Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Eternal

The book of Colossians also makes it clear that Jesus Christ is eternal. He has no beginning or end. Jesus Christ is before all things, therefore, he is eternal, “And he is before all things” (Colossians 1:17). There is nothing that is here or that was here before Jesus Christ. He was here among the other two members of the Trinity from all eternity. Peter T. O'Brien comments,

“The first affirmation, ‘he is before all things’ declares his temporal priority to the universe. Therefore one could not rightly say as Arius that: ‘there was once when he was not.’ At the same time this statement implies his primacy over the cosmos.”[1]

Paul goes on to say in the next verse that Jesus is “the beginning” (1:18). In other words, he is the origin and source of all things because he is the eternal God. In order to be the origin of something, one must exist outside of that something—in this passage, he is the beginning of “all things,” therefore he is eternal.

The fact that he is eternal has a lot of implications. First, because he is eternal, the entirety of his person and work is also eternal. His righteousness is eternal. His atonement is eternal. His love, his justice, his mercy are eternal. And although we don't deserve it, all of this is given to us. Second, the fact that he is eternal doesn't just mean that his quantity of life is unending... it means that his quality of life is unending. His eternal life isn't just about boundless, endless time or even being outside of time. It's about the fact that he is the only life, the best life, and everything about who he is and what he does is completely satisfying. The fact that these things are true not only leads us to worship him, but it leads us to the responsibility to live in light of this truth right now, where we are and where we stand. How often do we remember that Jesus is the eternal fullness of deity (Col. 1:19) and he lives in us by the Holy Spirit? Remembering this can change everything. How will it change your life today?

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[1] O'Brien p. 47

Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Creator

Colossians is very clear that Jesus Christ is Creator God. You can understand why Paul would be so insistent on letting the Colossians know this fact since they were being drawn toward believing that Jesus wasn't sovereign over all things. Knowing that Jesus is the Creator puts him on a different plane than mere man. Knowing that Jesus is our Creator-God not only affirms his deity, but also insists that he is worthy of our submission.

In Colossians 1:15 we read that Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation.” At first glance, this verse seems to undermine everything we just talked about. We might as well pack up and go home, if that were the case. But the idea of firstborn here cannot possibly be that Christ is the first created thing because, as verse 17 says, he is ‘before all things.” Paul is not constructing faulty logic. He is listing Jesus' credentials and this, too, is one of them. John Piper states:

“the reason Paul called Christ the firstborn ‘of all creation’ is ‘because in him all things were created.’ The reason is not that he was the first and greatest created thing. The reason is that every created thing was created by him. This does not incline us to think then that ‘firstborn of all creation’ means ‘firstborn among all created things,’ but rather “firstborn over all created things.’”[1]

In relation to the Father, Jesus is as a firstborn son, privy to all the rights, powers and attributes of the King. So Jesus is not firstborn in the sense of creative order, but firstborn in the sense of authority. If the Father says, "let there be light," you'd better believe that Jesus can make it happen (and -- spoiler alert -- he did).

Colossians 1:16 goes on to assert the Doctrine of Christ as Creator: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things were created through him and for him.” This passage tells us that Jesus Christ is the Creator God of Genesis 1. The things that are in heaven and the things that are in earth, the things that are visible and the things that are invisible, all things are created by Jesus. Peter T. O'Brien, commenting on this passage, says: “’Heaven’ and ‘invisible’ correspond as do ‘curse’ and ‘visible.’ The expression in parallel lines embrace everything, for they are no exceptions… all things have been brought into existence by the creative act of God in Christ.”[2]

Jesus Christ is not only the Creator God, he is the God who sustains all things. Colossians 1:17 puts it this way: “And in him all things hold together.” Millard Erickson writes about this passage, “After a statement about the role of Christ in creation, Paul links him to the continuation of the creation as well.”[3] In Jesus Christ, all things continue to exist. At every moment, Jesus Christ is holding all creation and sustains it by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus Christ not only brings things into existence as Creator, but he also keeps things existing as sustainer. Can you believe that? Every particle of your body is being held together by Jesus. You are reading this (and not falling asleep while reading it) because Jesus made your eyes, nerves and brain, made the light by which you see, made your mind capable of cognition and critical thought... and he lets you continue to enjoy those privileges.

Take a minute to think about all the ways that Jesus is your creator and sustainer. You'll be thinking for a while, I assure you. May your heart be moved to worship as you consider these things.

