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(What has Jesus Accomplished?)
(Col 1:15-23)
Text:
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. 18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him
to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things
in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime
alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and
unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue
in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope
of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature
which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Some Initial Remarks
We come back again this week to that wonderful text in Colossians that
so beautifully describes who our Savior is and what He has accomplished!
Last week we looked at who Jesus is. This week; What Jesus has accomplished.
What is being talked about in context?
As stated last week Paul is dealing with all that we have in Christ and
even further still what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. So
according to Paul (under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit). Just
as the Bible never separates Jesus’ Sonship from His reedemership we would
be unwise to look only at who Jesus is and not equally look at what Jesus
has accomplished! So to that pressing question: What has Jesus Accomplished?
(1) He made us meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Vs 12
It is God who took the action, God who made you and I sufficient, or
who qualified us for that blessed inheritance with all of God's children
in heaven. Notice Christ is not making us meet, but through
His death He has once and for all made us meet. It is finished.
He made us sufficient, to be a distinct yet individual part of the whole
inheritance of the saints!
(2) He delivered us from the
power of darkness! Vs 13
Here God portrayed as light, and we have been made sufficient to be
a member of the family of God residing in the light as He is in the
light, but look where he delivered us from! He rescued us from the
power and authority of darkness, from the power and the authority of the
wicked one! We were like the scribes and like the Pharisees who sought
to catch Jesus in His words we were of our father the devil. But
praise God, Christ stepped in and delivered us, from the power of darkness
(by the way the mood of that verb is indicative) (it is a statement of
fact, not possibility!)
(3) He translated us into
the Kingdom of His dear Son! Vs 13
Notice not only did He deliver us from the power of darkness, but He
translated us into His kingdom. The word literally means to move
from one place unto another. We have been supernaturally removed
from the kingdom, and domain of an impossible task master (Satan) unto
the kingdom of the one who said take my yoke for it is easy and my burden
is light! Again the mood of the verb is indicative, simply a statement
of fact, not of possibility. Notice our new residence, the Kingdom
of Christ. It only follows that a King must have a kingdom else he
is little more than a play king. It equally follows that if this
King has indeed supernaturally moved our residence it is into a kingdom
that exists now, not one that will exists at some point in the future.
(4) We Been forgiven of all
Sins! Vs 14
I will tell you what as a country preacher friend of mine used to say
"if that don't get water out of your well it is because there is a hole
in your bucket." You and I have had our sins cast as far as the east
is from the west and God remembers them no more! When God looks at
our account he sees only the blood of Jesus, for Christ paid for every
sin, and we know that even now if we sin we have an advocate with the father,
Jesus Christ the righteous!
(5) He made peace through
the blood of His Cross! Vs 20
Sometimes when I read things in the Bible, I wonder if my clay lips
should even try to comment on the meaning. Christ has made peace
between us and God through His blood! Peace, man's greatest desire,
man whom the Bible teaches is at enmity with God, and God steps out of
time and into eternity in the person of Jesus Christ and makes peace through
the blood of His cross!
(6) He took those who were
estranged from Himself, those who were enemies, and reconciled them!
Vs 21
Those who by their deeds yelled God I hate you! He reconciled!
He purchased us back, out from under the broken law of God! Christ
is seen here as paying the ransom and receiving the reward. Again
we are not talking about things Christ hopes to do, but things Christ has
done!
(7) Because of His sacrifice
He intends to present us Vs
22
Holy ~ Just like our Father for
Christ gives us His very righteousness.
Unblameable ~ Without
rebuke, without blemish, morally perfect.
Unreproveable ~ Above
reproach, men and women of who no one can make an accusation against, for
Christ has paid it all for them!
Application
What can I say here? Jesus has paid it all, thus all to Him we owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
1) The work of our Savior is a completed work. There is
nothing left outstanding or undone. W have been forgiven, we are
now part of His kingdom, we have been reconciled, we now have peace with
God.
2) Jesus is the King! But equally He is a king who now and
forever more possess a kingdom of which we are part of as His children.
Did not Jesus teach that His kingdom comes without observation? Did
Jesus not teach that His kingdom is within us? Will He come back?
Yes. To set up a kingdom? No. To cast all that offends
and does iniquity out of His kingdom and to deliver the very creation from
the grip of sin.
3) Lord willing next week I would like to look at verse 23.
For the question that still remains; How can I know all that He has
done is for me? It is imperative we endeavor to let God answer that
question for us!
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