"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. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold 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. 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. 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-- 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 1:15-23 (NASB)
In short, this week's passage is the gospel message. There are also several key pieces of theology discussed in this short passage;
Jesus is human and God.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God (vs. 15) ... Jesus is human.
It was God's pleasure for all fullness to dwell in Jesus (vs. 19)... Jesus is fully God.
Jesus is Creator and authority over all creation.
By Jesus all things were created (vs. 16)
Jesus is "firstborn" (vs. 15 & 18) ...the significance of being firstborn is authority and inheritance; everything belongs to the firstborn.
Jesus is our reconciliation.
Part of the Father's plan (vs. 20)
Reconciliation accomplished by sacrifice (vs. 20 & 22)... Jesus' blood and death on the cross
Reconciliation requires us to be "holy and blameless and beyond reproach" before God (vs. 22)
The thing that stood out to me the most this week is just how much Jesus has done and how little we must do in order to be reconciled to God the Father. Jesus, who is fully God, Creator and authority over everything, came to earth as a human so that He could reconcile us through the sacrifice of His own life, taking the punishment for our evil deeds on Himself, and presenting us as holy and blameless and beyond reproach to the Father. All we have to do is remain steadfast in our faith and believe in the hope that this gospel message offers us. This truly is good news! God does not require us to do anything other than acknowledge our sinfulness and our need for reconciliation and to accept the sacrifice that has already been made on our behalf.
The simplicity of this gospel message has made me so grateful for my own reconciliation and has given me a renewed passion for praying that my friends and family also share in the hope that I have in the gospel.
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