Opposites Reconciled

¹⁸  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  Colossians 1:18-20

What one believes about Jesus Christ is one of the most important things about them.  It is more important than the car we drive, the amount in the bank, or even what our friends may or may not think about us. Everyone in this world is in a tight spot, having rebelled, rejected God and because of it, the world and our lives are thrown into futility.  All of the striving that we do that seems vain is because it is not for Christ and his purposes.  The scriptures say that creation groans to be reconciled to God.  And the deepest groaning of our hearts push us to the realization that something has gone horribly wrong.

There is hope, as detailed in these verses, because Jesus Christ is Lord not only over creation (vs 15-17) but also over Salvation.  A great rescue plan has been put into effect to bring that fallen and rebelled creation to a place of new creation, of salvation.  Jesus is the only way this rescue plan can succeed.  Our rescue has everything to do with what we believe about Jesus, about who he is.

He is the head of the body, the church. For those rescued by Jesus, all nourishment, life and direction comes from Christ, the head.   He is the authority, the leader, the source of all sustenance.  He sets the agenda.  He is the authority.  However, he is also the kind of head and authority that would die for his church and sacrifice himself for the church’s wellbeing (Ephesians 5), which he did. The Lord of Salvation even himself died to purchase salvation.

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. He was the first ever to be resurrected as he accomplished that salvation.  Jesus was the first raised again with a glorified body, NEVER to die again.  Even today Jesus is alive at the right hand of the Father waiting to return.  He is the first of a new and resurrected creation, a new creation that will culminate in the whole world being renewed.  The reality has already started in us who have believed in Christ as the Savior. 

He is preeminent in all things. No one can successfully argue against Jesus being first place in all things.  No one can say,” I think I have something better than Jesus.”  No one possesses something more powerful or conquering than Jesus.   Have you been the first to have defeated death and sin and reign over all things of the world victoriously by rising from your death in all glory possible?   It is such a simple point, but it is one Paul has to make to battle the false teachers who offer some sort of life or wisdom or knowledge or commitment that was “beyond Jesus.” No one is over Jesus, nor can we move on from Jesus and expect to have life, life from the dead, or even life in this everyday life. 

He is God in the flesh. “ for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”   The fullness of God dwells in the person and work of Christ. All of the fullness that you are trying to find in other places will only be found in Christ.  All the fullness of God’s love, forgiveness, goodness and mercy dwells in, lives in and was completely at home in Jesus.  Trying to get a cool refreshing drink this week from somewhere else is like trying to suck dirty lukewarm water through a broken straw.  Jesus is like jumping into that clear and bottomless pool of all that God is. 

He is reconciliation with God. “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,” Not only was the reality of God’s love and mercy at home in Christ, but he also had the justice and wrath of God toward sin poured out on Him as well.   He accomplished our salvation, reconciling all things by taking on the punishment of our sin on himself.  “Making peace by the blood of his cross.”  Just think, God in heaven who is holy, perfect, righteous, without a single fault, the definition of goodness, righteousness, and justice creates a world, populates it with people that are to reflect that God in all his nature and perfection.  Instead, they rebel, deny God and his perfection.  God has every right to judge them, every right to punish, because that offense was against his perfect nature. Enter Jesus who perfectly represents man in his incarnation, and perfectly represents God in being the image of God and Son of God, He alone can bring perfect peace between God and man through the cross.

      He is. Jesus Christ’s death on the cross set all things at peace for us who trust Christ’s death for us. Holding together two opposite things.  A holy and perfect God and unholy imperfect sinners, by the blood on the cross of Calvary. He is the only one who can forgive and reconcile us. Who do you say that he is?