“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Eph 1:18-23)
 
Review
We have been talking about the Kingdom of God. The core of the gospel of the Kingdom of God is that God reigns. However, there is something we must remember when we think about God's rule: God does not rule the world directly, but through His people. That is the story that unfolds from the first page to the last page of the Bible.
At first, God ruled this world, as well as the nation of Israel—whom He chose to restore this world—through chosen individuals such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Joshua. After the institution of kingship in Israel, God ruled Israel through its kings and promised David and his descendants an everlasting throne.
And finally, Jesus Christ came to this earth as a descendant of David. By dying on the cross to bear the sins of all people, He solved the problem of sin and made those who believe in Him God's holy people. In this way, God's will to save the entire world and establish His Kingdom in the midst of this world was fulfilled through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
With the coming of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God began to arrive in full force. That Kingdom continues to expand today through His people who believe in and follow Him as their true Savior and King, and it will be brought to completion on the day Jesus Christ comes again.
On that day, all the kingdoms of this world will become God’s Kingdom, and His people will share in Christ's eternal reign. This is the story of the Kingdom of God according to the Bible.
 
The Kingdom of God and the Church
Then, where are we now in this story of the Kingdom of God? We are living between the ascension of Jesus Christ and His second coming. The Kingdom of God has already come, but it has not yet come in its fullness. We have been given the calling to establish the Kingdom of God in this world until our ascended Lord returns. This is the reason God established the “church” on this earth.
Let me ask you a question. We have defined the Kingdom of God as every realm in which God’s people live in submission to His sovereignty and reign. If that is the case, does the Kingdom of God exist only within the church? Or does it also exist outside the church?
This question is not easy to answer. I hesitate to say that the Kingdom of God exists only within the church because the Kingdom of God seems to be a much broader concept than the church itself. On the other hand, if I say that the Kingdom of God also exists outside the church, it is not easy to provide clear evidence to support that claim.
Theologians engage in intense debates over this question. Some theologians argue that the Kingdom of God can exist outside the church. They say that even if Christians are not present in a particular place or realm, that place becomes the Kingdom of God if God is at work there and His will is being accomplished.
Of course, this statement is not entirely wrong. God sometimes works even through people who do not believe in Him. For example, God moved the heart of King Cyrus, enabling the Israelites who were in exile in Babylon to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
Nevertheless, I would like to argue that in this present age, the Kingdom of God exists only through the church. The reason is that although God sometimes accomplishes His will through people who do not believe in Him, the fundamental principle of the Kingdom of God that we see in the Bible is “delegated rule.” Rather than ruling directly, God works through His people.
At this point, a question arises. Why does God choose the much more imperfect and inefficient method of “delegated rule”? If God ruled directly, all the problems we currently face would be resolved in an instant. Everything evil and impure would disappear all at once. Even at this very moment, God could use His almighty power to destroy all the powers of evil in an instant and bring the Kingdom of God fully to this earth.
Yet God does not act in this way. Instead, He uses His imperfect and weak people. Compared with God ruling directly, this method is far less effective and takes incomparably more time. Nevertheless, God continues to establish “delegated rule” as the principle by which He establishes His Kingdom on this earth. Why? Is it because we are so faithful and trustworthy? No, it is not.
Sometimes we think it would be better if God ruled this world directly. But the reality is that God does not do so is actually for our sake. So, what would happen if God ruled this world directly now?
First, the opportunity for salvation would disappear. The moment God’s direct rule began, all of us would have to face His severe judgment exactly as we are now.
The Bible speaks of the concept of the “day of the LORD.” It is the day when God reveals His glory, comes into this world, and rules this earth directly. However, the Bible describes that day not as a bright and joyful day, but as a dark and terrifying one. In the presence of His reign and His holy presence, sinners have no place to stand. There would no longer be any opportunity to repent. The day of the Lord is the day of universal judgment. God’s direct rule comes with immediate judgment.
The prophet Amos also spoke about the day of the Lord.
“Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.” (Amos 5:18–19)
This is what happens when God rules directly. That is why God delays that day as long as possible. It is not because He is unable to bring it about. It is because He cares for us and loves us so deeply. Even now, God is being patient so that He may save even one more soul and give even one more person an opportunity to repent.
Let us look at 2 Peter 3:9.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
 
The second reason God does not rule this world directly is that what He desires is a personal relationship with us. If God suddenly appeared everywhere in the world and began to rule directly, everyone in the world would bow down before Him. However, that would not be love and trust arising from the heart. It would simply be forced submission based on fear, a surrender to overwhelming power.
God does not want us to come to Him in that way. He wants us to approach Him with heartfelt love and reverence, and to enjoy personal and intimate fellowship with Him.
That is why God gave us free will. He did so even though He knew that we could use our free will to rebel against Him and turn away from Him. This is because the relationship God desires to have with us is not one of forced obedience, but one of voluntary love.
For these reasons, rather than choosing to rule this world directly, God continues to uphold the method of establishing His Kingdom on this earth through His people, no matter how weak and inadequate we may be or how long the process may take. His patience is not an expression of indifference, but an expression of His love and grace.
That is why I can argue that the Kingdom of God is established only through the church. The Kingdom of God is established through His people as they submit to His reign.
 
