Category Archives: Colossians

The Image of the Invisible God

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The doctrine of Jesus’ divinity is not limited to just the Gospels. The Apostle Paul also affirms Jesus’ divine nature. Here is one such passage which demonstrates this.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:12-17)

Here Jesus is the One through Whom redemption comes. (vs. 14) Then in verse 15, we see why–Jesus is “the image of the invisible God”. Only the God-man can provide redemption through His blood, because His blood alone is pure–untouched by sin. As 1 John 3:5 states, “And ye know that he [Jesus] was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” Jesus’ blood was “precious blood” because He was “a lamb without blemish and without spot”. (1 Peter 1:19)

The word translated “image” is the Greek word from which we get the term “icon”. It communicates that Jesus is the physical form of God who is “invisible” (vs. 15) As John 4:24 states, “God is a spirit”. We cannot see him physically, but Jesus is the physical representation of God. He is truly God in the flesh.

Jesus’ divinity is further supported by verse 16, where He is identified as the Creator of “all things”. Genesis 1:1 is clear that “God created the heavens and the earth” which is certainly included in “all things”. So it logically follows that if God is the Creator and Jesus is the Creator, then Jesus is God.

Verse 17 also speaks to Jesus’ divine nature. Jesus is “before all things”. He is not created. He simply exists. He is the great I AM–the self-existent One, Who we call “God the Son.”

Let There Be Light

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God created light on the first day.

Genesis 1:2-5  And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.  4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

God created the basic physical existence of the universe in Genesis 1:1.  Now He sets His focus on the Earth.

First, although created, it was not completed.  That’s why it was formless and void, meaning incomplete and empty. Continue reading →

Christians Are Dead?

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Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

In this passage, Christians (i.e. those who are “risen with Christ”) are told to keep their focus on heaven and not Earth.  Then we read something rather strange.  Paul writes, “For ye are dead…”  Huh?  I thought we were made “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11)  What does it mean that we are dead!

When we read the word “dead” in the Scriptures, it needs to be understood as “separated”.  Death is always a separation.  Physical death is a separation of our spiritual part from our physical body.  Spiritual death is the separation of a person from God.  We are told in Romans 6:2 that believers are “dead to sin”, which in context means separated from its penalty, and by extension, its power. When one is dead to something, the thing in question has no power.

So in the passage above, believers are dead to the things of this world.  Therefore, the things of the world should not be our focus.  The life of the believer is “hid with Christ in God.”  It is “hid” in the sense that it cannot be found on the Earth.  It is where Christ is, and that is in heaven.  Christian need to keep looking to Him.

The Beginning

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In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

I thought it would be good to start off the beginning New Year with a verse on the beginning.  This foundational verse reveals much to us about our world and God.

First, God exists.  The Bible does not try to prove God’s existence, but rather assumes His existence as evidenced by His creation (Psalm 19:1) and revelation of Himself (Colossians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 3:16).

Second, God existed before the universe was created.  He was there before the beginning.  He is eternal in His very nature and is separate from His creation (transcendent).

Third, God created all that exists, including the celestial bodies and life on Earth.  As is shown in the remainder of Genesis 1, macro-evolution is untrue.  God created the different kinds of living creatures; they did not evolve from lower forms of life.  The biological processes which are observed today are those which were there in the beginning.  Living creatures reproduce after their own kind (Genesis 1:11, 12, 21, 24, 25).

Fourth, there was a beginning.  God set everything in order.  Although mankind chose sin rather than obedience, God had a plan of salvation through Jesus Christ to deliver us from our sin and renew all things to their original perfection.

Romans 8:21-25 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

This is the ending that God has in store for us started with His beginning in Genesis 1:1.

Who Is Like God?

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Isaiah 40:18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

This simple verse communicates a profound truth by way of a rhetorical question.  Nobody can be compared to God.  He is unique in His essence, quality, and character.  He is the Creator and He is transcendent from His creation. Continue reading →