WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?

COLOSSIANS 1:12-19

Rick Jackson

In Matthew 22 Jesus asked the Pharisees, "What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?" They gave a half-right answer and He gave them such a Scriptural response that they never dared ask Him any more questions. The verses we are about to look at in Colossians are some of the most powerful and pertinent verses that answer the question that Jesus asked. Every cult and false group is wrong on either the person of Christ or the work of Christ. In II John we have the following stern admonition given.

9Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Col. 1:12-19 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16For 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:
17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18And 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.
19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

I. JESUS CHRIST IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD [V. 15a]

This means He is the exact likeness (reprresentation, revelation) of the Father

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: [Heb. 1:3]

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. [Jn. 1:18]

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? [Jn. 14:9]

God the Father is invisible: "No man hath seen God at any time." Jesus said, "God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." The sovereign God--omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent is invisible, but the universe was not left without a God who could be seen: Jesus wrapped God up in flesh, brought Him down to man, and presented Him to man in a body--the very image of the invisible God. -Oliver B. Greene

II. JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE [V. 15b]

"Firstborn" speaks of status not creation. In the firstplace those that were created were not born-Adam & Eve, Satan and the angels, etc.

Secondly many who were born held the status of firstborn though they were not the physically firstborn in their respective families (Jacob, Joseph-two tribes Manasseh & Ephraim, Solomon Ps. 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.), Jesus birth was not His beginning, He had no beginning according to Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The word here (prototokos) means He has priority over all creation (In a moment we will see why), He is sovereign over all creation!

III. JESUS CHRIST IS THE CREATOR [V. 16-17]

There is the reason for His priority over all creation... He is not part of creation, He is the Creator!

1. He created all things- John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made

2. All things were created for Him

3. He is before all things- John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jesus Christ is eternal

4. By Him all things consist

IV. JESUS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH [V. 18]

He is the head of the church, not the pastor, not the pope- Christ Himself!

V. JESUS CHRIST IS THE BEGINNING

(arche) the Architect, the Founder, the Beginning and the Ending, the Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of our faith

VI. JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD

Firstfruits (I Cor. 15), first in a glorified body, first resurrected (others had been resuscitated)

VII. JESUS CHRIST IS PREEMINENT IN ALL THINGS

(word only used here) Because of Who He is and what he had done

VIII. JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE IN WHOM ALL FULNESS DWELLS [V. 19, 2:9]

That is, all the totality of the divine powers and attributes are in Him permanently! The word "dwell" means to be at home permanently, it's not something that was added.

"The full fullness of God dwells in Him." JVM

Phil 2:5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

With all He is, it's not only important what you think of Him, but what does He think of you!