Daily Writing

Tuesday, 28 March 2017

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:17

Again, words of concerning the deity of Christ issue from Paul’s pen. There are two clauses in this verse, both of which have the word “He” in the emphatic position. In English, we might say “He and only He.” As “He is before all things,” then nothing in time is before Him. As only God existed before all things, then Jesus Christ is God. He is the great I AM of Exodus 3:14, meaning the Lord, Yehovah, who is referred to throughout the Old Testament. He is self-existent and dependent on no other thing. Thus His claim of John 8:58 is more fully understood –

“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Paul’s words here also confirm the words of the previous verse as well which said, “All things were created through Him and for Him.” If He alone is before all things, then He must be the Creator of all things. Only He is a necessary Being; all other things are contingent beings, dependent on Him for their existence and continuation. As only God is a Necessary Being, then Jesus must be God. This is then realized in the words, “and in Him all things consist.” The BLB translates this as, “in Him all things hold together.” Darby translates it as, “all things subsist together by him.”

The words here are restated by the author of Hebrews using the words, “…and upholding all things by the word of His power.” The universe, being contingent, was created by Him. However, it is also dependent on Him at all times for its continued existence. This shows us that He is God, who alone is absolutely necessary; He cannot not exist. All other things could simply not be. But God alone must exist. This is the Being that Paul says that Jesus Christ is. As the Bible teaches that God is also Father and Holy Spirit, then we are again being instructed in the doctrine of the Trinity. This is the inescapable result of accepting the words of Scripture when taken at face value.

Life application: One argument used by cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses is that the Bible never uses the word “Trinity.” That is as stupid as a a football bat. The Bible also never uses the term “original sin,” and yet it is a doctrine which permeates Scripture. The Bible never uses the term “rapture,” but it is a doctrine which is found in several passages. Just because we use terms not specifically stated in Scripture, it does not mean that those terms are not taught in Scripture. Don’t be led astray by nutty arguments that have no basis in reality. Core doctrines can be explicitly stated or implicitly stated, but they remain core doctrines because they describe and explain what the Bible clearly teaches.

Lord God, to You alone be the glory. Your hands have fashioned the cosmos. The stars shine because of the magnificence of Your power. The galaxies spin and gleam throughout the vast recesses of space because You have ordained them to do so. The spider weaves its web because of the wisdom You have instilled in it, and the creatures of the ocean swim about because You have place them there. Everything is as it should be – all because of Your wisdom. To You alone be the glory! Amen.

Monday, 27 March 2017

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16

The word “For” here is given as an explanation of the previous verse. There it said, “He is the image of the invisible God.” In order to explain what that means, these words are now given. It is not that Jesus Christ is merely a knock-off copy of God, but that He is God, wholly and completely. This is now substantiated by the words, “For by Him all things were created.” This takes us right back to Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In that verse, the term “the heavens and the earth” are meant to be taken as an all-encompassing statement. Elohim created all things.

Elohim is the Creator; Jesus is the Creator… not hard to figure out what Paul is telling us. Further, the words “all things” (in Greek ta panta) given a collective sense – “the all.” This then signifies the entire universe which includes all things. From the atoms to the galaxies, all things were created by Him. Without the article in Greek, it would mean all things individually, but the article shows that it is all things collectively. He created, and all things came to be.

It is the same message written by John at the very beginning of his gospel, and it is the same message which is repeated in various ways and by various writers in both Testaments of the Bible. Logically, there can be only one Creator. Anything created by Him is then a contingent being. A contingent being cannot create anything. And yet, man has done everything possible to deny the deity of Jesus Christ in order to separate Him from what is said about Him. They have even added words into this verse in order to change the meaning of it in order to obscure what God has done in and through Jesus Christ (see below).

The words “were created” are in the aorist tense. This then denotes a specific, definite event which occurred in history. It wasn’t that there was a creation, and then a re-creation. Nor were there things created, and then later other things were created. Rather all things were created and they remain as the creation to this day.