However, this does not mean that the Kingdom of God is confined within a church building. At this point, we need to understand the definition of the church. So, let me ask you a question. What is the church? How would you define the church?
The most biblical definition of the church is found in the opening of 1 Corinthians. I will read the passage to you, so please try to identify the definition of the church here.
“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God… To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:1–3)
Did you find it? What is the definition of the church that Paul presents here? The church consists of those who have been “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
The church Paul speaks of here is not a building. It is an “assembly” of a particular group of people. They are those who believe in Jesus. They are those who have been sanctified in Him. They are those who confess Jesus as Lord and follow Him. The church refers to the assembly of these believers itself. The Greek word translated as church, ekklesia, was also not a word that referred to a building in those days, but a word that referred to an assembly or gathering.
Today, we have gathered here as the church. Not because we have gathered in a building called a church, but because we are gathered here together, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and worshiping Him. Conversely, even if we are inside a church building, if we do not acknowledge Jesus’ lordship, can we truly be called a church? No, it cannot.
As the Lord said, the Kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be observed. People cannot say, “Here it is,” or “There it is.” What matters is not where we are right now, but who is seated on the throne of our hearts. If Jesus is seated on the throne of our hearts, wherever we go, we are His church and His temple.
If we confess Jesus as Lord, we experience the Kingdom of God in our homes, in our church, and in our workplaces. However, if we reject His lordship, our homes, our workplaces, and even our churches can become hell. Please remember this truth.
Then, why did God establish the church? I once studied the Bible with someone. While I was explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation we receive through faith in Him, that person asked me, “If we are saved through faith in Jesus alone, why do we need to go to church at all? Can’t we simply believe on our own and still be saved?”
Perhaps some of you have asked the same question. These questions become especially relevant when we feel disappointed and discouraged by various things that happen in the church. In fact, many Christians have left their church communities and now practice their faith individually.
We ask this question because we approach Christianity only from the perspective of “salvation.” If being saved from sin were the entirety of the Christian faith, then this question would make sense. If our sole purpose were “salvation,” there would be no need to attend church. After all, we are saved through faith in Jesus alone.
But is that really the case? Is the gift God wants to give us nothing more than the salvation of our individual souls? No. God has called us to be co-workers in the glorious work of establishing His Kingdom on earth. Salvation is not an end in itself; it is merely a means toward accomplishing this awesome work.
God saved us through Jesus Christ and through His tremendous sacrifice so that He might now establish His Kingdom in the midst of this world through us, who have been sanctified by faith in Him. If we neglect the purpose of this salvation and simply think, “As long as I am saved, that is enough,” then we are seriously misunderstanding the meaning of salvation and the kingdom of God.
Such an attitude certainly cannot be considered biblical faith. Faith does not mean believing whatever I want to believe. Rather, it means accepting as “truth” everything that Jesus Christ has done in the past, is doing now, and will do in the future.
The Lord saved us for the purpose of establishing the Kingdom of God. If we take the blessing of salvation while disregarding that purpose, how can we say that we are truly believing in and following Him?
Therefore, we must be careful of the mindset that says, “All I need to do is believe on my own.” That is not the kind of genuine faith described in the Bible. If we are now content with our own salvation and have no interest in the mission of establishing the Kingdom of God, we need to examine whether the faith we have is truly the faith that God recognizes, and whether it is the faith that confesses Jesus Christ, who brings us to salvation, as our Savior and Lord.
For those who believe in Jesus, establishing the Kingdom of God is not optional. It is a mission given to every believer. How faithfully we carry out that mission demonstrates how genuine our faith in Jesus truly is.
Then, returning to our question, must we, as Christians, attend church? My answer is, “Yes, we must.” This is also connected to the purpose for which God established the church on this earth. Let us read Ephesians 1:20–23 together once again.
“He exerted [the power] when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:20–23)
This passage is extremely important for understanding what the church is. Here, we can find another biblical definition of the church. What is the church? The church is the body of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the head of the church.
Therefore, the purpose and mission of the church should not be something that the church determines for itself. Rather, they should be given by Christ, who is the true head and master of the church.
So, what is He doing now? He is “filling everything in every way.” Here, to fill everything means to reconcile all things to God.
Paul wrote the following in Colossians, which is often referred to as a companion letter to Ephesians.
“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:18–20)
God sent Jesus Christ to this earth so that, through His blood, all things might be reconciled to Him, including everything on earth and everything in heaven. The reconciliation described here is a much broader concept than individual salvation, because the objects of reconciliation are not limited to human beings but include all things.
In other words, through Christ, God is restoring all things and bringing to completion the Kingdom of God, in which His reign is fully established throughout the entire world.
This is what Christ, the head of the church, is doing now. He is “filling everything” in every way. He is reconciling all things to God.
What does Jesus do to accomplish this work? First, He “fills” His body, the church. The church is the place where the fullness of Christ dwells, the Christ who fills everything in every way.
This is the reason God has called us to be the church. God has called us to gather as the church, as the body of Jesus Christ, so that we may first experience the fullness of Jesus Christ together and then go out into the world to illuminate this dark world with His light and fill it with His fullness.
This is the mission entrusted to us, who have become God’s people through faith in Jesus Christ and have been called into the church, confessing Him as Lord. In other words, our mission is to establish the Kingdom of God.
This work is impossible to accomplish by ourselves. Only when we move forward together in unity in Christ, our cornerstone, can we fulfill the mission God has entrusted to us.
This is also the reason I argue that the Kingdom of God does not exist outside the church. The church, the body of Jesus Christ, is the only channel through which God establishes His Kingdom in this world.
Everyone, we must become the body of Christ, whose true head is Christ Himself, and go out into the world as His hands and feet. If we truly believe and confess Him as the Lord of our lives, we must devote ourselves above all else to His work of filling all things. That devotion demonstrates the genuineness of our faith.
Before I conclude this message, I would like to introduce a song of praise. It is called “If We Are the Body” by Casting Crowns.
The chorus of this song goes like this:
 
