The Glory of Christ August 31, 2014

This morning we’re taking a short break away from John, and we’ll go over to the book of Colossians to read what Paul wrote to that little church about the glory of Christ. There’s so much we can say about him, but the main idea I hope to get across to you is that he is, first of all, sufficient for everything we need from creation to justification to sanctification and glorification and all the things in between, and, second, he is worthy of any worship and every accolade we can give him. To do this we’ll start in the first chapter of Colossians and the ninth verse:

[We] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

The first part of his prayer is that these people will be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and that they’ll have spiritual understanding. God’s ways and thoughts are as distant from ours as the heavens are from the earth (Is. 55:9), so it’s going to take a miracle for this to happen, but that’s just the point. Pay close attention and see that the following verses glorify Christ as both the answerer and as the answer to the prayer. The Colossians aren’t supposed to find some hidden way or contemplate some deep spiritual truth; they have Christ and the mind of Christ: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2:16). Because of him this prayer is answered, and these people have knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Now, there’s a purpose for this:

10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work,

Not only are they supposed to understand God’s will, but they’re also supposed to be able to do it. This is a far cry different from their days when they considered themselves God’s enemies and when they perhaps suppressed the truth in unrighteousness. From other Scriptures we know that they now have a desire and the ability to walk in a way that pleases God (Phil. 2:13) which is “fruitful in every good work.” You can see how this isn’t far at all from where we are in John 15 where Jesus claims to be the vine, and it’s only in him that we bear fruit. So we see again that this prayer is about Christ and it depends on him for answering. Walking worthy and being fruitful is not about keeping a law or a moral code; as we’ll see beginning in verse thirteen, Christ is the source of all our fruit.

So, he wants them to be fruitful:

and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power,

There’s always more to know about God, and Paul wants them to learn it. Eternal life is knowing God (Jn. 17:3), and Peter says that growing in grace and knowledge is the cure for being led astray (II Pt. 3:18). This knowledge is more than just having a few facts, and that’s demonstrated by what he says after: “strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power.” Now, the context of the passage is glory to Christ who answers this prayer, and it’s completed by his own strength. We don’t overcome sin and death and Satan by personal resolve or adherence to a moral code, but rather we are “strong in the Lord and in the power of his might” (Eph. 6:10). This strength has a goal in mind:

unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; 12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

There’s a promise to all the saints that guarantees blessing and eternal life. We’re here in the earth waiting for it to finally happen, so we have need for strength to make us patient and able to endure the times. Now, we’ve received this strength, so we give thanks to God because he’s “made us meet.” We might also say that he’s made us fitting to receive the promise, and that’s good to understand because no swindler or drunkard or thief or sinner will inherit the kingdom, but in Christ we’re a new creation, so we’re “made meet to be partakers.” Again, this is the reason we put so much emphasis on Christ. We believe that his request is impossible otherwise because we have no knowledge or wisdom or spiritual understanding except for Christ who is the answer to all these things. We cannot please God or walk in a way worthy of him because we’re broken and depraved and selfish and hostile; we’re so full of lust and envy and arrogance that there’s no hope of turning around and all we can do is bear the works of the flesh. In short, we are unworthy to receive the inheritance promised to the saints, but God has changed us in Christ! That’s what’s addressed in the next verse, and it’s where we start making points about Christ:

1. He is the rightful heir of God’s kingdom. 13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: The Father has delivered us from the power of darkness. Think of the Exodus and how God set them free from the land of slavery. We’ve never been physical slaves, but were once held in bondage to the kingdom of darkness, and we were separated from the saint’s inheritance in light: “the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who

is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Cor. 4:4-6).

But continue thinking of the Exodus. He didn’t set the slaves free just for the sake of freedom: they were free from Egypt, but they were made to be slaves of God in the wilderness to do his service. He set us free, but he also “translated” us. That literally just means that he changed us! We were in bondage to the kingdom of darkness, but he changed us into the kingdom of his dear Son and made us partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light!

Now, this new kingdom is a different realm for us. It’s the place where “the things that are not” are called “the things that are.” It’s a place where the impossible is possible, and where righteousness reigns forever. “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein” (Is. 35:8).

2. He is the Messiah, the fulfillment of all the things promised in the Old Testament, and the obedient servant who secured God’s blessing and our inheritance.

