col 1 18-20 Jesus Lord of the resurrection
Col. 1:18-20- Jesus as Lord of the Resurrection
BI-Not only is Jesus Lord of Creation, He is Lord of the Resurrection
1. Position- Head of the church He is also head of the body, the church;
Head of the Body- The church- ekklesia: from the root word “to call out” thus a group of called out ones. In Greek, the term was used when a select group of people came together to discuss state affairs. In the Septuagint, a Greek translation of the OT scriptures, the term was used in reference to the assembly of Israel as a whole. But in the NT, it referred mainly to a)the worldwide grouping of Christians and to b)an individual assembly of Christians
Jesus refers to it as His church
Matthew 16:18- “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
The Father appointed the Son as Head over the Church
Eph 1:22- And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
Jesus is Head (controlling member of church) and we are members of that Body with a purpose.
1 Cor. 12:12-27- But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many… But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired
In The Master’s Plan for the Church, John MacArthur- “the church is a body, and we want to look closely at its anatomy. Every body has certain features: a skeleton, internal systems, muscles and flesh. A church needs to have a framework (a skeleton), internal systems (certain attitudes), muscles (different functions), and flesh (the forms of the programs).” The framework of this body is the skeleton. Without the skeleton, the body would be a mass of flesh and muscles that could not pick itself off the floor. The skeleton of the church should include the following,
· A high view of God- knowing God more and glorifying Him always
· Absolute authority of Scripture- nothing should shape our decisions more than the Bible.
· Sound teaching- Explaining the truths about God clearly- not feel good sermons
· Personal holiness- 2 Cor. 7:1 (Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.)
· Spiritual authority- we must submit ultimately to Christ and then to those spiritual leaders over us.
The early church had a stormy relationship with the wicked and powerful Roman government. Cycles of severe persecution interrupted by tenuous peace recurred at the whim of the emperor. Roman officials, ignorant of the actual teachings and practices of true Christians, often acted out of bigotry, fear, superstition, or misinformation. The royal court assumed that the growing Christian church operated along the same lines as their own base and greedy religions.
The emperor, coveting the wealth these Christians must surely possess, summoned their head bishop to the royal court and ordered him to produce “the treasures of the church.” The frustrated bishop protested that the church had no gold, jewels, or other valuables (which was indeed true at this point in history). The emperor, brushing aside the bishop’s objection, demanded that the riches of the church be brought to him in the morning. The bishop left the royal presence quietly.
The next day the bishop dutifully appeared at the palace doorway. He was empty handed. “I told you to bring me the treasures of the church!” the emperor raged.The bishop then invited the emperor to look out at the palace steps. Gathered together, peering sheepishly at the great doors of the royal palace rising above them, was a mass of ragged beggars, cripples, slaves and outcasts,
“These,” said the bishop with a sweep of his arm, “are the treasures of the church.”For his unappreciated but accurate insight, the good bishop was promptly martyred.
Romans 12:4-5- We as members of the body all have function and responsibilities
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
FF Bruce- “Paul is here thinking of the variety of services rendered by the diverse members of the church, in accordance with their respective abilities, all together helping to build up the community to which they belong.”
So you may be asking how does Jesus being head of the church relate to Jesus being Lord of the Resurrection. Well, Paul is transitioning from creation to resurrection. He is transitioning from heavenly things to earthly things. Creation was a heavenly act. The Church is an earthly organism. So Paul is saying He is head of the church and the church consists of those who have entered into a new life in Christ, a resurrected life. This body is different from the world because it has a different head. Before our salvation, we were a part of a body with many different heads that strived to control us- selfishness, greed, fame, acceptance. But those who are slaves to Christ are a part of a new body with a one head-Christ.
2. Prerequisite- the beginning, first-born among the dead and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead
Jesus is the beginning, the beginning of what? He already stressed that Jesus was “before all things.” Was Paul making his same point again? No- He has changed ideas from creation to resurrection.
The beginning, the firstborn among the dead- Jesus is the beginning of the new creation (spiritual rebirth) but more importantly, he is the “firstborn” from among the dead”. The “dead” are such spiritually, and so Christ is the Supreme or highest ranked as resurrected persons into a new spiritual life.
When Jesus rose from the dead he had a new quality of life, a “resurrection life” in a human body and human spirit that were perfectly suited for fellowship and obedience to God forever. In his resurrection, Jesus earned for us a new life just like his. We do not receive all of that new “resurrection life” when we become Christians, for our bodies remain as they were, still subject to weakness, aging, and death. But in our spirits we are made alive with new resurrection power[1]
Power of the Resurrection
1 Cor. 15:12-19- Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
There were those in the Corinthian church that were saying that resurrection from the dead was not possible. Paul is stating here the absurdity of Christians saying the resurrection of the dead was impossible. The resurrection from the dead is a key doctrine or teaching in our faith as Christians. It is impossible for us to deny it.
Did Jesus rise from the dead? Y or N. Will Jesus raise up Christians from the dead? Y or N (Do not Answer) Will He raise you up?
Christians will be resurrected
John 6:39-40 “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
All persons will be resurrected one way or another
John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Christ led the way in resurrection
1 Cor. 15:20-23-But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
Jesus is called the “first fruits of those who are asleep”. The first fruits was a agricultural term that explained the first fruit or vegetable that grew in a harvest showed the farmer that there was much more to come. Jesus being the first to be fully resurrected showed the world that there is more human resurrection to come. We will all be resurrected
Man’s Resurrection Body
1 Cor. 15:35-60- Jesus explains fully the idea of our bodies in Resurrection
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
The truth is resurrection is the key to our new life in Christ. Although we are not changed physically now, we are changed spiritually and our change will be complete in the future.