If we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
Jesus is the way
 
Whenever I meditate on this song, my heart aches. I once saw someone on social media holding a sign with an evangelistic message. The sign read, “We’re sorry for making you misunderstand Jesus.”
Why does the church receive so much criticism in today’s world? It is because we do not acknowledge Jesus as our head. We say with our words that He is our Lord and King, but in practice, we simply put Him away in a corner and continue to prioritize our own thoughts, plans, emotions, desires, and more.
We are supposed to be His arms, reaching out to people. We are supposed to be His hands, healing the broken places in this world. We are supposed to be His words, proclaiming the gospel. We are supposed to be His feet, going out into every corner of the world. We are supposed to be His body, bearing witness to His love and demonstrating that love to others.
But because we have failed in this work, the church receives criticism, and Jesus, the head of the church, is criticized along with it.
So, how is your faith life today? As the temple in which the Holy Spirit of God dwells and as the body of Jesus Christ, how are you going out into the world to establish the Kingdom of God? How are you participating in His work of filling all things and reconciling all things to God?
We have been called to live as letters of Christ and as the fragrance of Him. Who will resolve today to remain faithful to this mission? Who will offer their life to God and come before Him on their knees for the sake of seeing the Kingdom of God established on this earth?
It is my hope that this mission will be restored in our lives today. May all of us become His holy people and His holy church, with Jesus Christ as our head, and go out into this world as His body. May we live blessed lives, being used preciously by the Lord to bring honor to the holy name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to establish the Kingdom of God and accomplish His will throughout this world. Let’s pray.
 
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for helping us understand through today’s message Your purpose in calling us to be the church. We offer You our thanksgiving and praise for Your great grace and love, through which You rescued us from sin and death by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and made us Your holy people and children.
God, please restore the kingship of Jesus Christ in our lives and in our church. Please make us a community that truly acknowledges Jesus Christ as its head, so that we may faithfully fulfill the mission You have given us.
Lord, You are still filling all things. Please fill us abundantly with Your presence so that we may first experience the Kingdom of God when we gather as the church and then become Your body, go out into this world, and fulfill our mission of establishing Your Kingdom.
We thank You for making us Your co-workers, even though we are so inadequate and weak. We praise You because You are always faithful to us, even when we are not faithful. At this moment, please fill us abundantly with the power of the precious blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may overcome our sins and weaknesses, experience victory, and continue moving forward.
We earnestly desire that through our lives, Your name may be exalted as holy, Your Kingdom may be established, and Your will may be done on this earth. Please use us for this purpose.
We offer this prayer with thanksgiving, in the precious name of Jesus Christ, the true Lord of our lives and the head of the church. Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
1. Who is seated on the throne of your heart right now? Is it Jesus, or is it you? Do you truly desire to live a life in which God is Lord? If so, what areas of your life do you think you need to surrender most fully to the reign of Jesus?
 
2. Do you believe that Christians must attend church? Please feel free to share your thoughts on this topic. Why do you attend church? What do you think is God’s purpose in establishing the church? To what extent are you currently living in a way that fulfills that purpose?
 
3. If we are the body of Christ, we must go out into the world as members of His body, following the will of Christ, our Head. How will you fulfill this mission? Share one way you can help establish the Kingdom of God in the place where God has placed you during this coming week.

