Do Not be Shaken by the Hope of the Gospel! (2)
[Colossians 1:15-23]
Therefore, the Apostle Paul, addressing the saints of the Colossian church, explained who Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is in Colossians 1:15 as follows: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Modern Bible). In this statement, Paul reveals two aspects of who Jesus Christ is:
- Jesus Christ as the "Image of the Invisible God":
Colossians 1:15a states, "He is the image of the invisible God." This phrase conveys that Jesus Christ is the complete representation and embodiment of God. In other words, He is the perfect manifestation of God's essence (MacArthur). Philippians 2:6 supports this, saying, "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped." Additionally, John 1:14 emphasizes the incarnation of the Word, stating, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." Hebrews 1:3 echoes this by describing Jesus as the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. Jesus' response to Philip in John 14:9 further reinforces this concept, "Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, "Show us the Father"?'"
- Jesus Christ as the One "Before All Creation":
Colossians 1:15b continues, "the firstborn of all creation." This statement does not imply, as some heresies suggest, that Jesus Christ is a created being. If Paul were stating that Jesus is a created being, how could he then assert in verses 16-17, "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. And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together"? In other words, how could the Creator, Jesus Christ, also be a part of creation? This is not the intended meaning. Instead, the phrase signifies that Jesus Christ existed before creation and holds a superior position to it. As MacArthur clarifies, it means, ‘He existed before the creation and is exalted in rank above it’ (MacArthur).
We must believe in Jesus Christ. We must believe that Jesus Christ is the complete image of God, the very essence of God and the embodiment of God's nature. We must believe that Jesus Christ existed before creation and holds a higher position than creation. In short, we must believe in the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. True believers stand firm on Christ, the only foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), and remain faithful through God's enabling grace (Phil. 1:6; 2:11-13) (MacArthur). Let us all deeply root ourselves in faith in Jesus Christ, the One who both initiates and perfects our faith, and build our lives on Him. As believers, let us faithfully handle the tasks we ought to do, standing firm in faith as people who trust in the Lord (Col. 2:7, cf. Ephesians 3:17).
One of the Bible verses that I will never forget is 1 Peter 5:10 - "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." This verse served as a comforting promise when I faced the heavy sorrow of the deaths of loved ones and the poignant tears of my beloved child's suffering at the beginning of 2019. The words "suffered a little while," "restore," and "make you strong, firm and steadfast" touched my heart deeply as I read this verse in the English Bible. From that moment on, I held onto this promise and began praying to God. Despite the brief suffering of my beloved child, I prayed that God would fulfill His promise, restoring them and making them strong, firm, and steadfast. Months later, I realized that God had indeed fulfilled and accomplished His promise to me. Not only did God fulfill this promise for my beloved child but also for me, revealing that He had been at work in both instances.
While living on this earth, there are times when various difficulties shake us. Among these challenges, what I find most challenging and faith-shaking is the significant difficulties and crises within our beloved families. Consequently, leading a family prayer meeting in November 2022, I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:58 when I earnestly prayed for my cousin's family, who lost their dear daughter: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." I prayed that the Lord would bestow His abundant grace, love, and comfort upon all grieving families, holding each one firmly, enabling them to stand strong, unshaken, and continually exerting more effort in the Lord's work, glorifying God more than before.
In today's passage, Colossians 1:23, Apostle Paul addresses the faithful saints of the Colossian church, saying: "if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant." We have already received the first lesson from this passage: we must continue in our faith, be established and firm [(Colossians 1:23a) "if you continue in your faith, established and firm..."]. The core teaching is that our church must stand firm in the faith in Jesus Christ. True believers stand firm on Christ, the only foundation (1 Cor. 3:11), and remain faithful through God's enabling grace (Phil. 1:6; 2:11-13) (MacArthur). We all need to deeply root ourselves in faith in Jesus Christ, build our lives on Him as the foundation, and faithfully handle the tasks we ought to do as people who trust in the Lord (Col. 2:7, cf. Ephesians 3:17).