The Fullness of the Godhead

Colossians 1:9-23

Chapter 1 is about Jesus the entire book of Colossians is completely front to back and top to bottom all about Jesus now some of you were saying that sounds awesome but others may be wondering why is it always about Jesus. I mean he’s just one guy that’s a great question even if you weren’t thinking it we started last week with Paul’s greeting and already we have from the apostle of Christ to the brothers in Christ, thanking the father of Christ for their faith in Christ, which by the way came from Epaphras a minister of Christ. Lots of thanks which is truly the way we should always be in a thanksgiving mood. John Blanchard said about thanksgiving

I give it as my testimony that there is a marvellous therapy in thanksgiving.

John Blanchard

Last week learned the 3 essentials of the book of Colossians. This was the recipe to being a disciple. They are the foundational purpose of this letter.

1. Understand His Grace, 2. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit, and 3. Knowing Christ leads us to righteous living.

So that gets us up to verse 9 where the apostle Paul gets personal. 9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,[c] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom[d] and forgave our sins.

What a Prayer!!! I don’t know about you, but I want Paul praying for me. Growing up in the church I would hear certain prayers and believe that one is surely making it to the throne. Paul’s prayer thanks God for the Colossians because they’re a healthy church bearing fruit with faith, hope and love. Why, because they understand God‘s grace.

Paul begins by expressing his continuous prayers for the Colossian believers. He prays that they may be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. This knowledge isn't merely intellectual; it is a transformative understanding that leads to a life pleasing to the Lord.

Paul outlines four key aspects of a life that pleases God:

- **Bearing fruit in every good work:** Our faith should manifest in tangible acts of love and service.

- **Growing in the knowledge of God:** We must continually seek a deeper relationship with Him.

- **Being strengthened with all power:** God's amazing Spirit gives us the endurance and patience we need.

- **Giving joyful thanks:** Gratitude should overflow from our hearts for the inheritance we share in His kingdom.

So I have created a prayer from Col. 1:9-13 and this is the prayer that I want everyone to pray everyday for the next 30 days. The things I just listed are what we need to continue our spiritual growth and stay away from life support as a church. Paul begins to understand Christ sacrifice for Him, just like paul has for the church in Colossi.

Paul doesn’t ask for less trials he asks for more perseverance. He doesn’t ask for a successful life. He asks for a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him fruitful in good works, and growing in knowledge, What Paul is saying is that we first much

Growing in the knowledge of God’s will, and then growing in the knowledge of God himself and that is what it’s all about.

in John 17. Jesus tells us what eternal life is. It’s not just living forever. It is knowing God and knowing his son. So let’s get to know Him in verse 15

(Colossians 1:15-19)

Verses 15-19,15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,[e] 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.[f] So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

verse 15 The image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation for in him. All things were created things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things have been created through him and for him. Stop there a moment. This is one of those verses you can put an astricks by while standing in attention.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God, that means that seeing Jesus is seeing God mankind is made in God‘s image Jesus is God‘s image.

Notice the visible and invisible God. Let me share it like this. In order for you to become the Christian God designed you to be , You must have a relationship with Jesus. Without Jesus we have no chance of understanding God.

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

He is the firstborn now that does not mean the first one born as in created. In Greek and Hebrew the word first born is a title, not an event. It is a designation of authority. Jesus created everything and is the head over everything that is the heart of the whole passage. He is not first as in the beginning of time but first as in before time verse 17 he is before all things and in him all things hold together now that’s a cool verse. What a curious little kid who keeps asking what came before that what before that and that the answers stops at Jesus he is before all things

As the creator of our world, he has the means to rebuild our lives no matter how broken they are. And even if you don’t need this message, I’m sure you know someone who does. The entire universe would dissolve if the Godhead stopped holding it together. (Give the example of the papers and the staple.) Even people who seem to have things under control could not exist a moment longer if it weren’t for the power of God expended on our behalf. We all need God’s power and depend on it, whether we realize it or not. God is our infinite power source, and He provides all the power we need to transform our lives. That’s why we are always talking about Jesus.

Verse 19 “ In Him all the Fullness shall dwell”

Faithlife Study Bible (Chapter 1)

Refers to God being fully present in Christ, it parallel’s with Paul’s statement in 2:9. Col. 2:9 Consequently, Christ is sufficient for the Colossians’ salvation.

Colossians 2:9 (NKJV)

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

Fullness means being filled to capacity. No more room left, nothing else will fit. the space is consumed all over. keep that in mind

This should help us understand why reading the bible over and over again can help us erase our questions marks. If you stop reading a scripture and read a paragraph we can fully understand what the word of God is saying. now place that in the right corner of your mind.

This phrase echoes the glory of God filling of the tabernacle (Exod 40:34-35).34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

In the ancient world, people believed that deities lived on high places such as mountains (see note on Gen 11:3). For example, when the Israelites entered the wilderness, God met them on a mountain (Exod 19:3). But God did not stay on the mountain; He instructed the Israelites to build a tabernacle—a dwelling place for Him to live among His people (Exod 25:8). God came down and filled the tabernacle with His glory as a sign of His presence among them (Exod 40:34). The prophet Isaiah interpreted this cloud of glory as the Holy Spirit (Isa 63:11). This gracious act was God’s extension of friendship to the Israelites (compare Exod 33:11). So now Jesus is this gracious act, the dwelling place for the entire godhead so that we can see God’s glory through Christ Jesus and with the Holy Spirit god’s glory can be filled in us.

The Glory filled Power of the Gospel (Colossians 1:21-23)**

21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

Paul concludes by reminding the Colossians of their previous alienation from God due to their sinful behavior. However, through Christ's physical body and death, they have been reconciled to God. This reconciliation presents them as holy, without blemish, and free from accusation, provided they continue in their faith.

Conclusion:

- Church I want to Challenge you to live in light of your reconciliation, striving to remain steadfast in their faith.

- Be encourage to share in the hope of the gospel with others, recognizing the transformative power of Christ in your life.

Let us Pray

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for Your boundless love and grace. We lift up the Forest Park Church of Christ, asking that You fill us with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. May we, as a congregation, seek to know You more deeply and discern Your perfect will in our lives.

Lord, empower us to live lives worthy of You, pleasing You in every way. Help us to bear fruit in every good work, showing Your love and grace to those around us. May we continually grow in the knowledge of You, deepening our relationship with You and understanding Your character and desires for us.

Strengthen us with all power according to Your glorious might, so that we may have great endurance and patience in all circumstances. Let us not grow weary in doing good but remain steadfast and faithful, trusting in Your strength and provision.

We give joyful thanks to You, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of Your holy people in the kingdom of light. Thank You for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the kingdom of Your beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Lord, guide and bless the Forest Park Church of Christ. May we be a shining light in our community, reflecting Your love and truth. Unite us in love, strengthen our faith, and use us for Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.

---