“To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29)
 
Review
In our previous session, we talked about labor. Endeavoring and exerting effort for a cause is a virtue in itself; however, if the purpose and direction of our labor remain bound solely to the things of this world, that labor is inherently futile and leads to despair.
No matter how good worldly pursuits may appear, nothing in this world is eternal. Thus, the author of Ecclesiastes declares that all is vanity, and that everything a person labors for under the sun is ultimately profitless.
Yet this does not imply that every form of labor on earth is meaningless. While there is futile labor, there is also labor that is not in vain. And, whether labor is futile or meaningful depends entirely on the object of our labor.
Laboring for the things of this world ends in futility, for all worldly things will eventually fade and decay. Conversely, if the object of our labor is eternal, that labor will never be in vain. Our efforts will not disappear into nothingness, but will contribute toward that which endures forever.
For this reason, labor spent for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God is never in vain. Neither our physical death nor the final end of this world can strip away its significance. Though all things in this world pass away and perish, the Word of God and His Kingdom endure forever.
We find this eternal reality in the resurrected Jesus Christ. Through His resurrection, Jesus made known to us that death is not the absolute end, but the commencement of a life on an entirely different plane—an eternal life in communion with God. This reality serves as the driving force that enables us to remain steadfast, unshakeable, and pressing on toward the goal regardless of our circumstances.
We previously examined an exemplary figure of such labor in Scripture: the Apostle Paul. Throughout Christian history, it is difficult to find another individual who labored as extensively to testify to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and expand the Kingdom of God.
So, how was he able to maintain a life of relentless labor without giving up, even amidst severe hardship and suffering? It was because he knew that his labor in the Lord was never in vain, that the Lord acknowledged his toil, and that an eternal reward awaited him at the end of a life of suffering and labor.
The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:58:
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1Cor 15:58)
This is the very word that we—who are called for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the establishment and expansion of God’s Kingdom and will on this earth—must keep in mind. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain, for it contributes to the building up and expansion of the eternal Kingdom of God.
Near the end of his laborious life’s journey, Paul wrote in a letter to Timothy that served as his final testament:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7–8)
This word applies equally to all Christians today. A crown of righteousness is prepared for us, and it will be granted to all who love His appearing. Yet, if we truly desire to be worthy of receiving that crown, we must fight the good fight. Even when suffering comes and labor grows heavy, we must continue to keep the faith and run the race God has appointed for us. At the end of that path, the Lord Himself will welcome us.
He will greet us, saying: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21). This is the day that we as Christians must fix our eyes upon.
 
The Labor of the People of the Kingdom of God
Today, building upon our previous session, let’s dive deeper into the concept of "the labor of the people of the Kingdom of God." Paul said in Colossians 1:25–29,
“I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:25–29)
From this passage, we discover three crucial elements of the Apostle Paul’s labor: the purpose of the labor, the direction of the labor, and the power of the labor.
The purpose is to fulfill the word of God. The direction is to present every person mature in Christ Jesus. And the power driving this labor is “He who works in me mightily”, which is Jesus Christ.
 
Labor: A Devotion of Love
First, let us examine the meaning of the word ‘labor’ itself. In verse 29, Paul states that he "labors". The Greek word translated as "labor" here is kopiaō (κοπιάω).
This word signifies far more than simply working hard; it means to exert oneself to the point of utter exhaustion, being completely poured out in effort. Consequently, the term encompasses both the act of laboring and the resulting fatigue. When we dedicate our energy intensely toward something, physical and mental fatigue naturally follow. Thus, labor and weariness are inextricably linked.
We see this meaning of kopiaō as physical weariness in John 4:6:
“Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.” (John 4:6)
This passage describes Jesus passing through a town in Samaria. At that moment, Jesus was deeply fatigued from His extensive ministry and travels, and He sat down by the well to rest. The Greek word translated as "wearied" here is kopiaō.
So, kopiaō extends beyond diligent work to include the state of exhaustion brought about by that exertion. This represents the nature of the labor we, as Christians, should pursue. Biblical labor is not doing merely what is comfortable or convenient; it involves pouring out all our energy and passion, even when it leaves us thoroughly spent and weary.
Living a life of such labor is undeniably difficult. Yet, there is one reality that makes it possible: love. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:2–4:
“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1Th 1:2-4)
This was a word of encouragement written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica. Paul thanked God upon hearing of their faith, love, and hope. Crucially, their faith, love, and hope were evidenced by concrete fruit in their lives: their faith showed in their works, their love in their labor, and their hope in their patient endurance under persecution. Upon observing these fruits, Paul affirmed their election by God.
This love must form the foundation of our labor as Christians. Love, by definition, knows no limits; it possesses the power to make the impossible possible. When we truly love someone or something, the labor expended for that object is boundlessly given. In fact, it is hardly viewed as a burdensome toil.
This was the nature of God’s love and labor toward us. God loved us so deeply that He spared no sacrifice or exertion to save us from sin. With boundless zeal, He planned our salvation, revealed it, and brought it to completion through His Son, Jesus Christ.
God’s love is the source of our love and labor. Our human strength and capacity are limited, but God’s love is endless, and His power is infinite. Only when this divine love is poured into our hearts can we live lives that labor even beyond our natural strength.
Because God’s love for us is infinite, may our labor for Him and His Kingdom reflect that same boundless devotion. The Lord will remember our labor and will build His Kingdom through it. Therefore, I encourage you that we may labor together all the more for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the Kingdom of God.
 
