JESUS, THE ETERNAL GOD
Colossians 1:15-28
HIS DIVINE NATURE
V:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of 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.
Jesus is the exact picture of the God the Father. No one has seen God the Father
at any time. Jesus became flesh so you and I could get a mirror image of the Father.
Jesus's divine nature is the same as God the Father. His divine nature manifests
itself in the author and ruler of all creation.
Being creator, Jesus has no beginning or end. All things were created by Him
and for Him. He was not created by the Father because He and the Father are one.
Heaven and earth were created by Him. All things that are invisible to the mind and
eye were created by Him. Air is plentiful, and all around us, but we have never
seen air. Yet it was Jesus who made the atmosphere for all things He created to
exist in. How much more we cannot see, know, or imagine exists in Jesus' creation?
Notice Jesus is before all things and is the one who keeps all things together.
This is a testimony to Jesus's immeasurable power and authority. Can you imagine
for a moment the creative power it takes to keep all the known planets moons and
stars in place? Can you imagine the power of the Word spoken by Jesus in which
all things that are, came into existence? Can you imagine the immeasurable
knowledge of Jesus that it took to put creation into existence? Can you imagine
the presence of Jesus in all places at the same time as He saw His creation
come into existence? I don't understand omnipotence, or omnipresence, or
omniscience. But I do understand they describe the unlimited qualities of
Jesus.
HIS HUMAN NATURE
V: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, 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.
Of His authority, Jesus took on human flesh and became man, so He could
dwell among us. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, all human
mankind was separated from God and cast into darkness. One man's sin caused
us all to be born into sin and enemies of God. Not of our own doing, from the womb
we are all born dead, that is separated from and without eternal hope.
Jesus was born without sin when He took on Human flesh by the power of the
Holy Spirit to be our salvation.
Jesus lived a life on earth free of sin, preaching the Good news of God’s righteousness.
Having not sinned, Jesus was the perfect blood sacrifice for the atonement
of the sins of the world. He willingly placed Himself on the cross to be crucified
by sinful man to make peace with God the Father. Having died on the cross
He became the salvation for all who believe in Him (John 3:16)
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE DEAD
V: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.
God created two groups of people, Jews and Gentiles who would be reconciled together
through the blood sacrifice of His Son (Isa 53:5-6). The Jews born in slavery in Egypt were God's chosen nation. Through 42 generations Jesus the Messiah would be born (Joel 3:20). Christ took on human flesh, born of a virgin (Isa 7:14). The gospel of peace was given to the Jews first, then to the gentiles (Romans 2:9-10).
The Gentiles (all none Jews) were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and the
hope of salvation until the death of Jesus on the cross (Romans 2:9-10). Having heard
the preach Word and believed in Jesus Christ the Gentiles are reconciled to the Father.
The blood of Jesus cleanses and sanctifies all who come by faith to Him.
THE MYSTERY OF THE SAINTS REVEALED
V:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking regarding Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but is now disclosed to the saints. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The Old Testament prophecies of the coming of the Messiah did not reveal the salvation
being offered to the Gentiles through the death of Jesus on the cross. However, the prophecy of salvation given to many nations was given to Abraham in Genesis 7:4-6
The Apostle Paul was called by Christ to suffer for Him while preaching the gospel of
peace to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:11, 15). You and I brothers and sisters in Christ have
had the Gospel preached to us by the grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. We were chosen before the foundation of the earth to do good works for
the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:4).
PERFECTION IN CHRIST, THE MISSION
V:28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
We owe God thanks and gratitude for choosing preachers to preach the Gospel
of salvation to us. We were drawn by the Father to Christ for our salvation (John 6:44).
In His drawing, He gave us a measure of faith to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior
(Romans 12:3). Not only did God give us a measure of faith, but He sealed us until
the day of redemption to ensure we would not fall away from Him (Ephesians 4:30).
Every minister of Christ, including you and I has been gifted to preach the Gospel
of Christ to the lost and encourage the believers (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Rev. M. Mitchell
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