Paul (certainly not accidentally) speaks a lot and very often about faithfulness. And it is not only about faithfulness to God, to Christ and the Kingdom, although first of all, indeed it is about it. But in addition to these, it is about the faithfulness to the choice once made, which is sometimes, as it may seem paradoxical, more important than faithfulness to God...
Paul (certainly not accidentally) speaks a lot and very often about faithfulness. And it is not only about faithfulness to God, to Christ and the Kingdom, although first of all, indeed it is about it. But in addition to these, it is about the faithfulness to the choice once made, which is sometimes, as it may seem paradoxical, more important than faithfulness to God, Christ or the Kingdom. Indeed what means faithfulness to God? Or faithfulness to Christ? If Christianity was a new religion, or a new theology, or a new moral doctrine, everything would be simple and clear: in that case it would be enough for us to declare our commitment to the appropriate doctrine and its Founder, well, maybe even participate regularly in some ritual activities and carry on certain distinctive marks. But indeed, it is not about a new doctrine and either about a new religion, but about a new life, about a life in the Kingdom, that the Savior brought to the world.
And constancy is necessary in life, and above all constancy in relationships, defining our life priorities, which in their turn, are defined by the value system, that we follow. Of these elements, is formed faithfulness - to friends, the family, to the coreligionists, to the vocation of life and to the chosen path. And mainly such faithfulness distinguishes itself in no way from the faithfulness to God and Christ, without which is impossible the life in the Kingdom. Faithfulness is one, and it means constancy of the relationships, and also the constancy of the system of the values and life priorities. Without such faithfulness, any life is impossible not only in the Kingdom, but also in our non transformed world. However in the world non transformed without this internal spiritual core, which at the level of life relationships of life, manifests itself through faithfulness, one can in a way still live, although it is of course only with a big reserve that we can call life this existence, that man has to lead.
And here is, in the Kingdom, without it, it is impossible to hold on even one moment. Because, the spiritual space of the Kingdom is formed in particular by relations - the relationship of its inhabitants between themselves, their relationship with Christ, the relationship of Christ Himself with the Father. Without them, there is no Kingdom. And thus, it is also not without faithfulness, without which relationships in the kingdom are impossible.
1
1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up - That is, whereby I fill up. That which is behind of thesufferings of Christ - That which remains to be suffered by his members. These are termed the sufferings of Christ,
- Because the suffering of any member is the suffering of thewhole; and of the head especially, which supplies strength, spirits, sense, and motion to all.
- Because they are for his sake, for the testimony of his truth.
And these also are necessary for the church; not to reconcile it to God, or satisfy for sin, (for that Christ did perfectly,) but for example to others, perfecting of the saints, and increasing their reward.1:25 According to the dispensation of God which is given me - Or, the stewardship with which I am intrusted.
1:26 The mystery - Namely, Christ both justifying and sanctifying gentiles, as well as Jews. Which hath been comparatively hid from former ages and past generations of men.
1:27 Christ dwelling and reigning in you, The hope of glory - The ground of your hope.
1:28 We teach the ignorant, and admonish them that are already taught.
2
2:1 How great a conflict - Of care, desire, prayer.As many as have not seen my face - Therefore, in writing to the Colossians, he refrains from those familiar appellations, "Brethren," "Beloved."
2:2 Unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the acknowledgment of the mystery of God - That is, unto the fullest and clearest understanding and knowledge of the gospel.
2:6 So walk in him - In the same faith, love, holiness.
2:7 Rooted in him - As the vine. Built - On the sure foundation.