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Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
070717 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Daily Message
By Brent Riggs
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Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (NKJV)
(Previous devotionals can be found at www.seriousfaith.com)
The first chapter of Colossians effectively squashes any nonsense about Jesus simply being some great teacher or just one of several religious super-men in the history of world religion. In Colossians chapter 1 verses 13-18 we find the following claims about Jesus:
- Colossians 1:13 The kingdom of heaven belongs to Jesus
- Colossians 1:14 Our redemption and forgiveness of sin is found only in Jesus
- Colossians 1:15 He is the exact likeness of God and the first in importance in all creation
- Colossians 1:16 All things were created by Jesus and for Jesus
- Colossians 1:17 Jesus existed before all things; and all things that exist are held together by Him
- Colossians 1:18 Jesus is the Head of the Church and the first to conquer death
Now, that leaves only two choices... Jesus really is all those things, or the Bible is full of lies and the whole thing should be thrown out. So the next time you are confronted with some smug silliness about how Jesus was one of several great religious figures but nothing more, direct the discussion to Colossians chapter 1. If Jesus is not God, Creator and Lord, then Christianity is a waste of time, and a lie.
Let's look at some more things that are true about Christ...
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (NKJV)
It pleases God.... ever thought about that? The "pleasure of God" is the answer to a lot of "why?" questions (Ephesians 1.5-9; Philippians 2.13) It pleases God that "all the fullness" should dwell in Jesus. What is "all the fullness"?
It is a reference to Christ's complete humanity coexisting with His complete Godhood. He was 100% man and 100% God at the same time. At the time Colossians was written (around A.D. 60) there were already cults and false teachers to deal with. Some of them were teaching that Christ was less than God and that His humanity was somehow separate from His Godhood.
So the Apostle Paul was killing that notion by stating simply and conclusively that "all the fullness" dwelled in Christ; and on top of that, it "pleased the Father" which means not only was this fact true, it was true because God wanted it to be true. (another reason why it is silly to refer to Jesus as simply a "great teacher")
Colossians 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. (NKJV)
Colossians 1:20 is a big bite of theology. It's important to understand what "reconcile" means... it is the Greek word katallagē, which speaks of a new relationship between two parties who were formerly at odds, or enemies. Who or what needs to be reconciled? Everything that is against God whether "things on earth or things in heaven". Satan and sin have all creation at odds with Christ by whom all things in creation exist and consist (Colossians 1:15-16).
The verse says "all things" will be reconciled which has been used by some to defend "universalism", the idea that all people will ultimately be saved and spend eternity with God. Well, a thousand other Scriptures render that idea preposterous, so what does "all things" mean? There are two ideas to consider: 1) that all creation will, eventually, submit and admit who Jesus Christ really is, thus elevating Jesus to His rightful place as Lord and Master ( Philippians 2.10); and 2) that when all is said and done, there will be nothing at odds with Jesus ever again in the new creation or heaven.
When all is done, creation will be at peace with Christ.
How is it possible to reconcile with Christ? Well, like usual, Jesus Himself provides the answer; in fact, He alone could make reconciliation possible. How? Through His own shed blood on the cross. His blood alone could pay our penalty for sin. His blood alone conquered the power of death. The blood of Jesus Christ will ultimately bring peace, to "things on earth or things in heaven"! Hallelujah!!! May that day come soon!
So what does reconciliation mean to us as we live our life day to day?
Colossians 1:21-22 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— (NKJV)
It means that we no longer have to be God's enemy, trapped in our wickedness and sin. Our relationship has been changed through Christ (reconciliation) and by having the righteousness of Christ credited to us (imputation) God now sees each Believer holy, blameless and beyond reproach (justification).
Or more simply put, God no longer sees you as the wicked sinner you are, but because of the blood of Christ, God sees you as perfect... like Jesus.
Are you starting to see why Jesus Christ is the center of all things?
Lord, Help us to realize that Jesus is the center of all things. May we elevate Him to His rightful place in our lives. Thank you that we are no longer Your enemy because Jesus shed His blood to restore our relationship with You. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Contemplation: Have you really stopped to consider just who Jesus is? Have you ever realized that the entire Bible, cover to cover, is about Jesus? Have you ever considered that the entire history and existence of the human race revolves around who and what Jesus Christ is?
Application: Is Jesus Christ the center of your personal world? Does He mean everything about everything about everything to you? Jesus is the reason, purpose, meaning and answer to EVERYTHING about life. Why are we here? Where are we going? What's the use? Why bother? Everything revolves around Jesus. Want answers? Look to Christ.
James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)
- What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?
- What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?
- What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?
Has
this teaching helped you or been a blessing?
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Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
070717 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Daily Message
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Colossians 1:19
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We no longer have to be God's enemy, trapped in our wickedness and sin. Our relationship has been changed through Christ (reconciliation) and by having the righteousness of Christ credited to us (imputation) God now sees each Believer holy, blameless and beyond reproach (justification). |
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A Few Bible Verses that contain "jesus":
Revelation 22:21 The grace of the Lord jesus be with the saints. Amen.
Revelation 22:20 He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord jesus.
Revelation 22:16 I jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and `I saw' the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Revelation 19:10 And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of jesus: worship God; for the testimony of jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of jesus.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of jesus:
Revelation 1:9 I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience `which are' in jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of jesus.
Revelation 1:5 and from jesus Christ, `who is' the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;
Revelation 1:2 who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of jesus Christ, `even' of all things that he saw.
Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, `even' the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified `it' by his angel unto his servant John;
Jude 1:25 to the only God our Saviour, through jesus Christ our Lord, `be' glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.
Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:17 But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord jesus Christ;
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in privily, `even' they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, jesus Christ.
Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for jesus Christ:
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, `even' they that confess not that jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
2 John 1:3 Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, `even' in his Son jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1 John 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, `even' jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.
1 John 5:5 And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:3 and every spirit that confesseth not jesus is not of God: and this is the `spirit' of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
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