The Purpose of Labor: Fulfilling the Word of God
Let us now move to the next aspect: the purpose of labor. Colossians 1:25 states:
“I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God...” (Colossians 1:25)
Paul states here that the purpose of his labor is to "fulfill the word of God." What does this mean? It carries a deeper meaning than general obedience to God’s commands.
Paul defines what he means by the "word of God" in the subsequent two verses:
“...the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:26–27)
Here, Paul uses "the word of God" and "the mystery" synonymously. The word of God Paul seeks to fulfill is this divine mystery. Paul explains that this mystery was long hidden across ages and generations, but has "now" been revealed to the saints. He adds that God willed to make the glorious riches of this mystery known abundantly not only to the Jews, but also to the Gentiles. And what is this mystery? It is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Thus, the purpose of Paul’s labor was to fulfill the word of God, which refers specifically to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul desired for the glory of Christ—God's hidden mystery—to be proclaimed richly among the Gentiles. For this reason, he labored to the point of exhaustion, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever he went.
While reading the Book of Acts last week, one particular verse caught my eye. It is Acts 20:26.
“Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.” (Ac 20:26)
Paul uttered these words during his final farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus. It might seem like an unusual statement for a farewell address. What did he mean by saying he was "innocent of the blood of any of them"?
To understand Paul’s intent, we need to look to the Old Testament metaphor of the watchman in Ezekiel.
The role of a watchman was to sound a warning regarding approaching danger from an enemy. If the watchman failed to give warning, the people inside the city could not prepare, leading to bloodshed and death. In such a scenario, God declared that He would hold the watchman accountable for their blood, because the watchman's failure to warn was the direct cause of their destruction.
God said in Ezekiel 33:6,
“If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.” (Ezekiel 33:6)
However, if the watchman warned the people of the coming danger and they chose to ignore it, God declared that He would not hold the watchman responsible for their blood. The watchman's duty was not to save them directly, but to deliver the message and warning. God said to Ezekiel:
“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 33:7–9)
This context lies behind Paul’s declaration to the elders: "I am innocent of the blood of any of you" (Acts 20:26). By stating he was innocent of their blood, Paul was testifying that he had fully declared the entire word entrusted to him by God, withholding nothing. Paul explicitly states in the very next verse:
“For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” (Acts 20:27)
Paul’s assignment was not to save every person in Ephesus, but as an appointed watchman, to faithfully deliver the message entrusted to him by God—the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus Christ. Paul executed that duty faithfully. Therefore, he could declare with a clear conscience that he was clean from the blood of all people.
Furthermore, Paul was now commissioning the Ephesian elders as 'watchmen.' Following his example, he sent them back to the Ephesian church to rightly and fully declare the word of God. That was the 'labor' Paul entrusted to them.
This same responsibility rests upon everyone who has heard the Word of God and the Gospel. If we have heard, believed, and received salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to become the people of God, we all are now called to be watchmen.
We must proclaim the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to those who have not yet heard it and do not know the salvation of God. This must constitute the substance of our lifelong labor as citizens of the Kingdom of God.
When we eventually stand before God, what will He ask us? Will He ask how impressive our achievements were, or what great status we attained? No; He will ask how faithfully we sought to share the Gospel with those He placed around us.
Around us, there are believers, but also non-believers. Among them, you may be the only Christian they encounter in their entire lifetime. If they remain unsaved because we failed to share the Gospel, we cannot be free from that responsibility. In other words, we would not be able to declare that we are innocent of their blood. That is a sobering truth.
How much must one labor to make a confession like Paul’s? Faced with this question, I feel deeply humbled and aware of my own shortcomings. Yet, I do not wish to give up, for the race of faith entrusted to me by God remains ahead.
Reading Paul’s bold testimony to the Ephesian church gives me a single life goal: to be able to confess before God and those around me at the end of my earthly journey, "I have labored faithfully as a watchman and fulfilled my calling." May this be your confession as well.
Before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)
The Gospel was fully completed when Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again. That work is finished and perfect in itself. However, the news of this Gospel has not yet reached every nation. Multitudes in this world remain in sin and death, having not yet heard this blessed news.
That is why we, having received this good news first and obtained salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, must live lives of dedicated labor. As Christians, the purpose of our labor is not personal comfort or the accumulation of worldly wealth.
The purpose of our labor must be to fulfill the Word and will of God—taking the blessed news of salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth and proclaiming it to all nations.
 