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[1] John Piper The Pleasures of God (Multnomah, 1991) p. 39

[2] Peter T. Obrien Colossians, Philemon; Word Biblical Commentary (Thomas Nelson Publishers,1982) p.46

[3] Millard J. Erickson Christian Theology (Baker Books) p. 414

Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Purpose (Part 2)

The book of Colossians was written to make clear that Jesus Christ is the preeminent God-man over heaven and earth in both his person and work. “The preeminence of Christ breathes through all of Colossians.”[1] The apostle Paul relentlessly and consistently communicates throughout the book of Colossians the preeminence of Jesus Christ over all things. His purpose was to set the preeminence of Christ over and against the “Colossian heresy,” but—in God's providence—he has allowed the Colossian friction to become our theological traction in discovering the preeminence of Jesus.

In Colossians 1:16, we see that all things exist for Jesus. “All things were created through him and for him.” He is not only the Creator, but the ultimate point of creation. All things that exist do so for the pure pleasure and glory of Christ. Jesus Christ is not only preeminent in the means of creation, but also in the goal of creation. Not only are these things created by Jesus Christ, but they are created for the Creator himself—Jesus Christ. All things exist for His pleasure and preeminence. This should greatly impact how we view the world around us. Although we derive great enjoyment from creation, no one gets more satisfaction than Jesus. Although creation can be satisfying to us, nothing will gratify us more than knowing Jesus, the author of all creation. How dare we put anything above Him! May we put everything in subjection under His feet (including ourselves)... where it rightfully belongs.

We also see the doctrine of the preeminence of Christ in a more practical sections of Paul's letter to the Colossians. Paul argues that “Christ is all” (3:11) and that racial distinctions do not hinder the gospel because of the preeminence of Christ. The preeminence of Christ extends over and above all human barriers. In Colossians 3:17-24 the apostle Paul lists the preeminence of Christ as a motivation to work hard, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.” Because Christ is preeminent, all things should be done in his name including work, word, and deed, thanking the Father through Christ.

The preeminence of Jesus supersedes any line we could ever draw or throne we could ever build. He's going to reign whether we like it or not... so let's embrace that fact and live before him.

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[1] Thomas R. Schreiner Paul: Apostle of God's Glory in Christ (Intervarsity Press, 2001) p.27

Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Purpose (Part 1)

The purpose of the book of Colossians is the refutation of the so-called “Colossian Heresy.”

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what this heresy entails since the only record we have is Paul’s refutation of it. So, we’re going to deduce what “Colossian Heresy” was all about by looking at how Paul combats it.

This heresy seems targeted on downplaying the preeminence of Christ; therefore, Paul writes an entire section dealing with the deity of Christ and that He is first in all things. We are told He is the “image of the invisible God” (1:15), “the Creator” (1:16), “the Sustainer” (1:17), “the Head of the church and First Born of the dead” (1:18), “the Fullness of God” (1:19), and “the One who reconciled all things to Himself through the Cross” (1:20-23). Judging by Paul’s response, these false teachers must have taught Christ was not preeminent, nor the Creator or Sustainer of all things. Paul attacks their empty deceit and philosophy, which he says is according to human tradition and according to the elemental spirits of the world (2:8). Paul tells them not to be deceived because they, as a church, have been filled with Christ who is the Head of all rule and authority (2:10). The false teachers seem to have taught that the Gentile believers in Colossae needed to be circumcised because Paul assures them by telling them that they were circumcised in Christ, a circumcision made without hands (2:11), they have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised from the dead in Christ (2:12), and Christ has cancelled out the record of debt that stood against them by nailing it to the cross (2:14).

These false teachers must have been proponents of the fear of demons and angels, as well, because Paul tells them that Christ has disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to shame by triumphing over them (2:15). In Chapter 2 verse 18, Paul tells the Colossians not to let anyone disqualify them by insisting on the worship of angels. These false teachers also taught obedience to the parts of the Jewish Law, such as festivals and Sabbaths (2:18). The false teachers must have taught the Colossians to submit to regulations having to do with handling certain things and eating certain things (2:21). Paul tells them all these things will perish as they are used and these are only human teachings and precepts. He tells them these, indeed, have an appearance of wisdom, but they are really just promoting self-made religion and asceticism. They have no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh (2:23). In Chapter 3, Paul does an entire exposition on true Christian spirituality and true Christian living. Paul explains to the Church in Colossae that Jesus Christ is absolutely preeminent over man-made teaching and man-made practice. Jesus Christ is—in his person and work—supremely enough for us and for our salvation.

Next week, we’ll take Paul’s purpose in writing to the Colossians and translate it to our context.