Colossians 1:15-20
Hey everybody! Last week we started off wonderfully with our blog Bible study of Colossians. Today, we'll go into the next section of the first chapter, verses 15-20. There's so much to discover. I'd love to have a good discussion here, so read the passage, and join in the conversation. (Go to www.Shoutlife.com/jenniferdevlin for the discussion!)
Last week we discovered that Paul praised the followers for their steadfast walk in the Lord. Today, as the passage begins, Paul describes the all-powerful qualities of Jesus: He is in the image of God, He is the firstborn, Jesus was an active part of creation, He is before things, and He holds all things together. Before we go any further, think about all these descriptives.
Amazing, isn't it? Such a description confirms that Jesus is the focus of our entire existence, and God's big picture story.
But look at verse 18! Jesus is also the head of the church, and holds the first, and highest place in the promise of resurrection. It is through His resurrection that we have the promise of resurrection! Now, even though death is something most of us do not want to think of on a normal day like today, look at this promise. It is huge. Through Jesus, we conquer death. He showed us that in His own resurrection. Our day of rising awaits. Cool, huh? We truly serve an awesome and loving God.
Read Colossians 1:19-20 with me: "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."
We could spend weeks dwelling right here on these two verses. It was the Father's pleasure to lavish His plan on us through Jesus. It was the goal of the Father to reconcile everything to Jesus, and through the relationship of the Trinity, to Himself. Everything. Whether we choose Jesus or reject Him is up to us, but God wants that none should perish.
God wants us to be reconciled to Him, and to enjoy fellowship with Him. God wants all of us! "Reconciling" is such a hot topic now - and many times we see people so fixated on reconciling themselves to other humans and to earthly relationships in the name of unity that the entire biblical concept of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ is thrown out the window.
In this passage, we are clearly shown that God's goal is to reconcile us to Jesus Christ. In Christ, we are reconciled to other believers. Why? Look at the rest of verses 19-20: "having made peace through the blood of His cross." It is through the blood shed on Calvary that we are reconciled to God through Jesus. The sacrificial blood of Jesus is the covenant by which God recognizes us as His children, and as part of the promise. Jesus has fulfilled every biblical covenant, and has become the only path by which we are reconciled to God.
Take a few moments to thank God for having you in mind when He provided His master plan for salvation, resurrection, and reconciliation. Ask Him to show you the many ways He has transformed you during your walk of faith, and praise Him for those victories!
Blog discussion questions: (go to
www.shoutlife.com/jenniferdevlin to respond)
1. Verse 16 mentions that "by Him" all things were created, and that all things have been created "through Him and for Him." Jesus is central to our salvation, and also to our creation. How does this verse impact your heart?
2. Do churches today display their belief that Christ is the head of the church? If not, what or who seems to be in charge of the congregation? And with that, how does that affect the body of Christ as a whole - the church collective?
3. What is your reaction to the thoughts on reconciliation from verses 19-20?
