his glory and for our everlasting joy.

Sermon Discussion Questions

Outline

1. Paul’s request for open doors to share Christ (Colossians 4:2–4)
2. Paul’s exhortation for open hearts that are ready to share Christ (Colossians 4:5–6)

Main Point: Because we have been united to Christ, we can freely share the all-satisfying Savior.

Discussion Questions

• What are some of the themes and topics that Paul has covered in Colossians up to this point? (Colossians 1:1–3:4 and 3:5–4:6)
• What type of prayer does Paul encourage in his general exhortation? (Colossians 4:2)
• For what three things does Paul ask for prayer? (Colossians 4:3–4)
• Where else does the word “mystery” show up in Colossians (or Ephesians) that is significant for understanding its meaning?
• What are the three things that Paul exhorts the Colossians to do? (Colossians 4:5–6)
• How might Paul’s aim to guard the Colossians from false teaching (Colossians 2:8–23) relate to his encouragement for them to “walk in wisdom towards outsiders”?

Application Questions

• What are some practical ways we can “continue steadfastly in prayer” with watchfulness and thanksgiving?
• Why is thanksgiving so important in prayer?
• How can we partner in prayer with and for one another?
• How should we relate to outsiders? Are we ready and able to engage others with words “seasoned with salt”?
• What are some common questions we ought to be ready to answer?
• Share with each other the names of unbelievers you are praying for regularly.
  

Prayer Focus

In light of our union with Christ and the supremacy of Jesus over all things, spend time expressing your thanksgiving to God for your salvation and all the riches of glory we have in Christ (Colossians 1:27). Confess any sins of prayerlessness, lacking compassion for the lost, being a poor witness for Jesus, and any fear or shame we have about sharing the Good News. Ask God for joy in witnessing and for an ability to speak wise, winsome, and “seasoned with salt” words to those around us.