Who Is Jesus Really?

The Supremacy of the Son of God

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.
We can see as we move into the book of Colossians that in his first chapter Paul wants to clarify who the person of Christ really is.  Specifically he is dealing with some heresy in the church that taught that Jesus was only a man, but not really God. You can see in the above paragraph the many qualities Paul attributes to Jesus being fully divine. Such as:
1. He is the image of the invisible God.  We call this the "incarnation", or God made flesh. 
2. In Him all things were created in heaven and on earth.  Jesus was present at the Creation of the world, as the pre-existent Word of God.  
3. God was pleased to have all of fullness dwell in him.  Jesus didn't have just part of God, but all of Him.  There was nothing about God or His power that Jesus did not possess as a part of who He was.  
4. Jesus is the head of the church.  Since Jesus is now at the right hand of God, all things come under Jesus' headship.  Meaning Jesus has control over all things related to the church, and how God is reconciling the world through Him. 
Sometimes we forget how powerful Jesus was and is.  He is Creator, Lord and Savior.  This is the Jesus that calls us "friend" and reached out to us while we were yet sinners.  And the most incredible thing is that we are now "in Christ".  This is a phrase Paul is very fond of and uses quite often.  The idea is that Jesus lives in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  When you realize all of the qualities Jesus possesses and realize He lives in you, you can see how much power you have at your disposal. 
But often times we do not recognize or live under this power He has given to us through His Spirit.  I think if we did, we would live more powerfully, as Paul did.  Remember that as St. John said, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more