Conclusion
Today, we have considered the meaning and purpose of Christian labor. Biblical 'labor' means more than working hard; it involves pouring out all our strength and energy to the point of utter exhaustion. Furthermore, the purpose of this labor is to testify to the Gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
In light of this Word, let us reflect on our own lives and our labor as Christians. May we live lives of deeper labor fueled by God’s love—striving, sharing, and proclaiming the Gospel.
May Jesus Christ be testified, proclaimed, and glorified through our lives and labor; may many souls be saved and returned to Him; and may the Kingdom and will of God be established. Let us pray together.
 
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for revealing to us through Your Word today the true meaning of labor.
Lord, we confess that while we have often been quick to exert ourselves for our own comfort and worldly advancement, we have been sparing in our labor for Your body, the church, and for the Gospel. Forgive us for setting limits on our devotion and for laboring only as much as was convenient for us.
We confess that we are able to stand here today only because of Your labor of love that sought us out. Our salvation was accomplished through Your exertion and the suffering of the cross.
Lord, as those who are indebted to that love, grant that we may no longer serve out of mere duty, but willingly spend all our strength out of the love You have poured into our hearts. Help us to live lives of greater labor to fulfill Your Word and to proclaim the Gospel of Christ, the hope of glory. Through our lives and effort, may the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ be clearly revealed to the world, and may we experience the joy of seeing many souls return to You.
We acknowledge that in our own strength we grow weary and stumble. Work mightily within us by Your power and fill us with the Holy Spirit, so that today and throughout this coming week, we may live truly dedicated lives for Your Kingdom within the abundance of Your love.
We thank You, Lord, for saving us and entrusting us with this mission. In the precious and exalted name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
1. Have you recently poured all your time and energy into something? Have you ever labored to the point of utter weariness and exhaustion for the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
 
2.  Everyone who has heard, believed, and received salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is also called to be a watchman who delivers that news. Do you believe that you have been given this mission? What kind of effort do you think is required to fulfill it? Who are the people around you that you need to share the Gospel with?

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1Cor. 15:58)
 
Review
Let’s continue our series on the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a realm where God rules and reigns through His people. This kingdom officially began in full force when Jesus Christ came for the first time, yet it has "not yet" come in its complete fullness.
Because we are currently living in the tension between this "already" and "not yet," we often feel a discrepancy between the Kingdom of God we experience now and the Kingdom of God that will arrive in the future.
Christians tend to respond to this discrepancy in two extreme ways.
One is unrealistic optimism. This is the view that human effort and progress will ultimately build a utopia on this earth. Christians with this perspective actively engage in environmental, social, and political issues with the mindset that they will establish the Kingdom of God through their own strength and labor.
Of course, as the people of God, our efforts and labor to establish and expand God's Kingdom on earth are truly precious. At the same time, however, we must acknowledge that our efforts have limits, and that the Kingdom of God will ultimately be completed only when Jesus returns.
The other perspective is desperate pessimism. This view holds that despite human effort and progress, the problem of sin will never be resolved, and the world is ultimately doomed to perish in sin. Christians with this mindset close their eyes to the various problems existing in the present world. They do not view the Kingdom of God as God's reign that we are called to build, but merely as an escape route.
Neither of these is a biblical perspective. Christians must not remain silent about the problems occurring in the world, yet at the same time, we must not think that our efforts alone can bring about the perfect Kingdom of God on earth.
The most important biblical attitude we must hold as citizens of the Kingdom of God is to humbly acknowledge our limitations—that we cannot do it all—while doing our very best in what we can do, no matter how small it may be. This is called biblical realism.
This is well expressed in Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer:
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." — Reinhold Niebuhr
No matter how much we do our absolute best as individuals, the problems and sins of this world will never fully disappear until the end of time. Nevertheless, we must never give up the mission God has entrusted to us.
Offering today the devotion and obedience we can give, no matter how small, while hoping for that day when the Lord returns and the complete Kingdom of God is realized on earth—that is the life we as Christians must live in this era of the "already" and "not yet." For our present labor for the Kingdom of God will never be in vain.
The Lord will use our small devotions to perform great works beyond our imagination. Therefore, our posture as citizens of the Kingdom of God must not be to look only at reality, doubt, and shrink back, but to trust and rely on God as we continuously press forward.
 
