Blogging Bible Study: Colossians - The Glory of Jesus (Col. 1:13 - 23)

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

 

 

After Paul lists his prayer and hope for the folks in Colosse,  he takes a moment to reflect on what God has done for believers and on the glory of Jesus, setting up the argument that people cannot add to who God is or what he has done.

God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.

God has brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves...ie, Jesus...in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (vs. 13 - 14)

Just in case the readers weren't aware of everything Jesus embodies, Paul spells it out...

He is:

1) The image of the invisible God (pay attention to this one; Paul repeats this concept several times)

2) The firstborn over all creation

3) The creator of all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible; all things were created by him and for him

4) Before all things

5) That which holds all things together

6) The head of the church

7) The beginning

8) The first born from the dead

9) Supreme in all things  (vs. 15 - 18)

Now, in verse 19, Paul touches on the deity of Jesus again...'For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him'...to counter the arguments of folks who were trying to teach that Jesus wasn't actually God.  And, through Jesus,  God has reconciled all things to himself, making peace through the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross (v. 20).  In these two verses, we see both the deity and the humanity of Jesus...an actual person, who actually bled.

Then, Paul turns his discussion to a more personal level, from 'all things' to the believers who are reading his letter. 'Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds..'  

Yeah, that's a touch personal.

But, he says, that's not the case anymore.

NOW...he has reconciled YOU. Not just the ambiguous 'all things'...YOU. 

By Christ's physical body, though his death, YOU have been reconciled.

And what does that mean?

Holy in his sight, without blemish, free from accusation. (V. 22)

You were an enemy, but now you are free from accusation.

Paul closes his little review of who Jesus is and what God has done by instructing them to continue in the faith, not moved from the hope in the gospel.  Be established and firm.  This, Paul says, is the gospel that you heard, that he now serves.

Look at who Jesus is...the image of the invisible God, in whom all God's fullness dwells. Look at what God did through him...reconciling us to himself through Jesus' death, as a human, on the cross.  This is the gospel.