Going on, and as if what Paul said in his opening words was not enough, he continues with “that are in heaven and that are on the earth.” Again, this is an all-encompassing statement concerning the totality of creation. Paul’s words take us right back to Genesis 1:1, showing us that everything created by Elohim was created by Jesus. Elohim is God; Jesus is God… not hard to figure out what Paul is telling us. But to ensure that even the dull of mind can figure this out, he adds in the words, “visible and invisible.” We are to understand that “all things in heaven and that are on the earth” also includes those things which cannot be seen, such as spirits. Everything which is in the material world, and everything which is in the spiritual world, is included in Jesus’ creative efforts. No angel exists apart from His work of creation.

This is further defined by the term, “whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” Within both the spiritual and the earthly realms, there are levels of authority which govern the affairs of sentient beings. These were all created by Christ Jesus, and none exists apart from His authority in creation. All things, and all levels of authority, are subordinate to Christ Jesus. As a qualifier to this statement though, Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 15 –

For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. ²⁸ Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:27, 28

It may be worth your time to refer to the commentary on those verses to understand what is being relayed there. Jesus Christ is not above the Godhead, but is a member of it.

To finish up this verse, Paul gives the thought, “All things were created through Him and for Him.” He repeats the words ta panta or “all things” in order recapitulate what he has just said. They are to be taken collectively once again – “All things, collectively, were created through Him and for Him.” However, Paul changes the tense of the words “were created” from the aorist to the perfect tense. In so doing, it reads more literally, “All things have been created through Him and for Him.” Nothing is left undone, and His creative efforts are all-inclusive. The scholar Lightfoot says, “The latter describes the definite, historical act of creation; the former the continuous and present relations of creation to the Creator.”

Paul’s words of this verse are so clear, so meticulously presented, and so obvious as to what they are relaying that even a dolt, nay – a sub-dolt – can figure out what he is saying. Paul is not merely implying that Jesus is God, rather his words make the claim explicit. But this doesn’t not fit with the theology of heretics, and so they must actually change the word of God in order to deny what Paul is saying. And so to understand the depths of hatred towards God that some are willing to go to in order to deny Jesus Christ His rightful position within the Godhead, this verse is translated by the aberrant cult, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, as –

“because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him.”

The word “other” is inserted twice by them in an attempt to obscure the truth of who Jesus Christ is. Without any Scriptural support at all, they have changed God’s word, thus bringing upon themselves eternal condemnation for their deceit. This is not an argument concerning a variation in a Greek manuscript, but rather a purposeful act intended to deceive the world about the truth of God in Jesus Christ. Do not allow yourself to be sucked into their web of deceit, but stand on the truth of Scripture which teaches that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man.

Life application: Stand on the truth of the Word of God. Jesus Christ is God and it is to Him that we are accountable for our life and doctrine. Should someone come to you with any other teaching, do not even greet them, lest you share in his wicked work.

Heavenly Father, Your word confirms the deity of Jesus Christ, and also that of the Holy Spirit, as clearly and completely as any other doctrine to be found in it. Both testaments attest to this fact, and yet people argue against it, thus railing against You. Help us to be people of faith, and to accept Your word at face value. The Trinity is what Your word proclaims. And so we praise You, O God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Sunday, 26 March 2017

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15

Words have meaning, and those words cannot be disassociated from the context of what is being said without destroying the intent of the author. Paul’s words in this verse, and in the verses to come, are precise. They are intended to cut through heresies which were already being introduced concerning Christ Jesus at that early date. In order for those at Colossae, and all believers in all ages since then, to understand proper Christological doctrine, he now writes these words about Jesus Christ.

He says that “He is the image of the invisible God.” The word is eikon. It is a word which “assumes a prototype, of which it not merely resembles, but from which it is drawn.” It is then “More than a ‘shadow,’ rather it is a replication” (HELPS Word Studies). This replication reflects what it is replicating for us to understand. There is a stress on the words “the invisible God” to lead us to grasp that Jesus Christ is revealing that which would otherwise be unknown.

