Daily Bread 2011 - Colossians 1
Daily Bread 2011 – Colossians 1
The Supremacy of Christ
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, 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.
What Does This Mean?
With a little study of the culture at Colossae, we learn that one of the prevailing heresies was one of a dualism, which separated out the material from the spiritual. One of the heresies was Gnosticism (which was re-invented through the New Age movements over the past 20 years), which advocated secret knowledge through spiritual means and denied the goodness in material Creation. This is why Paul starts by stating that Jesus is head over all Creation, including all material things. He is not just a spiritual being, but was active in and Lord over all that is created.
Not only was Jesus a human being, but God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him (v.19). Meaning God declared a human body good by dwelling within it. Within dualism (strict separation between the body/flesh and the spiritual) this would never happen. For God, who is holy, to inhabit the body, which was viewed as the source of sin/desire, was blasphemy to many including the same sects of Judaism. Not only did Jesus dwell in a human body, even though He was 100% divine, but Jesus’ died in a physical body and was resurrected in bodily form. God has reconciled all things both on earth and heaven through Jesus who lived and died and was raised in a body.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This passage not only gives us a strong sense of “Christology”, who Jesus is/was; but also declares the goodness of God’s Creation, which we are all a part of. While the body can be a source of evil desires, which if acted upon can separate us from God. As we are redeemed by Jesus’ work on the cross; our bodies can be offered back to God as a living sacrifice (see Romans 12:1-2) and for good.
Interestingly at the end of passage, Paul says I fill up in my body/flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body, which is the Church. As Paul suffers in his own body (he is imprisoned as he writes this letter), it is metaphorical for the unfinished work he has in reaching the Gentiles with the Good News of the Gospel. Importantly it does not mean that Paul’s work in any way supplements or completes the work of Christ which in the first verses he affirms was finished on the cross.
Though our bodies often are a cause of much pain and stress and are indeed wasting away as we age, they house our soul and spirit and should be treated with much care as they are gift from God. Paul talks about the role of our bodies in 1 Corinthians when he states, “Do you not know that your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, you were bought with a price, therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
So, how can you better honor your body which is a temple of God’s Spirit?
Jesus, you are the firstborn over all Creation and entered a human body to show the world God’s love. You are the head of the body, which is the Church. Help us to glorify you both with our individual bodies, but also in the Church; which Your body here on earth. Amen.
The Supremacy of Christ
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, 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.
What Does This Mean?
With a little study of the culture at Colossae, we learn that one of the prevailing heresies was one of a dualism, which separated out the material from the spiritual. One of the heresies was Gnosticism (which was re-invented through the New Age movements over the past 20 years), which advocated secret knowledge through spiritual means and denied the goodness in material Creation. This is why Paul starts by stating that Jesus is head over all Creation, including all material things. He is not just a spiritual being, but was active in and Lord over all that is created.
Not only was Jesus a human being, but God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him (v.19). Meaning God declared a human body good by dwelling within it. Within dualism (strict separation between the body/flesh and the spiritual) this would never happen. For God, who is holy, to inhabit the body, which was viewed as the source of sin/desire, was blasphemy to many including the same sects of Judaism. Not only did Jesus dwell in a human body, even though He was 100% divine, but Jesus’ died in a physical body and was resurrected in bodily form. God has reconciled all things both on earth and heaven through Jesus who lived and died and was raised in a body.
What Does This Mean For Us?
This passage not only gives us a strong sense of “Christology”, who Jesus is/was; but also declares the goodness of God’s Creation, which we are all a part of. While the body can be a source of evil desires, which if acted upon can separate us from God. As we are redeemed by Jesus’ work on the cross; our bodies can be offered back to God as a living sacrifice (see Romans 12:1-2) and for good.
Interestingly at the end of passage, Paul says I fill up in my body/flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body, which is the Church. As Paul suffers in his own body (he is imprisoned as he writes this letter), it is metaphorical for the unfinished work he has in reaching the Gentiles with the Good News of the Gospel. Importantly it does not mean that Paul’s work in any way supplements or completes the work of Christ which in the first verses he affirms was finished on the cross.
Though our bodies often are a cause of much pain and stress and are indeed wasting away as we age, they house our soul and spirit and should be treated with much care as they are gift from God. Paul talks about the role of our bodies in 1 Corinthians when he states, “Do you not know that your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God. You are not your own, you were bought with a price, therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
So, how can you better honor your body which is a temple of God’s Spirit?
Jesus, you are the firstborn over all Creation and entered a human body to show the world God’s love. You are the head of the body, which is the Church. Help us to glorify you both with our individual bodies, but also in the Church; which Your body here on earth. Amen.
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