This thread is intended to draw attention to the elusive meaning of several ambiguous but spiritually important biblical texts. Please make your case for your interpretation, resisting the temptation to pontificate without evidence on what you think the text should mean.
(2) "In my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's sufferings for the sake of His body, the church (Colossians 1:24)."
(a) Christ's suffering on the cross is surely sufficient for our salvation. So why does Paul seem to imply here that Christ's sufferings are in some way lacking or deficient and that his own sufferings can compensate for this deficiency?
(b) What does this verse imply about the spirituality of the sufferings of believers for the sake of the church?
Colossians 1:24 "
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church;"
In Colossians 1:20 Paul shows that Christ's suffering and death is sufficient to reconcile
all things, His death is CAPABLE of saving
all men. Even though Christ's death is CAPABLE of saving all men, all men will not be saved - Christ's death did not save any, did not remit the sins of any man.
So what is lacking or needed? Even though Christ's death is CAPABLE of saving all men, men still have to hear and obey the gospel to be saved (Romans 1:16). So Paul is saying his 'part' was the suffering he endured in taking the gospel to men. Therefore Paul took fellowship in the suffering of Christ, Philippians 3:10. Paul, by preaching, provided that what is lacking in the saving of men. So each Christian has his/her part in the suffering with Christ in living a Christian life in taking the gospel to the world.
Example, Acts 10 Cornelius was a righteous, God fearing man, praying to God always but he was lost for he had not heard the saving message of the gospel. Even though Christ's death was capable of saving Cornelius it did not. It was not until Cornelius heard the gospel and obeyed it, then Cornelius took advantage of the salvation Christ's death provided. By preaching the gospel to Cornelius, Peter filled up his part that which was lacking of the afflictions of Christ.