God’s perfections and His very Being are seen in Christ, being completely and accurately displayed in Him. This is explained in several different ways in the Bible. A few examples are –

“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:18

“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

“I and My Father are one.” John 10:30

What is being conveyed to us is that God is, but we cannot see Him. In order for us to understand Him in an intimate and personal way, He united with His creation in the womb of Mary, coming as Christ Jesus. Therefore, He is the image, or replication, of what we could otherwise not see. He explains the Father to us because He is one with the Father, having come from the Father. The choice of wording Paul gives here, and the many references elsewhere in Scripture are calling out for us to believe that Jesus Christ is God, nothing less. When referring to God, Hebrews 1:3 calls the Son “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person.” Paul repeats this in 2 Corinthians 4:4. God is, and Jesus is God.

Paul next notes that He is “the firstborn over all creation.” The term is prototokos, coming from two words, prótos – “first” or “preeminent,” and tiktó – “bring forth.” As the scholar Bengel notes, “The pro, which is contained in prototokos, governs the genitive ktiseos. Time is an accident of the creature. Therefore the origin of the Son of God precedes all time.” In other words, Paul is not saying that Jesus is the Firstborn of all that is created, but He is the Firstborn prior to all that is created; He is eternal, having issued from the Father, and having preceded time itself.

Vincent’s Word Studies notes that, “As image points to revelation, so first-born points to eternal preexistence.” This is logically supported by the words coming in the next verse. If this were not true, then Paul could not continue on with what he will next say, and yet he will. Further, the pattern used here in Colossians 1 is repeated in Hebrews 1 and John 1, showing that it is not a mistake by Paul, but it is rather logical and proper. There is Christ, and then there is creation which follows. Logically, Christ then is God, having issued from the Father prior to the creation of time itself.

Life application: To rob Jesus Christ of His deity is to rob God of His glory. All of the work of Jesus Christ would be ascribed to a created being, but Scripture clearly shows that salvation is of the Lord, not of a creature created by Him. If you do not accept the deity of Jesus Christ, you call God a liar. The word is clear and unambiguous concerning Jesus’ deity. If you disbelieve, the error is not with the word, but with you. Stop listening to whatever cult you have been trained by, and accept the Word of God alone.

I believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 25 March 2017

…in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14

This verse corresponds closely to Ephesians 1:7. “In whom” is speaking of Christ who is “the Son of His love” of the previous verse. It is through God’s Beloved Son that “we have redemption through His blood.” In the Greek, there is an article before “redemption.” It states “the redemption” and thus it sets the thought apart as the great act of redemption to which any other act (such as the redemption of Israel from Egypt) was a lesser redemption, or merely a type and shadow.

In other words, the promised Redeemer of Genesis 3:15 is realized in Christ Jesus. From that proclamation, every idea of redemption which is found in Scripture pointed to what Christ would do for us. This true redemption was realized “through His blood.” We now stand justified and free from sin’s penalty through the redemption that came by His work, and which culminated in the shedding of His blood (meaning His death) on the cross.

The term “redemption” comes from a root word which indicates the price paid to redeem a person, such as a prisoner of war. It signifies liberty from captivity, bondage, or imprisonment. We are born into sin and we are prisoners of sin, held in bondage by its power and are kept by the master of sin, the devil. This is confirmed by the devil’s words to Jesus in Luke 4 where he stated that “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” Sin is a firm bond and the devil is a cruel taskmaster. However, Jesus’ mission was to destroy this power. John notes this as the principle reason for His coming –

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

Jesus prevailed where Adam failed. What the devil gained through Adam’s disobedience, Jesus regained through His obedience. What God asks is that we simply believe this message, receive His gift, and place our trust in what Jesus has done for us. This is the “redemption through His blood.” This is the marvel of what God has done for us. In Him there is absolute victory and complete reconciliation with God the Father.

