Colossians 1:15-23 (New International Version)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 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. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and 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. †21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation -- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Quick background/summary No.1, The occasion of the letter to the Colossians:
Paul is writing to encourage the church in Colossae and Laodicea to be united in love and in the understanding and knowledge of what God did for them through Christ (v 2:2-3). He also wants remind them so that "no one may deceive you with plausible arguments (v. 2:4-23)." In his final greetings (v. 4:7-9), he mentions the carrier of the letter, Tychicus, is going to Colossea with Onesimus, who is the topic of in the letter to Philemon.
-- The New Bible Dictionary says the occasion of the letter as the return of the slave Onesimus to his master, Philemon, and that this was apparently also in response to some news brought by a church leader, Epaphras (v1:7, 4:12), that encouraging about the fellowship, but also was disquieting in reference to false teachings that threatened to lead believers away from Christ. One commentator's educated guess was that Epaphras apparently could not cope with the spreading of false teachings, and sought greater wisdom from Paul.
Characteristics of the Messiah, the Son of God, listed by Paul in this passage (go back and review):
1. V15 the physical image of the invisible God2. V15 firstborn (as in rank, not birth order) over all creation (that is, pre-eminient, No.1, the top, the superior) --- more on that later3. V16 creator of all things, seen and unseen4. V17 the ETERNAL ONE5. V17 the sustainer of all things (he keeps them going)6. V18 the beginning7. V18 the head of the body = the chief of the church8. V18 the pre-eminent over those who were risen from the dead9. V19 the fullness of God dwells within Him = He is God10. V20 through Him all things were reconciled by his sacrifice on the cross = all things made right again in Godís sight11. V20 the one perfect sacrifice (also v22)12. V22 in Him we are presented holy in the sight of God
Briefly, what are some weird things -- non Biblical -- that you may have heard about Jesus?
Quick summary No. 2
Paul, later in this letter, talks about wanting the church to stand firm on the truth of the Gospel and not be swayed by things that make sense, but are really false. So ... some key points in this passage:
Two things to focus on: Jesus Christ's superiority and reconciliation with God through Him.
Paul is writing about the diety of Christ, and how through Him, we were reconciled with God. He actually starts writing about it in verses 13-14, when Christ is referred to as "His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption." Paul clearly sets out to make the case for the superiority of Christ with his descriptions of him in verses 15-18.
A major one is in verse 15: the image of the invisible God and firstborn of all creation; also, firstborn from the dead (resurrected) in verse 18. If there is any doubt brought on by the reports of false teaching Paul received, he writes here to refute those teachings, presenting a strong case for Christís superiority.
The use of the word ìfirstborn,î or prototokos in the original Greek of Paulís letter, drives that point home.
Teaching point No. 1
Firstborn, prototokos -- Strong's No. 4416, occurs eight times in the NT, twice in this passage (v. 15 and 18; also Luke 2:7, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 1:6, 11:28 and 12:23 and Revelation 1:5). Hebrews 11:28, the reference is to the firstborn males of the Israelites and the Egyptians as referred to in the OT narrative on the first Passover; Hebrews 12:23 refers to an assembly of the firstborn in heaven, referring to Christ's church. All other references appear to be to Christ.
-- The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says: "The examples stress the great importance of the firstborn. God has a claim to the firstborn of humans and animals (as well as firstfruits)." Also refering to Colossians 1:15, "What is stated is Christ's supremacy over creation as its mediator. The term prototokos is used, then, because of its importance as a word for rank. ... As the mediator of the first creation, Christ is also the mediator of the new creation with his resurrection from the dead (v. 18)."
So Jesus Chirstís superiority -- His authority --over all is based on His position as firstborn. Go back to that recurring verse in Matthew:
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
And through that status of being firstborn, of being superior over all, Colossians 1, verses 19 and 20 says:
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 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.
Teaching point No. 2
Reconciled, apokatallasso -- Strong's No. 604, occurs three times in the NT as "I reconcile thoroughly." Aside from the two uses in Colossians (v. 20 and 22), it also appears in Ephesians 2:16. All three uses relate to God reconciling with man, although Colossians 1:20 also references reconciliation to ALL things.
-- In the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, it is related to the Greek word katallasso - Strong's No. 2644, also meaning reconciliation (occurs four times in the NT).
Two points:
a) In the NT it is only Paul who uses the word of the relation between God and man, andb) both have been begun in the cross of Christ, and both are in course of fulfillment.
So, in Christ Jesus, the Annointed One, is where God dwelled, making Him fully man and fully God. And through his sacrifice everything in heaven and earth (all creation = all men) has the opportunity to be reconciled, or reunited, with God. As Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says, "Both have been begun in the cross of Christ, and both are in course of fulfillment."
As badly as man was separated from God, being in hostile mind and doing evil things -- doing self-centered, me-first things -- through Christ's death, man was reunited with God, made blameless in God's sight.
Because of that, then ...
Paul then urges the Colossians and Laodiceans to stay faithful to that truth, to remain steadfast and united in what the gospel teaches.
The implication is if they (and us by extension) are truly faithful to the gospel's ultimate truth, they will be steadfast. Since everything in creation was reconciled to God through Christ, then, Paul says, so the truth of the gospel is being proclaimed ìto every creature under heaven. And as Paul is a servant of the gospel, there is an implicit urging that, they, too, be servants of the gospel when seen in the context of all of verse 23.
Application
The questions is not so much "what did Jesus look like" but "what IS Jesus like?" Those images earlier -- get them out of your head, because those are not important.
What is important is being grounded on the truth of who Jesus is as described in His Word, the Bible.
Paul spells out the application in this letter to the Colossians.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
And to the church in Philippi, Paul wrote this:
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
During the week, watch yourself, examine yourself, check yourself against God's Word (and not your own standard or anyone else's standard) -- how are you continuing to live in Him?
If you are reconciled with God by the superior sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, are you standing firm in the truth of the Gospel?
Are you:
- Thinking of the noble
- Doing what is right
- Being motivated by pure intentions and thoughts
- Are such thoughts lovely in the sight of God
- Are these things that God would admire
Call on your discipleship group members ... pray for your d-group members. If you're not plugged into a discipleship group, get into one that is already established; your church leaders will make sure you're in one.
If your discipleship group has not met, get to meeting, like, yesterday.
And remember this: As badly as we fail, as badly as we miss the mark in our efforts, even in our sinfulness, as bad as it may be or have been, we are reconciled to God through Christ. As a result, we are made blameless before the Father.
And look one more time at verses 21-23:
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation -- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
That is the Christian hope of the gospel. And you, who have accepted the forgiveness of God through Christ and are saved by His sacrifice on the cross, are a minister of the gospel, just like Paul was. You carry that hope within you as you continue to grow and mature in your walk with Him. And that hope is available to all.
That is why it needs to be proclaimed. We need to be steadfast in remaining in the faith, reminded as we study Scripture and live it out. That's how we proclaim it.
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