The Glory of Christ

August 31, 2014

This morning were taking a short break away from John, and well go over to the book of
Colossians to read what Paul wrote to that little church about the glory of Christ. Theres
so much we can say about him, but the main idea I hope to get across to you is that he is,
first of all, sufficient for everything we need from creation to justification to
sanctification and glorification and all the things in between, and, second, he is worthy of
any worship and every accolade we can give him. To do this well start in the first chapter
of Colossians and the ninth verse:
[We] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
The first part of his prayer is that these people will be filled with the knowledge of Gods
will in all wisdom and that theyll have spiritual understanding. Gods ways and thoughts
are as distant from ours as the heavens are from the earth (Is. 55:9), so its going to take a
miracle for this to happen, but thats just the point. Pay close attention and see that the
following verses glorify Christ as both the answerer and as the answer to the prayer. The
Colossians arent supposed to find some hidden way or contemplate some deep spiritual
truth; they have Christ and the mind of Christ: For who hath known the mind of the Lord,
that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (I Cor. 2:16). Because of him this
prayer is answered, and these people have knowledge, wisdom and understanding.
Now, theres a purpose for this:
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That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good
work,
Not only are they supposed to understand Gods will, but theyre also supposed to be
able to do it. This is a far cry different from their days when they considered themselves
Gods enemies and when they perhaps suppressed the truth in unrighteousness. From
other Scriptures we know that they now have a desire and the ability to walk in a way
that pleases God (Phil. 2:13) which is fruitful in every good work. You can see how this
isnt far at all from where we are in John 15 where Jesus claims to be the vine, and its
only in him that we bear fruit. So we see again that this prayer is about Christ and it
depends on him for answering. Walking worthy and being fruitful is not about keeping a
law or a moral code; as well see beginning in verse thirteen, Christ is the source of all
our fruit.
So, he wants them to be fruitful:
and increasing in the knowledge of God;
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Strengthened with all might, according to
his glorious power,
Theres always more to know about God, and Paul wants them to learn it. Eternal life is
knowing God (Jn. 17:3), and Peter says that growing in grace and knowledge is the cure
for being led astray (II Pt. 3:18).

This knowledge is more than just having a few facts, and thats demonstrated by what he
says after: strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power. Now, the
context of the passage is glory to Christ who answers this prayer, and its completed by
his own strength. We dont overcome sin and death and Satan by personal resolve or
adherence to a moral code, but rather we are strong in the Lord and in the power of his
might (Eph. 6:10).

This strength has a goal in mind:

unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
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Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Theres a promise to all the saints that guarantees blessing and eternal life. Were here in
the earth waiting for it to finally happen, so we have need for strength to make us patient
and able to endure the times. Now, weve received this strength, so we give thanks to
God because hes made us meet. We might also say that hes made us fitting to receive
the promise, and thats good to understand because no swindler or drunkard or thief or
sinner will inherit the kingdom, but in Christ were a new creation, so were made meet
to be partakers.

Again, this is the reason we put so much emphasis on Christ. We believe that his request
is impossible otherwise because we have no knowledge or wisdom or spiritual
understanding except for Christ who is the answer to all these things. We cannot please
God or walk in a way worthy of him because were broken and depraved and selfish and
hostile; were so full of lust and envy and arrogance that theres no hope of turning
around and all we can do is bear the works of the flesh. In short, we are unworthy to
receive the inheritance promised to the saints, but God has changed us in Christ!

Thats whats addressed in the next verse, and its where we start making points about
Christ:

1. He is the rightful heir of Gods kingdom.

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Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the
kingdom of his dear Son:

The Father has delivered us from the power of darkness. Think of the Exodus and
how God set them free from the land of slavery. Weve never been physical slaves,
but were once held in bondage to the kingdom of darkness, and we were
separated from the saints inheritance in light: the god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who
is the image of God, should shine unto them.
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For we preach not ourselves, but Christ
Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake.
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For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (II Cor. 4:4-6).
But continue thinking of the Exodus. He didnt set the slaves free just for the sake
of freedom: they were free from Egypt, but they were made to be slaves of God in
the wilderness to do his service. He set us free, but he also translated us. That
literally just means that he changed us! We were in bondage to the kingdom of
darkness, but he changed us into the kingdom of his dear Son and made us
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light!
Now, this new kingdom is a different realm for us. Its the place where the things
that are not are called the things that are. Its a place where the impossible
is possible, and where righteousness reigns forever. And an highway shall be
there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass
over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
therein (Is. 35:8).
2. He is the Messiah, the fulfillment of all the things promised in the Old Testament,
and the obedient servant who secured Gods blessing and our inheritance.
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In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Think about everything explained in the Old Testament. Its not that God tried
with the old ways, and then he realized it wasnt working so he devised
something better; in Gods plan it was always true that the New Covenant would
replace the Old. The priesthood of Aaron was never meant to continue forever, and
the sacrificial system was only for a season. The tabernacle and temple were only
shadows of the real true meeting place with God, and Christ fulfills all these
things in his body. Whereas the sacrifice symbolized the blood that removes sin,
Christ actually did it through his blood. Whereas the priest attempted to mediate
between God and man, Christ did it perfectly forever. Whereas the tabernacle
served as the temporal access point to the Father, Jesus accomplished it in his
body so that he is the way and no one comes to the Father but by him.
He is the Messiah who saves; he fulfills the blueprints found under the Old
Covenant, and he secures our inheritance and redeems us through his blood.
3. He is the only, full, and final revelation of God.
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Who is the image of the invisible God,
The Greek word for image is (eikon, or our English word: icon). He is the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person (Heb. 1:3). He reveals the
things that cant be seen and teaches things that otherwise cant be understood.
But theres nothing else in creation that can take his place in this. Its Jesus who is
the image of the invisible God. Hes necessary and sufficient for understanding
and seeing.

