Jesus Christ Portrayed in Colossians: Understanding His Nature and Relationship to Creation

Colossians LESSON 3

COLOSSIANS 1:14-17 Jesus Christ portrayed in Colossians Jesus Christ portrayed in Colossians Col. 1:15 Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God Heb. 1:3 Heb. 1:3 The Son is the exact representation of God s nature. The Son is is God Heb. 1:2 Heb. 1:2 God made the world through Him and He upholds all things (Col. 1:16) Col. 1:16) Col. 1:15 Col. 1:15 Firstborn of all creation: positional Heb. 1:3 Heb. 1:3 He made purification for sins (Col. 1:14 Col. 1:14)

CROSS REFERENCES John 1:18 John 1:18 Jesus is the only begotten God from the Father (ESV only God at Father s side) He explained the Father: No one has seen God at any time: Seen horao: in an emphatic sense, of Christ, who has an immediate and perfect knowledge of God without being taught by another John 12:45 John 12:45 If you ve seen Me, you ve seen the Father John 14:7 John 14:7- -11 11 You know Him and have seen Him, I am in the Father and the Father is in Me

CROSS REFERENCES John 8,10; Ex. 3 John 8,10; Ex. 3 Jesus said He was the Ego Eimi: The self-existent One. The I AM Phil. 2 Phil. 2 He is God, but came in the flesh Jesus is equal with God from the beginning He was made in the likeness of man for a time He emptied Himself and took the form of a servant and was obedient to the Father, even to death on the cross

COLOSSIANS 1:15 FIRSTBORN OF CREATION The Son of God has pre-eminence over ALL creation because He created ALL things He IS Creator, not a created being He existed before ALL things He holds ALL things together He has first place in ALL things Firstborn of creation in POSITION

JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION John 1 John 1 All things came into being through Him The World was made through Him He was in the beginning with God He was always God He became flesh and lived among men Men saw the glory of the Son, but have not yet seen His full glory as God

JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION Gen. 1 Gen. 1 In the beginning: God/Jesus created the heavens and the earth Heb. 1:8 Heb. 1:8 The Son is God He laid the foundation of the earth Heb. 1:10 The heavens are the work of the Son s hands in creation Heb. 1:10 Heb. 1:10 Your years are the same and not come to an Your years are the same and not come to an end Heb. 1:12 end Heb. 1:12 Heb. 1:10

JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION Col. 1:18 Col. 1:18 He is the head of the body/church Col. 1:19 Col. 1:19 All fullness (abundance) is in Him Col. 1:20 Col. 1:20 He reconciled all things to Himself Col. 1:20 Col. 1:20 He made peace by His blood Col. 1:22 Col. 1:22 Believers are reconciled holy, blameless and above reproach IF they continue in the faith (vs. 23)

CROSS REFERENCES & COL. 1:24 Heb. 3 Heb. 3 Those who hold fast until the end are part of God s house, the church Phil. 1:6 Phil. 1:6 God will complete the good work He began in believers. True believers will continue Col. 1:24 Col. 1:24 Paul rejoiced in his sufferings for the body of Christ, the church in filling up what is lacking in Christ s afflictions Is anything lacking in Christ? Is anything lacking in Christ?

COL. 1:24 Fill up : antanapleroo only use in Scripture. It means to fill up in place of someone else. Believers fill up the remaining sufferings of Christ when Christians experience wrath from unbelievers who are really still persecuting Christ. Venting their rejection of Christ on His followers because they can no longer directly pull out Christ s beard or spit on His face , so they do the next best thing: persecute the people in whom Christ lives

JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH Col. 1:18 Col. 1:18 Jesus is the head Col. 1:24 Col. 1:24 Jesus body is the church Col. 1:25 Col. 1:25 Paul is a minister of the church Col. 4:15 Col. 4:15- -16 16 Paul spoke of other churches ekklesia a calling out, a gathering, meeting Eph. 1:22 Eph. 1:22- -23 23 Christ is head over all things to the church and fills all in all Eph. 5:22 Eph. 5:22 His headship is like that of the husband to the wife

JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH Eph. 5:25 Eph. 5:25 Christ loved her and gave Himself up for her Eph. 5:27 Eph. 5:27 His desire is for the church to be holy and blameless, without blemish (Col. 1:22) Matt. 16 Matt. 16 Christ built His church, His body 1 Pet. 2 1 Pet. 2 The church is built with living stones, Christ being the cornerstone.

JESUS RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH Heb. 12 Heb. 12 The church of those enrolled in heaven . I Cor. 12 I Cor. 12 All members are of the body of Christ I Tim. 3 I Tim. 3 Church is God s household, the pillar and support of the truth Acts 2 Acts 2 Church should be of one mind, as the first church was, which we have been added to

THE MYSTERY Col. 1:26 Col. 1:26 Hidden from past generations Col. 1:26 Col. 1:26 NOW revealed to His saints Col. 1:27 Col. 1:27 There are riches and glory in it Col. 1:27 Col. 1:27 It is FOR the Gentiles Col. 1:27; 2:1 Col. 1:27; 2:1- -3 3 Christ in you, the hope of glory Eph. 3:5 Eph. 3:5 Revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit Eph. 3:6 Eph. 3:6 The Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, fellow partakers of the promise

THE MYSTERY Eph. 3:10 Eph. 3:10 It was hidden in God who created all things. It is now made known through the church TO the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Angels are watching His plan unfold through us! Eph. 3:11 Eph. 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose carried out in Christ Jesus Eph. 3:12 Eph. 3:12 It gives us boldness and confident access through faith in Him

THE MYSTERY Rom. 16:25 Rom. 16:25 Kept secret for long ages past Rom. 16:26 Rom. 16:26 Now is manifested, made known to ALL the nations, leading to obedience of faith Why was Paul concerned about them and this mystery? (HW pg. 36 #5) Col. 1:28 Col. 1:28 Paul wanted to present every man complete in Christ