The Labor of the Citizens of the Kingdom of God
Building on our previous lesson, today I would like to share about the "labor" of the citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Today, we live in a society where "labor" and hard work are considered virtues. People living in modern society are always chasing after something, working hard and striving to achieve it. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we fall asleep at night, we spend our energy for something.
Of course, a life of working hard and striving for something is valuable and beautiful in itself. Yet sometimes, this question arises in our hearts: "What am I laboring so hard for? What is waiting at the end of all this labor?"
While a hardworking life is a virtue in itself, we instinctively know that there is something even more important than the labor itself. No matter how hard we strive and run toward something, if the direction is wrong, the end will only be emptiness and despair.
 
There is a book in the Bible that expresses this "futility of labor" best. Do you know which of the 66 books in the Bible talks about labor the most? It is the book of Ecclesiastes. Although Ecclesiastes is a relatively short book consisting of only 12 chapters, the word labor or toil appears about 40 times. It appears in almost every single chapter.
So, why did the author of Ecclesiastes use the word "labor" so frequently? In fact, the author did not use "labor" in a positive sense. He used this word to expose the vanity and emptiness of human life.
Ecclesiastes begins like this:
“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2–3)
The author of Ecclesiastes opens with a rather pessimistic and negative statement: "All is vanity." However, "vanity" here does not simply mean having no value whatsoever.
The original Hebrew word translated as "vanity" is Hebel. It carries the physical meaning of "breath," "vapor," "smoke," or "fog."
What do these things have in common? One characteristic is that they cannot be grasped. You know they are clearly there, but when you try to grasp them with your hand, they slip right through your fingers.
Another characteristic is transience. When you exhale breath on a cold winter day, it exists for only a split second and just vanishes.
The author of Ecclesiastes tells us that "everything" in this world is like the breath—something you can never catch no matter how hard you try because they only exist for a moment and just vanish in an instant. Therefore, whatever it may be, the labor we exert to gain something in this world is ultimately in vain because it yields no permanent gain.
No matter how hard we try and labor, no one can enjoy the fruits of their labor forever. Before the absolute threshold of death, and before the cold reality of the world's eventual end, our labor today feels exceedingly vain. No matter what we achieve through hard labor, everything becomes meaningless in the face of death and the end of the world. As the author wrote,
“Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
“So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun...” (Ecclesiastes 2:20)
“As he came from his mother's womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil...” (Ecclesiastes 5:15–16)
This is a reality that every one of us must face at least once in our lives. As we live diligently working on something, we ask: What meaning does all this labor actually hold? Perhaps you have asked yourself this question as well.
Then, is all labor as meaningless as the Preacher says? Does all our effort lose its meaning before the absolute law of death? No, it does not. The Bible also reveals to us the beauty and eternal value of labor.
To give you the conclusion first: Labor is truly beautiful and possesses eternal meaning in itself when its means, direction, and purpose are aligned with God’s will and used for His Kingdom. That is what we want to focus on today.
 
The Labor of Paul
Now, let’s look at a figure in the New Testament who is famous for his "labor": the Apostle Paul. Paul was a man who truly deserved to be called the "Apostle of Labor." When you carefully examine Paul's missionary journeys and ministry, you wonder how he could have accomplished so much in such a short period.
After Jesus died on the cross, rose again, and ascended into heaven, the early Christian faith spread in less than 30 years far beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria—reaching Cilicia, Syria, Galatia, Asia Minor, Europe, and Rome. While this vast expansion was made possible by the dedication of countless unknown Christians, it cannot be explained without acknowledging Apostle Paul's immense contribution.
That epic history is recorded starting in Acts chapter 13. After being sent out by the church in Antioch, Paul undertook a total of three missionary journeys over roughly ten years, resulting in the Gospel being proclaimed and churches established across numerous regions.
It was not an era like ours where travel is easy, fast, and safe. Paul had to risk his life multiple times just for the act of traveling itself. At times he was shipwrecked, and at other times he had to cross snow-capped mountains. Having nowhere to stay, he must have slept outdoors countless times, and he faced the dangers of robbers. Furthermore, he constantly had to dodge zealous Jewish people who lay in ambush to kill him wherever he went.
In every place he visited, Paul worked tirelessly day after day, preaching the Gospel with tears, teaching, and making disciples. On top of that, Paul was a self-funded missionary. He made tents to cover a portion of his mission expenses.
So, think about all these labors! One body was truly not enough. Yet, Paul never stopped, never looked back, and never settled down. He kept pressing forward toward the goal, living a life of unstoppable labor until the moment of his martyrdom.
Paul recorded his labors in his first and second letters to the Corinthians. Let me read a few verses for you:
“...To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.” (1 Corinthians 4:11–13)
“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death... On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 11:23, 26–27)
In these passages and many others, Paul illustrates how much he labored for the ministry God entrusted to him. His purpose was not to boast or show off how hard he had worked, but to defend his calling as an apostle.
Paul truly lived a life of poured-out labor, holding back not even his own life as a drink offering, so that he might finish the work God assigned him—the ministry of testifying to the Gospel of God's grace. That is why he could boldly state that he labored more than all the other apostles. His relentless effort and labor were another proof showing that he was a true apostle called by God.
Paul wrote in Colossians 1:25–29:
“I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 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. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:25–29)
In this passage, we discover the crucial elements of Apostle Paul's labor: the purpose and direction of labor, and the source of the power of his labor.
Paul lived a life of labor, but his purpose was crystal clear: to fulfill the Word of God, to proclaim and reveal the riches of the glory of the mystery of Jesus Christ to the believers, and thereby to present everyone mature in Christ.
Paul labored his entire life for this work. Yet, he stated that the true driving force of his labor did not originate from himself. Though he exerted all his strength, the true power behind his labor came from the One working powerfully within him—Jesus Christ.
 
