Friday, April 28, 2023. Some material taken from We Proclaim Him
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 1:28-29
We have learned some important things about who Jesus is. This chapter in Colossians goes on to say more of who Jesus is, but we can learn more about who Jesus is by looking at what He has done as well.
What He's Done
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17
Creator - as a part of the Godhead. v.16 The whole of creation is His work - all of it. All things were created through Him and for Him - they were created by Him. In Him all things hold together - He created all things, and He sustains all things, preserves all things. He made it all and it is only in Him that it is all held together and still working. He was before all things because He is eternal.
Head (Lord) of the Church - And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. v. 18 This refers to Jesus’ role as source of the church, like we refer to the head of a river. The starting point - the beginning.
Savior - through His death. v.21-23 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
He died for one reason and that was our need of a one to reconcile us to God. Our sins were the nails that held Him on the cross. Our desire for salvation should be to be made clean, so we can be presented holy and blameless before God, not just so we don’t burn in hell.
Jesus was the firstborn of all creation, created all things, and reconciled all things. He has always existed, before time, and is a part of the trinity - God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He has the highest honor, overall. He is the heir of God the Father. He died for us and rose again. His reconciliation redeemed us, making us holy, blameless, and justified. He exchanged our sin for righteousness so we could have eternal life. Others need to know this part - that no matter how bad they think they are, or how much they have messed up, He is waiting to take it from them and wipe it all away, and exchange it for eternal life.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which 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. v.24-27
Our part is to share concerning the work of our Savior. Paul says that all he did was his share on behalf of His body (which is the church). Our part is to reveal the mystery and tell the story of Jesus and His glory.
