Lord’s Day, Vol. 3 No. 40

Witnesses for Christ (Part 2)

The Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the Colossians to greater service for the Lord by (1) glowing for Jesus (Col. 1:9-14) (2) being grounded in Jesus (Col. 1:15-23).

To glow for Jesus, he encouraged them to grow in knowledge of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:9 cf. 15-23), in fruitfulness (Col. 1:10-11) and in gratitude (Col. 1:12-14).

Verses 15-23 tells us it is critical that we are grounded in Christ for (a) He is God (v15), (b) He is Creator (v16-17), (c) He is the Head of the Church – The Pre-eminence (v18), (d) He is Saviour (v19-22), (e) He is the Good News (v23).

(a) He is God (v15)

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

We cannot see the invisible God. However, Jesus is the exact representation of the Father, the final revelation of God (Hebrews 1:3). “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him” (John 1:18).

Jesus is the firstborn of every creature. How can He be the ‘firstborn’ when many creatures ‘existed’ before Him? Jesus is firstborn in terms of rank and not in terms of time is the sense of the text here. Although Jesus in human form has a beginning, He preceded every creature. The creatures were created but not Jesus. Jesus is fully God, the very God. Jesus existed in eternality past as the second person of the Godhead.

(b) He is Creator (v16)

16 For 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: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Jesus is Creator. He created all things by His Word. All things, whether in heaven (the angels) or on earth (the animals and plants), indeed all powers are created by Him and for Him. Jesus’s pre-existence is before the whole creation and by Him, all things are held together.

Jesus is the eternal Word, the eternal “logos”. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3).

(c) He is Head of the Church (v18)

18 And 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.

Jesus is the head of the church. He is the source of life of the church. He is the first to be truly resurrected from the dead. Through His resurrection, believers have the assurance of a future resurrection.

Therefore, Jesus is worthy to be first place in all things. He is to be pre-eminent in our life. What is the meaning of the word “pre-eminent”? This word simply means “to be first, to hold first place.” Is Christ first in your life? Does the mind of Christ dwell in us? Are His Word and work our priority?

(d) He is Saviour (v19-22)

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, 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. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

To Jesus, we owe our salvation. The Father was pleased to send His Son for the work of our redemption, to supply everything needful for our salvation. To Christ, must therefore be accorded such honour, authority, power and moral excellence for in Christ, all the fullness of the Godhead dwell.

What a glorious salvation Jesus has wrought for us sinful, fallen, depraved men. We were enemies of God and yet God enlightened our spiritual eyes to behold the truth while we were yet sinners! God reconciled us to Himself by making peace through the blood of Jesus Christ that we may appear holy, righteous, faultless before Him. Jesus is Saviour!

(e) He is the Good News

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

Paul experienced the living Christ on the road to Damascus that turned his life around from a blasphemer, to a torch-bearer of the gospel. Likewise, we are to be grounded and settled in our faith, and not waver in our hope of the gospel.

Abounding and rooted in the love of God, increasing in the knowledge of the truth, may we be equipped to glow for the Lord, go forth to share the gospel and be ready to give a reason for our blessed hope.

Yours lovingly,

Pr. Lek Aik Wee