seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Colossians 1:15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through 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, 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.
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, and do not move 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.
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to 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 Lord’s people. 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.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
This is the commentary I used this morning.He is the image of the invisible God: The word translated image (the ancient Greek word eikon) expressed two ideas.
- Likeness, as in the image on a coin or the reflection in a mirror.
- Manifestation, with the sense that God is fully revealed in Jesus.
If Paul meant that Jesus was merely similar to the Father, he would have used the ancient Greek word homoioma, which speaks merely of similar appearance. The stronger word used here proves that Paul knew that Jesus is God just as God the Father is God. It means that “Jesus is the very stamp of God the Father.” (Robertson)
Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers: As will be demonstrated in the rest of the letter, the Colossian Heresy seemed taken with an elaborate angelology, which effectively placed angels as mediators between God and man. Paul emphasized that whatever ranks of spirit beings there may be, Jesus created them all and they all ultimately answer to Him.
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you: Paul wrote this from a Roman jail. He was able to see that his sufferings worked something good for others, so he could say that his sufferings were for the Colossians and other Christians.
This mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you: The wonder and glory of the abiding, indwelling Jesus was not clearly revealed in the Old Testament, especially that He would abide in the Gentiles. Therefore, this aspect of the work of Jesus in His people was a mystery that wasn’t revealed until the time of Jesus and the apostles.
This is some heavy stuff. I hope Sam comes to turn on the light. Back in the day.... Cain killed Abel. God sent Cain off to start a new family of humans.
Back in the day.... Noah had to build a boat to survive the washing God had to give the earth because so many humans were turning rotten. God saved Noah and his three sons... knowing they would separate and run their lives differently.
Back in the day... Abraham slept with Hagar and Ishmael was born, then Hagar and Ishmael were run off because Sarah got pregnant with Isaac.... and the Gentiles became a new family of humans.
All humans are God's humans. He made us all. He loves us all. He promised to watch over Cain, Hagar, and Ishmael. He promised to watch over Sarah and Isaac. They're all His work for His Son. They just have different stories. All human stories start with being made by God. He counted the hairs to put on our heads. All humans are special to Him. Jesus went to the Cross for all the humans.
I make dolls. Some turn out fabulous from the beginning. Some are not so cute until they get their faces. Some dolls seem to come to life when the right little child hugs them for the first time. I have no idea what is in store for my dolls. They might be the kind that is carried everywhere like a dear friend and there are some who might end up at the bottom of the toy box for forever.
God likes humans. Some turn out fabulous from the beginning... Like the Apostle John. Others aren't so cute until they get their faces... like Paul and Peter. Some humans seem to come to life when a new Child of God hears the Gospel for the first time.
God has a Son. They have been working together since forever and a day. Everything God makes... He makes for Jesus. Jesus gives God something to work for! Jesus, is a good Son. He is happy with what His Father has made for Him.
God knew how each of us was going to turn out. Oh, we would make all the decisions for ourselves... but God knew where those decisions were going to cause us to be at the end. God knows the future. We don't.
Perhaps the great mystery was how God would get the all of Noah's kids to work together. Perhaps the great mystery is how God would get Isaac and Ishmael's families to work together.
Is Jesus the mystery?