4. He is the preeminent King over all creation and the Head of the church.

the firstborn of every creature:
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For by him were all things created, that are in
heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
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And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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And he is the head of the
body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence.

Being firstborn speaks of his position. Think of Jacob and Esau. Even though Jacob
wasnt born first, he still had the rights of the firstborn. Positionally he was above
his brother. The Word was with God in the beginning and he was God in the
beginning, so firstborn has nothing to do with his creation. He is not created,
and he is fully God. But the Word has a dual nature: as the Son, and with regard to
his flesh, he submitted to the Father to secure salvation for the children of God. He
is the firstborn among these brethren in that he is our leader and he is first. He is
above all and honored above all.

This is so because he is the source of all life. By him were all things created, and
by him kings have their power. Not only are they created by him, but they are
created for him, and by him all things consist. The word is used in other Greek
manuscripts to describe soldiers arranged in order for battle. The idea is that
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everything in the universe was not only arranged in its proper order by him, but
it remains in its proper order by his own hand.

Hes also the head of the church, and in this context were seeing that hes
preeminent. This precludes papalism and the CEO mindset some churches have
towards pastors or committees. This context negates any reason to complain about
or fear government for he is over them as well and holds their hearts in his hands.
When disaster strikes and nature appears chaotic we know that these things are
the workings of his own hand, and we can bless his name in both the good and the
bad.

He is preeminent and that means he chooses what is right and what is best and he
is the only being in existence with a true free will. No one can reply to him or
question his authority. No one can teach him or add unto his wisdom. No one can
call him out or change his mind. Everything is just as he wants, and it will always
be just as he wants, and weve got no wisdom or right to justly question him.
1
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=sunesthken&la=greek#lexicon

5. He is God in the flesh and never ceased being God while on earth.

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For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

There are many who believe that Jesus was God while on the earth, but they think
he gave up some of his deity to be here. They think that had he been fully God
then he couldnt have become hungry or thirsty or especially that he couldnt die.
But what they fail to understand is that the Word became flesh; the glorified
Word which was with God in the beginning took on the form of a servant, but he
never relinquished even one attribute of his deity. The fulness of the Godhead
dwelt and still dwells bodily in him. Everything that can be said about God could
have been said and still can be said about Christ in his human form. The only
difference is he was not omnipresent in his flesh and he was visible. This was
necessary to reveal the omnipresent, invisible Father to human beings with
fleshly eyes.

6. He is the source and means of all our purity and right standing before God.

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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.
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And
you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled
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In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy
and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

First is justification. Peace was made through his blood; that is, Gods wrath was
provoked against us, and all the fury of his rage was directed against us, but Jesus
made peace when he gave the only thing that can turn wrath away.

This is done so that he can present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in
his sight. To be holy means to be set apart for special use; Christs work has done
just that to us. In First Peter 1:16 he says, Be ye holy; for I am holy. What you
dont see in that translation is that the Greek for be is future indicative. In other
words, it should say, You will be holy because I am holy. The verse in Peter isnt
a command to be followed; its a statement of fact; its a promise. Because he is
holy its guaranteed that we will be as well. Because he made peace and removed
all our sin he guaranteed that we are fit for special use in the worship of God.
Jesus Christ makes us holy by his sacrifice and by union with him.

Next, see that were unblameable and unreproveable. Literally it means were
perfect and were not even accusable! He offered his blood on our behalf and
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wiped away every charge so perfectly that nothing new or old can ever be
brought against us. Every crime on our court docket has been so irretrievably
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http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=amwmous&la=greek#lexicon
3
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=anegklhtous&la=greek#lexicon
removed that it's described as being cast as far as the east is from the west.
Though we had been like scarlet we are now as white as wool.
Pauls prayer for this church is that theyll build on what they know about Christ. If he is
their foundation and head, then they are in good standing with God, and the supernatural
result is that theyll wait patiently for his return while bearing good fruit.
May we do the same as we join with them in saying, Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
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