14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Think about everything explained in the Old Testament. It’s not that God tried with the old ways, and then he realized it wasn’t working so he devised something better; in God’s plan it was always true that the New Covenant would replace the Old. The priesthood of Aaron was never meant to continue forever, and the sacrificial system was only for a season. The tabernacle and temple were only shadows of the real true meeting place with God, and Christ fulfills all these things in his body. Whereas the sacrifice symbolized the blood that removes sin, Christ actually did it through his blood. Whereas the priest attempted to mediate between God and man, Christ did it perfectly forever. Whereas the tabernacle served as the temporal access point to the Father, Jesus accomplished it in his body so that he is the way and no one comes to the Father but by him.

He is the Messiah who saves; he fulfills the blueprints found under the Old Covenant, and he secures our inheritance and redeems us through his blood.

3. He is the only, full, and final revelation of God.

15Who is the image of the invisible God,

The Greek word for “image” is εἰκὼν (eikon, or our English word: icon). He is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Heb. 1:3). He reveals the

things that can’t be seen and teaches things that otherwise can’t be understood. But there’s nothing else in creation that can take his place in this. It’s Jesus who is the image of the invisible God. He’s necessary and sufficient for understanding and seeing.

4. He is the preeminent King over all creation and the Head of the church. the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Being firstborn speaks of his position. Think of Jacob and Esau. Even though Jacob wasn’t born first, he still had the rights of the firstborn. Positionally he was above his brother. The Word was with God in the beginning and he was God in the beginning, so firstborn has nothing to do with his “creation.” He is not created, and he is fully God. But the Word has a dual nature: as the Son, and with regard to his flesh, he submitted to the Father to secure salvation for the children of God. He is the firstborn among these brethren in that he is our leader and he is first. He is above all and honored above all. This is so because he is the source of all life. By him were all things created, and by him kings have their power. Not only are they created by him, but they are created for him, and by him all things “consist.” The word is used in other Greek manuscripts to describe soldiers arranged in order for battle. The idea is that 1

everything in the universe was not only arranged in its proper order by him, but it remains in its proper order by his own hand. He’s also the head of the church, and in this context we’re seeing that he’s preeminent. This precludes papalism and the CEO mindset some churches have towards pastors or committees. This context negates any reason to complain about or fear government for he is over them as well and holds their hearts in his hands. When disaster strikes and nature appears chaotic we know that these things are the workings of his own hand, and we can bless his name in both the good and the bad. He is preeminent and that means he chooses what is right and what is best and he is the only being in existence with a true free will. No one can reply to him or question his authority. No one can teach him or add unto his wisdom. No one can call him out or change his mind. Everything is just as he wants, and it will always be just as he wants, and we’ve got no wisdom or right to justly question him.

1 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=sunesthken&la=greek#lexicon 

5. He is God in the flesh and never ceased being God while on earth.

19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; There are many who believe that Jesus was God while on the earth, but they think he gave up some of his deity to be here. They think that had he been fully God then he couldn’t have become hungry or thirsty or especially that he couldn’t die. But what they fail to understand is that the Word became flesh; the glorified Word which was with God in the beginning took on the form of a servant, but he never relinquished even one attribute of his deity. The fulness of the Godhead dwelt and still dwells bodily in him. Everything that can be said about God could have been said and still can be said about Christ in his human form. The only difference is he was not omnipresent in his flesh and he was visible. This was necessary to reveal the omnipresent, invisible Father to human beings with fleshly eyes.

6. He is the source and means of all our purity and right standing before God. 20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

First is justification. Peace was made through his blood; that is, God’s wrath was provoked against us, and all the fury of his rage was directed against us, but Jesus made peace when he gave the only thing that can turn wrath away. This is done so that he can present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. To be holy means to be set apart for special use; Christ’s work has done just that to us. In First Peter 1:16 he says, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” What you don’t see in that translation is that the Greek for “be” is future indicative. In other words, it should say, “You will be holy because I am holy.” The verse in Peter isn’t a command to be followed; it’s a statement of fact; it’s a promise. Because he is holy it’s guaranteed that we will be as well. Because he made peace and removed all our sin he guaranteed that we are fit for special use in the worship of God. Jesus Christ makes us holy by his sacrifice and by union with him. Next, see that we’re unblameable and unreproveable. Literally it means we’re perfect and we’re not even accusable! He offered his blood on our behalf and 2 3

wiped away every charge so perfectly that nothing new or old can ever be brought against us. Every crime on our court docket has been so irretrievably

2 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=amwmous&la=greek#lexicon 3 http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=anegklhtous&la=greek#lexicon 

removed that it's described as being cast as far as the east is from the west. Though we had been like scarlet we are now as white as wool.

Paul’s prayer for this church is that they’ll build on what they know about Christ. If he is their foundation and head, then they are in good standing with God, and the supernatural result is that they’ll wait patiently for his return while bearing good fruit.

May we do the same as we join with them in saying, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

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