Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Commentary for the week of July 12, 2009
Exalting the Son Colossians 1:15-23
The most piercing question ever posed to mankind is when Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16:15, “Who do you say that I am?” For centuries men and women, boys and girls have been attempting to give an answer. Many varied answers have been given and new ones are proffered almost daily. However, the answer that matters most is the one YOU give! Who is Jesus?
In our text for this week the Apostle Paul gave to the Colossians (and to us) a lofty explanation of Jesus’ identity. Right out of the chute, he claims that Jesus is God. Jesus is the invisible God, Who is a spirit, in visible form. God in skin. Paul uses the word firstborn in the first-century meaning of one who has superiority and authority. Jesus has authority and superiority over creation. Why? Because He created all things, sustains all things, and they are for His pleasure. He is God!
He is the head of the church. The head is the part of the body that is most important. The head is in charge. Everything functions from and because of the head. We are sustained and completed because of the head. He has first place (Col. 1:18) because He created us and because He has reconciled us to God by the sacrifice of Himself. He has brought harmony between us and God.
This is the essence of the gospel message. God has been reconciled to mankind through the actions of Himself; He, in the form of Jesus, paid the debt of our sin to Himself by His own blood (the wages of sin is death). God removed the barrier of sin from between us. Jesus opened the way to God!
This is not a technical explanation of Paul’s comments. It is simply the gospel. Don’t study it for knowledge this week; study it for meaning. Have you placed your faith in the gospel for forgiveness of sins and eternal life? If not, do so. If so, meditate on these truths as you view the video below and worship Him!
