Creeds #2

July 15, 2021 (Thursday)

 

Colossians 1:15 – 20 is technically a creed of sorts. This one, like yesterday’s study is about Jesus. Some modern texts indent this section, meaning the translators think it is poetry or possibly a hymn. For those not familiar with what a hymn is, as I understand it, a song designed to teach or reinforce theology.

 

Paul starts with, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the one who is first over all creation.” [Colossians 1:15 CEB] For those familiar with more mainstream texts, the expression is “the firstborn of all creation.” [ESV] The problem is, this can be misunderstood. Our understanding of “firstborn” as the first that was born. This understanding could lead us to believe that Jesus is a created being. However, I believe “firstborn” in this instance is a title referring to being “supreme over all creation.” [NLT]

 

Moving to the next verse we get a better understanding, “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.” [Colossians 1:15 ESV] Jesus was not created, He is the creator of all things. Notice the “visible and invisible” part. We know our universe is made up of things we cannot see without technical assistance. But it was not just the physical world that Jesus created, but also the spiritual world as well. Even political entities such as dominions, rulers, and authorities are under Jesus’ creative power.

 

Restating the first two verses, Paul claims, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” [Colossians 1:17 ESV] Not only is Jesus the creator of all thing, but He holds all things together. Or more practically, without Jesus’ permission, everything ceases to exist.

 

I have a confession. I believe in the “Big Bang.” Like Peter warned, “But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.” [2 Peter 3:10 NLT]

 

Paul then moves to a personal level describing Jesus, “He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the one who is firstborn from among the dead so that he might occupy the first place in everything.” [Colossians 1:18 CEB] We move from creation of the universe to the creation of the church. It is almost like Paul is saying, if you think the universe is impressive then check out the church. Wait, does it seem the church is a mess? Just like the world… Maybe that’s because we have elevated people to the role of God within the church.

 

Paul round out the significance, “Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him, and he reconciled all things to himself through him— whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross.” [Colossians 1:19 – 20 CEB] Again Paul says that Jesus is God when he writes about the “fullness of God.”

 

Here’s the point, Jesus reconciled all things to God the Father. This reconciliation was “through the blood of his cross.” The result is “peace.” Not to be crabby at this point, but the world is in chaos. It needs peace. We need peace.

 

Are you at peace?