Here we discover the fundamental difference between Paul's labor and the labor described in Ecclesiastes: Paul's purpose, direction, and driving force were all perfectly aligned with God’s will.
He labored all his life, but his labor was not for himself, but for God. His labor did not spring from his own human strength, but from the power of Jesus Christ. The direction of his labor was not about accomplishing or achieving status in his own life, but solely about proclaiming and exalting Jesus Christ.
This kind of labor is never in vain. Neither death nor the end of this world can strip away its eternal value. Such labor is never useless! For Jesus Christ—the purpose, direction, and power of our labor—has conquered death, risen again, and promised us eternal life. Therefore, labor done in and for the risen Lord holds eternal significance!
Let us read 1 Corinthians 15:58 once more:
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
This is the word that we, as Christians called to labor, must always remember. The reason we can press on toward the goal without being discouraged or falling, just like Paul, is that we know our labor in the Lord and for the Lord is not in vain and contributes to the eternal Kingdom of God.
We are currently living between the Kingdom of God that has "already" come and the Kingdom that has "not yet" fully arrived. The Kingdom of God came quietly and secretly with the first coming of Jesus Christ, but when Jesus returns, it will come upon this earth in power and glory, clearly visible to all mankind. Looking forward to that day, Christians are called to establish the Kingdom of God on this earth in the present.
Therefore, all Christians should be people who "labor." Until the day the Lord returns, we must dedicate ourselves to preparing His way, preaching the Gospel, making disciples, and establishing God's will on earth. Whatever form it may take, no Christian should neglect this labor. It is the responsibility of those who have received the blessings and privileges of the Kingdom of God.
 
Let us wrap up today's message. As mentioned earlier, labor in itself is regarded as a virtue. Working hard and striving for something is a beautiful thing. However, for Christians, living a "hardworking life" itself should not be the ultimate goal. What is far more important for us is: For what, in what direction, and by what power are we laboring?
If we labor only for the things of this world, it may have its own temporal meaning while we live here, but as the Preacher in Ecclesiastes noted, it will ultimately end in vanity and emptiness. A few generations later, no one will even remember our labor.
Labor for the Lord, however, is different. Our Lord will remember our labor and grant eternal rewards to those who have been faithful and hardworking for Him and His Kingdom. As Christians, the labor we perform for the Kingdom of God is never in vain and carries eternal meaning because His Kingdom is everlasting.
Today, the Lord calls us to a life of labor. He calls us to sow seeds with tears. Yet the Lord does not merely demand that we labor. He calls out to those who are weary and heavy laden, saying, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest."
The reason our labor in the Lord is not a heavy yoke is that the Lord Himself shares that yoke with us, working powerfully within us to continuously supply new strength.
I pray that through each of our labors, the Kingdom of God will be built and expanded in our church, in our homes, in our schools, workplaces, and in this city. May many souls repent and return to Jesus Christ through us. Our Lord will be our strength and our power. So, remember, in the Lord, our labor will never be in vain.
Let us pray.
 
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for entrusting us with the mission of building the Kingdom of God.
Lord, we desire to live more faithfully within this mission. Remembering the example of our Lord, who did not hold back from the immense labor of coming to this earth and dying on the cross for us, help us also to live lives of faithful labor.
Lord, may our labor not be solely for the comfort and well-being of our individual lives. May our labor be accomplished within Your divine will. Be the purpose and direction of our labor, and be the true source of our strength, so that through our labor, the Kingdom of God may be established and Your name widely proclaimed.
Thank You for revealing to us the eternal meaning and purpose of human life and for inviting us into this life. Help us to deeply realize Your grace, abide continuously in it, and live lives worthy of those who have received such grace.
We thank You for all these things, and in the precious name of our Savior Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
 
[Reflection Questions]
What is the "labor" that you are currently pouring most of your time and passion into? What are you laboring to gain? Is the purpose and direction of that labor focused on yourself, or is it aligned with God's will and His Kingdom? How can you contribute to the Kingdom of God through your current studies or work?