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Last week we stated that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He was the firstborn of God. Firstborn denoting His preeminence and inheritance. He is before all things and by Him all things consist. He is the Creator of the universe and everything in it. Because of all this, it pleased the Father that all the Deity dwell in Him bodily (Col. 2:9). Text: Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; God was pleased to have all of His Deity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost dwell in the body of His Son, who was conceived by the power of His Spirit, in the womb of a young virgin girl of Galilee. The angels heralded His birth and announced that He would be called the Son of God. Hebrews 1:6 tells us that when He was born, God commanded that “all the angels of God should worship Him.” At the age of twelve, in fulfillment of Malachi 3:1, He came to His own temple. There He confounded the doctors of the law as they discussed the words that He Himself had dictated to Moses (Ex. 31:18). When He stood in the synagogue to read the prophet Isaiah, the people were in awe of the gracious words that came from His mouth (Lu. 4:22). Some soldiers were sent to arrest Him and came back empty handed. All they could say was, “ Never man spake as this man (Jo. 7:46).” Others marveled that the wind and the sea obeyed His voice as he calmed the raging sea. All they could say was, “What manner of man is this! for He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him (Lu 8:25).” Here is the last verse of a forgotten hymn, entitled Jesus is God, written in 1862 by Frederick Faber an Anglican priest. You can find words and music here. Jesus is God! The glorious bands - Of golden angels sing Songs of adoring praise to Him, - Their Maker and their King. He was true God in Bethlehem’s crib, - On Calvary’s cross true God, He Who in Heav’n eternal reigned, - In time on earth abode. Text: Colossians1:20 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. God’s purpose in condescending to earth was that He might shed His blood to reconcile His whole creation back unto Himself. This was in accordance with His eternal plan and purpose. God in His own will and according to His own council determined to gather all things in One even in Christ. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: Text: Colossians 1:21a And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, Yes, we know what we were and exactly what we were up to when we heard the call of the gospel. Our wicked works proved that we were alienated from God. Text: Colossians 1:21b yet now hath he reconciled In spite of our being enemies of God, He loved us anyhow, just as we were. 1John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. In the mind of God, Calvary was an accomplished fact, in eternity past. It was there that Christ was a Lamb slain and our names were written in the book of Life (Rev. 13:8). My only question is: Why me, Lord? It wasn’t because of my goodness or any great works that I had ever done. My own righteousness is as filthy rags in your sight (Isa. 64:6). No, I was your enemy. I was alienated from you and only cared to gratify my flesh. Why me? I find the answer in Titus 3:5, it was because of His mercy. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Text: Colossians 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: As the song says, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” What can make me clean? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What gives me the right to come boldly to His throne? His Blood and only His blood. 1Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Text: Colossians 1:23 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; Jesus shed His blood so that we might be presented to Him, holy, unblameable and unreproveable in His sight. However, it doesn’t come without effort on our part. We have to continue in the faith. A sinner’s prayer can be a start, but it is only a start. We have to be grounded and settled and having not forsaken the hope of the gospel. This is a big order, but we don’t accomplish it by our own power. Jesus sent His Spirit to help, teach and lead us (Jn. 7:38, 14:26). Next Week: Christ is Preeminent in the Church. Song: All Because of the One Who So Loved Me It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor. --Martin Luther Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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