Fill Up That Which is Behind? #1

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24 KJV).

Did Jesus Christ suffer enough to pay for our sins? Then how can Paul “fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ?”

Never, ever are we to reason Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary was in any way deficient, defective, or needing a “supplement.” Isaiah the Prophet described Father God’s assessment of Christ’s finished crosswork: “He shall see the travail [suffering] of his soul, and shall be satisfied…” (Isaiah 53:11). Hence, we read of Jesus being offered as a “propitiation” (Romans 3:25), a fully-satisfying payment or sacrifice for our sins. “For he [Father God] hath made him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in [Christ]” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “[Christ] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). “And ye know that he [Jesus Christ] was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). If Jesus had a sin debt, then He certainly could not pay ours. Furthermore, if He—the sinless Son of God—could not pay for our sins, what hope do we sinners have in settling the debt?

While on Earth, the Lord Jesus was mistreated beyond belief, including being verbally attacked (insulted, gossiped about, mocked, challenged, blasphemed, taunted, lied about) and physically assaulted (spat upon, beaten, scourged/whipped, robbed of His clothes). All that suffering culminated in His crucifixion, when the torment escalated to extreme levels. Once He dismissed His spirit at physical death, sinful men could harm Him no further. When He rose the third day, He was victorious over the grave, never to die again.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not physically here on Earth, for He has been at His Father’s right hand in the third heaven for 20 centuries now. Yet, if they could, the people of the world would re-crucify Him in the blink of an eye, in the snap of a finger, in a heartbeat. Instead, they must settle for mistreating us believers….