There was a story of a man who was dying from a terminal disease. Knowing he did not have long to live, he gave his wife specific instructions on what to do with his body when he passes on. This man contacted his boss, an owner of Independent Professional Fireworks and told him when he died he wanted his ashes put inside a glorious firework and shot into the sky. So on Friday, August 12, with his family all around, they shot that firework in the sky and it was a glorious display of colors and sounds.
But our resurrection will much more glorious than a firework display.
3. Purpose-For His Preeminence, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
He might become first -This clearly sums up what has been shared starting in verse 15 about the supremacy of Christ. Means to have first place, hold the highest rank in a group (BAGD).
He is the central figure, therefore, in both domains. Just as creation depends on him for its existence and order, redemption depends on him, and he is the primary figure in it. Jesus is both a model and an integration of the two realms. The integration occurs because of Jesus’ central place in creation and redemption. He ties the two together in his person.
John 5:23 “so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
Robert Bowman describes honor as “an important cultural value in the ancient Mediterranean world, including the Jewish culture. To give people honor was to acknowledge their place in the scheme of things-to speak about them and to behave toward them in a manner appropriate to their status and position.”
So Jesus is telling the Pharisees here that to give honor to the Father is to give honor to the Son equally. He who dishonors the Son dishonors the Father. Let me stop and focus on this in our lives. We have learned that Jesus is Lord of creation and now Lord of the new creation-the resurrection life. Those of us who have surrendered to Christ as our Lord, then fit into this existence. So Jesus here says that if we dishonor the Son, we are dishonoring God.
How do we dishonor God? Bowman writes, “In a monotheistic (one-God) Jewish culture, to honor God meant to confess and line in the light of his exclusive status as maker, sustainer, and sovereign King of all creation. To honor any creature, no matter how wonderful, as a deity was to detract from the honor due to God.” What this is saying is that if Jesus is our Lord, and we move Him over and let something else become our Lord, then we are stealing God’s honor and giving it to something else.
1 Peter 4:11 “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Rev 4:11- “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
4. Plan- Peace with God through Reconciliation in Christ For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
All the fullness (of deity) was pleased to dwell in him)-
Col. 2:9-For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
All the attributes and activities of God—his spirit, word, wisdom and glory—are perfectly displayed in Christ (Bruce, 207). God in all his divine essence and power had taken up residence in Christ.[2]
The deity of Christ was needed in God’s plan because man’s sin could only be erased with a sacrifice “without blemish or spot, which would be perfect. A perfect man, one without sin, could not have been born as the rest of mankind was born because Romans 5 says “just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned” So you need a perfect, sinless man, not born or conceived like any other human, and Jesus, the infinite God-man is the only one to fit the qualifications needed.
Through Him, reconciliation by blood of cross-
Not only did Christ’s deity bring forth the perfection of the sacrifice, but blood was required to complete the ultimate sacrifice. In the OT, we learn that blood of a sacrifice was required for the sacrifice to be complete. You could not just bring an animal to the priest so that they could have a new pet. You brought your best lamb or goat signifying moral perfection. You placed your hands on the head of the animal signifying a transfer of sin’s penalty. Then the animal was slain for death was a required punishment for sin. Lastly, the priest sprinkled the blood of the animal on the altar and burned the offering to God. So blood was needed to be reconciled to God for Hebrews tells us “all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” but not just any blood would do, remember it was the blood of the Infinite God-man.
Why did the blood need to be shed? So we could be reconciled to God.
The verses here mention two similar ideas, reconciliation and peace with God. You could say that reconciliation is the means and peace with God is the results. The term reconciliation shows the imagery of a family that is estranged from each other and they are brought together again. It is restored relationship that was once broken.
Separated from God
Isaiah 59:2 says “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
At War with God
Romans 5:10-11 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
Reconciliation to all men- Jews and Gentiles
Eph 2:12-16-Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
Reconciliation between God and Creation to reconcile all things to Himself… whether things on earth or things in heaven
God’s ultimate plan for the universe is to reconcile all things to Himself through Jesus Christ. When His work of creation was finished, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). God’s good creation, however, was soon marred by man’s sin. The Fall resulted not only in fatal and damning tragedy for the human race, but also affected the entire creation. Sin destroyed the perfect harmony between creatures, and between all creation and the Creator. The creation was “subjected to futility” (Rom. 8:20) and “groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now” (Rom. 8:22). [3]
Isaiah’s glimpse into a new creation
Is. 11:6-9 And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
There is much room for imagination here but I would assume that before sin entered, the Garden of Eden was much like this as well. But sin so corrupted man and the world that only God the Son dying on the cross could restore peace again with God and Creation.
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[1]Grudem, Wayne A.: Systematic Theology : An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, Mich. : Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House, 1994, S. 614
[2]O'Brien, Peter T.: Word Biblical Commentary : Colossians-Philemon. Dallas : Word, Incorporated, 2002 (Word Biblical Commentary 44), S. 53
[3]MacArthur, John: Colossians. Chicago : Moody Press, 1996, c1992, S. 55