Paul ended the passage we looked at last week talking about the mystery of the gospel, and that’s where he picks up in today’s passage. The mystery means that it was not something that could be reasoned out alone, but requires revelation, which Paul received from Christ.
But what is “this gospel” that Paul is talking about. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives his most succinct recounting of the gospel: “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
If this is true, it means that we owe Christ everything – it crashes into how we approach our finances, career, family, politics, identity, everything about us. What he did for us means that we owe him everything.
And the gospel is not something we ever outgrow. No matter how long we have been Christians, the gospel is relevant – it is the fuel for our ongoing sanctification, and it is the core of the mission we have been given to reach the nations. This is what Paul is talking about here.
He goes on to put himself into this context, as the “most least” of all the saints – if “leaster” was a word, he would have used that. This is the context through which we are to communicate the gospel – deeply felt humility. It is in that humility that he brings the “unsearchable riches of Christ” and manifold wisdom of God” to the world and even to the “rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”
Paul is talking about the evil, supernatural forces arrayed against him, us and the gospel. As the church, we are how God’s manifold wisdom is reflected to those forces.
So we need to understand the gospel – both as our shield, in understanding the love Christ has for us, and as our sword, the power of God for salvation.
– Sermon Notes, Bart Hodgson, Seed Church, Lynnwood WA, October 4, 2020