Colossians 1:1-22

1 "Paul, a commissioner of Christ Jesus," introduces us to a glorified Christ in heaven and invokes the authority vested in Paul as His legate. Contrast the character assumed by Paul in Philippians.

4 Their faith in Christ Jesus and their heavenly hope reminds us of the opening words of Ephesians. Before these letters were written the saints among the nations had no clear indications of a celestial destiny This is practically unknown outside Paul's epistles, and even in them it is gradually approached. The Thessalonians are taught the Lord's descent from heaven to meet them in the air (1Th_4:16). The secret of the resurrection is made known to the Corinthians (1Co_15:51), showing that our bodies will be changed to fit the celestial spheres. But not until the prison epistles were penned are we given definite assurance that the saints are destined to enjoy a celestial allotment.

6 A true realization of God's grace is the accomplishment most to be desired of all things, for it is impossible to please God without faith and an intelligent grasp of His gracious purpose. Zeal must be directed by knowledge.

THE SECRET OF CHRIST

ITS REALIZATION

9 Here we have a prayer which is well worthy of our imitation.

13 The kingdom of His Son is a figurative allusion to the kingdom of Christ. Messiah's kingdom is literal and future and destroys and displaces earth's kingdoms (Dan_2:44). The kingdom of the Son here spoken of is a present spiritual power. We are not rescued from earth's governments but from the powers of Darkness which direct and dominate them. The term "pardon" is borrowed from the kingdom phraseology to accord with this figure.

15 God is an invisible Spirit (Joh_4:24; 1Ti_6:16). The Son of God is the visible, tangible embodiment of Deity. Only in Him can we see God. All other images are condemned because they are false and dishonor God (Deu_5:8). All creation was in Him, as the tree and its fruits are found in the seed. In Him God created all else, for the whole universe was created in Him. This includes the celestial as well as the terrestrial spheres and every form of spiritual power and dignity. These exist through Him and for Him and He makes all a unit for the accomplishment of God's purpose.

18 As God's Complement, His supremacy becomes pre-eminent in reconciliation as well as creation. Their relation may be shown as follows:

The Image Of God

Firstborn of all Creation:

The Universe Celestial, Terrestrial Created in Him

The Complement Of God

Firstborn from the Dead:

The Universe Celestial, Terrestrial

Reconciled through Him.

The two paramount points in universal history are the creation and the resurrection of the Son of God. Through His death and vivification He will yet more than restore the lost creation to the Father. The cross, which speaks of His estrangement from God, is the basis on which reconciliation is built. The benefits it brings are not confined to earth or mankind, but include the celestial realms as well.

20 Just as His glories in creation take us back to the very beginning, so the greater glories of reconciliation take us to the very consummation. The universal reconciliation cannot be fully accomplished until the close of the eonian times, when all sovereignty and authority and power and even death are rendered inoperative (1Co_15:24-27) and when all mankind are saved (1Ti_4:10) and justified (Rom_5:18). This takes us far beyond the new earth portrayed at the end of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, for there He still reigns, many of mankind are still lost, and death is not yet abolished.

21 At present reconciliation includes only those who, like the Colossians, believe in Him and have not lost their hold on this great truth (or indeed, have never heard of it). Salvation depends only on the work of Christ and is not affected by our moods: reconciliation depends,

on our side, upon our enjoyment of His favor.