Col 1:15-23 “Getting Right with God”
AUDIO HERE.
INTRO: 25 years ago: making friends w/Japanese; sushi; friendships; classmate married Japanese classmate
-Not possible 85 years ago: WWII. At war w/Japan; hostile; enemies.
-Reconciliation: Now we are RECONCILED with Japan, over 3 million Americans visit every year
-A troubling truth: because of sin, we are born into this world hostile and alienated from God.
-Great need of every person: to be reconciled to God—to get right with God again.
-Glorious gospel: through Jesus, can we be right with God again!
TODAY: 1 Jesus the Reconciler, 2 Christians the Reconciled
I. JESUS, the RECONCILER (15-20)
Religious leaders in Colossae and today make claims—this is what God wants, this is how we can be right with him.
-Paul wants us to see: Jesus, in all of his glory and grace, is true reconciler between God and Man.
GLORIOUS JESUS, THE RECONCILER
1 Jesus is the image of the invisible God. (15a)
-If we want to see God, we look to Jesus: holiness, love, purity, righteousness.
-Jesus is a perfect revelation of God: God who wants to reconcile a fallen world to Himself
2. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (15b)
-“Firstborn” can mean ‘first created’ being (JWs), but does not mean that here.
-It also can mean ‘exalted status, rights of ownership’= Exodus 4:22; Ps 89:27
-Context also argues this: Jesus as Creator, and before all things.
-Others texts: John 1:1-2
-As firstborn, He has rights over Creation, to legitimately bring about reconciliation.
3. Jesus is the Creator and Creation Exists for Him (16)
-“by Him…through him…for him…all things created”
-Jesus is the Creator God, and Creation exists for Him!
-As Creator, He knows what needs to happen to His creation to make things right again.
4. Jesus is before all things (17)
-Pre-existence of Jesus. (John 17:3-5)àconversation with Muslims.
5. Jesus holds all things together (17b)
-As God, Jesus holds the universe together—Hebrews 1:3
-APP: He also holds our lives together—we can trust Him, even in the chaos.
6. Jesus is the head of the church (18)
-Not pastors, not the pope, not false teachers like Joseph Smith
-Jesus has ultimate authority and rights over the churchàimportant for Colossians and us!
7. Jesus is the beginning (18b)
-Beginning of the New Creation
8. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (18c)
-Jesus rose from the dead, and shows us the path for His people—we too will rise from dead (1 Cor 15)
9. Jesus is preeminent in all things (18d)
-Jesus is first in all things: truly the greatest, and truly deserving of our worship.
10. Jesus is truly God (19)
-“all the fullness of God”=Jesus is TRULY GOD!
11. Jesus is the great RECONCILER between God and Man (20)
–Ministry of Jesus—“reconcile to himself all things”
-Jesus came to make us right with God again! “making peace”
-How did this come about?
-Making peace “by the blood of his cross”=Jesus’ death on the cross.
-The death of Jesus was the “propitiation” (sacrifice that absorbs the wrath of God”
SUMMARY: Only Jesus can reconcile us to God, and that is what He came to do at the cross!
APP: Are you bored with Jesus? Then you don’t KNOW this Jesus, or have forgotten Him.
-Dwell on the truths of Col 1:15-20.
-Behold the blazing glory of Jesus Christà See his glorious person and saving role as RECONCILER.
- CHRISTIANS, the RECONCILED (21-23)
“Self-image,” “Self-Identity” (modern psychology): Student, married, young, old, fat, ugly, pretty, strong…
-Not new to psychology—every generation has a way to viewing and understanding truth of self.
-Paul reorients us to see ourselves in light of the sufficient work of Christ.
-Because of Jesus, we have a new identity—we are reconciled with God!
-Our “B.C.” State (21)
-Once (Our life before we came to faith in Christ) we were “alienated, hostile in mind, doing evil deeds”
-Manifested in apathy to God, unbelief, rebellion against God, idolatry
-True even of dog-walking, tax-paying, grass-cutting, volunteering Naperville residents
-John Piper quote “What is sin”?
-The Christian’s New Status: RECONCILED WITH GOD (22)
-Glorious change: “now”
-A change must happen, and if you are a Christian it took place at conversion!
-Jesus has “reconciled” us!
-We now are right with God!
-“in his body of flesh by his death”=at the cross.
-We cannot bring this about through our good works or religious obedience
-New Status: “in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him”
-Believer—this is who are now through the gospel!
-Do you see yourself this way?
-Ponder each of these things and apply them to yourself.
–See the lovingkindness of Jesus, presenting you to God the Father this way.
-The Need to Continue in the Faith: NOT SHIFTING FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL (23)
-We must continue in the faith “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from hope of gospel”
-We will not be saved if do not persevere to the end.
-These warnings are given to help us persevere and hope tight to Jesus
-Commentators—in the Greek, Paul assumes they will persevere!
-Bible’s promise: Phil 1:6.
-Gospel the Colossians heard, proclaimed everywhere, and Paul is minister of (23b)
-This is the same gospel we have heard, proclaimed in the world, and recorded in NT.
QUESTION: Are you reconciled with God yet?
-If not, place your faith in Jesus, just like the Colossians did.
-The “now” of Colossians can become true for you!
APPLICATION: OUR JOYFUL TASK IS A MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION (2 Cor 5:17-21)
READ 2 Cor 5:17-21. àOur glorious, joyful task as Christians is a ministry of reconciliation.
-New identity: 2 Cor 5:17
-New ministry: 2 Cor 5:18-20
-Gospel Message: 2 Cor 5:21.
CHALLENGE OF CONSUMERISM: What can the church give me? What can my kids get out of this?
NEW PERSPECTIVE: How can I and my family fulfill this ministry of reconciliation?
-View yourself as an ambassador of Christ
-Pray for lost; Practice hospitality; Build friendships; Share the gospel; invite to church
-Disciple others in the church to live out their new identity—John and I want to encourage you in this!
CLOSE: Through Jesus, we can be right with God again!
