15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
A key to correct theology is a clear understanding of the preeminence of Christ. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (John 1:18) and is an exact representation of who the Father is. Whoever has seen Jesus has seen the unseeable Father (John 14:9). While Jesus was born as a man at a certain time in a certain place, He has always existed. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. He is not the firstborn in creation. The word firstborn is not referring to creation order but preeminence. Jesus is superior over creation. Jesus was the agent of creation. Everything that has been created whether visible or invisible was created by Him. If it was not made by Jesus, then it was not made—another reason we can be sure Jesus is the Uncreated One. Not only did He create everything and is superior over everything He has created, but He is the One who continues to hold everything together. Because of Jesus, everything that was made continues to exist. And Jesus is the head of the church, the spiritual body which includes every person who has believed in Him for eternal life since the foundation of the church after His resurrection until He returns again. Jesus is also the firstborn from the dead. Jesus was the first to be resurrected from the dead never to die again and through Him, everyone will be resurrected, either to life with God or to death in hell (Acts 24:15; Rev 20:14-15). Jesus is the fullness of deity in bodily form. God was pleased to take on human form and yet remain fully God. Jesus is the God-man—fully God and fully human. Jesus became man in order to be able to reconcile all things to Himself through His death on the cross. When Jesus died, He made it possible for all people to be reconciled to God through faith. He also defeated Satan and will one day restore everything that sin has corrupted.
Not only do we need a correct view of Jesus, but also of ourselves. We were once alienated and hostile in mind. We were separated from God and His enemies in both thought and action. Through Jesus’ physical death on the cross, He has reconciled us to God. His goal for you as a believer is to present you holy and blameless and above reproach. This does not happen automatically. While all believers are immediately considered holy in their position before God at the moment they believe, it is only through daily faithfulness and obedience that we can experience the intimate relationship with God that Jesus’ died for. That is why Paul adds the condition “if you continue”. One day you will stand before Jesus and give an account for how you lived (2 Cor 5:10). If you have been faithful, stable, steadfast, and not deviated from the hope of the gospel, then you can expect to hear those wonderful words, “well done, good and faithful servant” (Mat 25:23).
How would you describe your Christian walk? Is faithful, steadfast, and stable? Or are you deviating and returning to the unholy? What do you need to change today to return to steadfastness?
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
An Adulteress Forgiven: John 7-8