Passage: Colossians Study | Lesson 02
COLOSSIANS 1:15 - 23Carl Sujo | January 11, 2015
Opening Question:
Some of you are applying for full time jobs or summer internships. What are some things you would put on your resume to make people want to consider hiring you?
Education, Major, GPA, work experience, work related skills, Degrees, Certifications, Publications, Personal Interests?
A. (v 15-17) Christ is the supreme creator God
1. In v.15, what does it mean that Jesus is the...
“image of the invisible God”?
Many believe that God was spirit and couldn’t be seen so Christ couldn’t be God. But Christ is the exact visible expression of the invisible God (Eikon image).
“firstborn…”?
In this case it means less of birth order but more related to the rights to the heir of the Father.
2. How does v.16 explain Christ relates to creation?
The verse uses phrases “For by Him”, “through Him”, and “for Him”: this shows that He is the central figure in the matter of creation. He is the source of the idea of creation(visionary), instrument of creation(creator), and entire reason for creation(beneficiary or owner). The phrases “heavens and on earth”, “visible and invisible”, “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” explain “all things”. It covers the spiritual realm and the physical realm. (Commentaries’ believe those are considered ranks among angelic beings.) This refutes claims that Christ was just a man or at the level of angels.
3. In v.17 what does it mean that...
“He is before all things”?
Like firstborn, it is a statement of position, or His precedence over
all things in terms of time and status.
“in Him all things hold together”?
He is like a divine glue or spiritual gravity that holds creation together. God did not just simply start things off and then withdrew from His creation(Deism), Christ continues to sustain the whole universe. The verb “hold together”(synistemi) can imply that they have their existence in Him. Christ is more than the force that preserves the orderly arrangement of the cosmos; He is its rationale, its rhyme and reason. He is the basic operating principle controlling existence. Everything and everyone is dependent on Him.
4. Why could this be important for the Colossians to hear?
Perhaps some didn’t see Christ’s deity or thought He was at the level of an angel or a created being. This is the heresy of “Depreciation of Christ”.
B. (v 18-20) Christ is the supreme savior
5. In v.18 what does it mean that “He is the head…”?
This figure of speech is primarily “source: in Greek (like the head of a river). Just as the head of a body supplies life and manages the body, so Christ is the source and origin of the church’s life. Because “head” means “source,” it implies honor and authority. The terms “beginning”, “firstborn”, “first place” all point to His preeminence in the church and all spiritual matters.
6. In v.19 how does Paul use “fullness”?
God’s completeness or totality live permanently in Christ. Paul wanted to explain that Christ is God’s dwelling place; therefore, Christ is divine, sovereign, and preeminent. By this statement, Paul was refuting the Greek idea that Jesus could not be human and divine at the same time. Christ is fully human; He is also fully divine. Nor is there more than one God; one God, in all His fullness, resides in Christ.
7. In v.20 what does it mean that He “reconcile all things to Himself”?
Reconciliation mean reestablishing a relationship, or causing the relationship to be friendly or peaceable. The terms “through Him”X2 and “through the blood of His cross” all point to Him being the initiator, instigator, and the one did all that was necessary, by shedding His blood and dying on the cross, to reconcile all created things(earthy and heavenly) to Him.
8. Why could this be important for the Colossians to hear?
Perhaps there was confusion of how Christ and God were related. And perhaps confusion of what Christ actually did on the cross other than just die. Christ = God. Christ reconciled everything on the cross.
C. (v 21-23) Christ is my complete salvation
9. Diagram v 21-22
10. In v 23, is Paul stating that v 21 -22 are conditional? Is it possible to lose your salvation?
There is a conditional tone to the verse about whether or not you continue in the faith. Theologians have argued about whether or not you can lose your salvation. One side argues that a person, once justified who falls away in sin is no longer forgiven and loses their salvation. The other side argues that that person was never truly saved to begin with. In either way you believe, the person is doomed and not saved. The key is that we continue living in the faith established and steadfast, and continue in the hope of the gospel.
11. Why could this be important for the Colossians to hear?
Perhaps some were falling away from the faith. Maybe some facing persecution and losing hope in the gospel.
D. Application
The Colossians may not have held Christ in status He truly is and put other gods before Him. What do we, as a society, church, or personally, put at the same level of importance or greater importance than Christ? Getting a good education. Exercise and eat right to have good health. Do things that makes you happy. Family first. Love others and love yourself. Be true to yourself. Good reputation. Money can buy anything. Our view on things should change from “Christ is a part of our lives”(self centered) to “we are a part of Christ’s plans”(Christ centered). It should lead us to true worship and love of Christ. If we appear at heaven’s gate before Peter and he asks for our resume to enter, our resume should be all about who Jesus is and what He did on the cross for our sins. Do you think you are at risk of losing your faith in Christ? Is what you are experiencing in school, job, family, in the world causing you to have doubts about Christ? Don’t give up hope. Don’t just walk away. Reach out to a counsellor or your pastor. Pray to Him to renew your faith and give you hope.
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