It Is All About Jesus
Posted By Joe on October 23, 2009
Previously, we studied God's indictment of the world through the book of Romans. We looked at the chasm between us and God and how the only way to cross that chasm was by the cross of Jesus.
Tetelestai!
Maybe you're asking "why Jesus?" Maybe you're wondering "why is it all about Jesus?"
God, speaking through Paul, has an answer for you!
And He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. --Colossians 1:15-16.
Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, positionally. Meaning, He has all the rights belonging to the firstborn because of His preeminent position over all creation.
By Jesus, all things were created! All things! They were all created through Him and for Him. "Rulers or authorities" here speaks of ranks of angels.
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. --Colossians 1:17.
If you have ever wondered what holds everything together, the answer is found here: in Christ! Jesus is holding everything together.
He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. --Colossians 1:18.
Peter is not the head of the church. Peter will not--like a lot of bad jokes--be in heaven with a clipboard allowing you in or out of heaven.
Jesus is head of the church. He is the beginning of all things. He rules over the power of death!
For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. --Colossians 1:19-20.
The only way there is peace between you and God is "through the blood of [Jesus'] cross." Unless you have that, you have God's wrath upon you.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach. --Colossians 1:21-22.
Last time we studied how we were formerly alienated and hostile and engaged in evil deeds. But through Jesus' death and resurrection, Jesus presents us before the Father has "holy and blameless and beyond reproach" because those things are now charged to Jesus' account!
But there is one important application for this. The sentence and thought does not end at verse 22, it continues:
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. --Colossians 1:23.
Once you are walking with Christ in a new life, don't let Satan try to tell you that, though we stumble from time-to-time, we rise again and walk.
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity. --Proverbs 24:16.
If you've fallen down, get back up in the strength and grace of Jesus.
Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. --1 John 4:4.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, friend: it is all about Jesus!
May He Increase!
About the author
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:37-38
"The fulfillment of . . . the promise could be testified by thousands of living Christians in the present day. They would say, if their evidence could be collected, that when they came to Christ by faith they found in him more than they expected. They have tasted peace and hope and comfort since they first believed, which, with all their doubts and fears, they would not exchange for anything in this world. They have found grace according to their need and strength according to their days. In themselves and their own hearts they have often been disappointed, but they have never been disappointed in Christ."
J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John 1:1 through John 10:9, page 472.
There's my brother! Glad to see you back here again, Ike! Thank you for the insights.
amen joe! We need to preach Jesus! And His resurrection!
Preach it, brother! Preach it! Thanks for visiting, Will.