As a means of highlighting this thought, Paul next says that in Him we also have “forgiveness of sins.” This is a complementary thought to the previous clause. The word for “forgiveness” signifies the complete release of someone from an obligation or debt. Sin’s penalty is ended through the work of Christ for all who believe.

The “redemption through His blood” looks at the work of atonement from God’s perspective. “The forgiveness of sins” looks at it from our side. One can see the work of the God/Man in this; He completed both. There is the heavenly side, and there is the earthly side. Together they unite in Him for reconciliation between the two.

Charles Ellicott notes that in order from the previous verse we see the First Cause of our salvation, which is the Father’s love. Here in verse 14, we see the Efficient Cause which is “the redemption and propitiation of the Son.”

Life application: Think soberly on what you have received from God in the giving of His Son. His blood was shed so that we could be redeemed. When one puts Jesus’ cross at the front of their thoughts, it puts all things into their proper perspective. There is an eternity of fellowship with God that lies ahead of us because of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, because of Your love, You sent Christ on a mission to redeem us from the world of sin, and the power of the devil. In the cross and shed blood of Christ Jesus, we have that redemption, and we have peace with You once again. What more can we add to that? Help us to be faithfully obedient to You, living lives of honor for what You have done for us. Thank You for Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Friday, 24 March 2017

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Colossians 1:13

In the previous verse, we were instructed by Paul that we have been qualified to be “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.” As this is the case, we must not have possessed that right before. Paul now makes that explicit with the words, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness.”

Being delivered means that we were in a state from which we needed delivery. The word used is found in the Lord’s Prayer – “…deliver us from evil.” It is a word which indicates being rescued as if being snatched up. Therefore, we can see that in receiving Christ, we were drawn from that state to another one. It is a clear indication that all are already on the path to destruction. Only through Christ does that change. It is another validation of Jesus’ words in John 3:18 which state that we are “condemned already.”

“The power of darkness” is the dominion of Satan. This isn’t just an external force which comes against us, but rather it is a legal rule over us. Satan has authority over this world (as is seen to elsewhere in Scripture), and man must be brought out of this rule. This is what Christ came to do. John explains this purpose very clearly in his first epistle –

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8

It is this dominion, or power, of darkness which we are snatched out of. We are then conveyed “into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” The word “conveyed” is used in the manner of taking a people group from one country to another. In the writings of Josephus, he uses the word when speaking of the deporting of the Israelites by the Assyrians. They were conveyed from one kingdom to another. This is what happens to the believer in Christ. He is conveyed from the power and kingdom of Satan to that of the Lord Jesus.

Again, it shows that there can be no other path to God than Jesus Christ. If there were, then it would have been pointless for Christ to come. But only He can bring us out of that realm of darkness and into this kingdom. It is a kingdom of “the Son of His love.” This means that Christ Jesus is the object of His love. It is to Him that the kingdom is given. All rights to authority belong to Him. He is the ruler of God’s kingdom for the redeemed of the world.

Life application: If you have been led to believe that there are many paths to God, then you are a foe of God in Christ. You are indicating that Jesus’ death was not necessary in order for men to be redeemed, and that redemption can be realized in other ways. What you are espousing is a fickle God who purposely sent His Son to die for no satisfactory reason. But it is you who are being unreasonable. Think the issue through clearly, and then receive God’s wonderful gift of salvation which came at such a high cost.

Lord God, Your word teaches that there is but one way to be reconciled to You, and that is by faith in what You have done through Your Son Jesus. Old Testament and New, He is there on every page, waiting to be discovered if we will but just look. Grant us wisdom to understand that You are not a fickle God who says one thing and then does another. Rather, You have given Your word, You have sent Your Son, and You have opened a path, one path, back to You. Thank You for Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.