ReFocus: Humility in Ministry
“He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
Colossians 1:17
Let me be honest, I am not a man of science. By this, I mean I don’t understand many scientific terms, formulas, or much of science’s reasoning. I am not intrigued by the job of combining certain liquids to form gases or mild explosions. The thought of dissecting anything, other than a fried and smothered-in-sauce chicken wing, provokes the same effect as riding upon a deep sea fishing boat. However, there is one scientific concept that strikes my interest; the thought of earth’s location and orbit within the universe is something that truly catches my attention.
It has been claimed that the earth has been placed in the perfect position in relation to the sun. Justification for this claim comes in this way: if the earth was any closer to the sun, the earth would melt and life upon it would cease. This can also suggest that if the earth was any farther away from the sun, the earth would freeze over, causing life to cease. In the same manner, it has also been thought that if the earth rotated any faster, then life upon earth would be impossible due to its quickening rotation. Though these theories entail vast areas of minutiae, much of which immediately flies over my head, there is one underlying principle that is presented: Christ is the One that consistently holds the earth in its place; this principle is the fact that Christ is sustainer.
This principle is one that is seen in Colossians 1:17, as Paul continues his descriptions of the manifold supremacies of Christ. Before jumping in, it may be necessary to recap what has been discussed thus far in this specific passage of Colossians. To start, in verse 15, Paul has stated that Christ is the “image of the invisible God” and that Christ was the “firstborn of all creation.” Verse 16 describes Christ as being Creator, as Paul states that “all things have been created through Him and for Him.” Immediately from here, Paul continues to assert that Christ “is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (1:17).
The first part of this verse, “He [Christ] is before all things,” is added weight to what has already been presented in the previous verses. Christ is claimed to be creator of all things (1:16), and this verse adds nothing but support to this assertion. To say that Christ is Creator is to imply that Christ existed prior to all things created, much like what is being presented within the first part of the verse; because Christ is the Creator of all things, He is before all things.
The later part of this verse dovetails into the principle presented earlier in the post. In the later portion, Paul states that “in Him [Christ] all things hold together” (1:17). Paul is making an absolute statement that deserves some attention. This phrase has been translated a few different ways. It has been translated “in Him [Christ] all things consist,” and also “in Him [Christ] all things subsist.” This concept is also something that is mentioned by the writer of Hebrews. The writer states that Christ “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Regardless of how this is translated, the underlying common denominator is that Christ is the Sustainer of life. Not only does Christ create, as noted in 1:16, but Christ utilizes this same power in order to uphold and sustain the things which He has created, including us. This adds a personal touch to creation as it affirms His daily involvement within our lives, even in the areas that we deem as unimportant and insignificant.
Again, this is a humbling thought. To claim that Christ is the Sustainer of life is to claim that we are not the sustainers of our own lives. This is something that is hard to do, yet something that must be done. We must come to understand that, ultimately, Christ is the One that is upholding our lives by His wonderful power, regardless of whether you recognize it or not…regardless of whether I recognize it or not. He does this so effortlessly, simply by His word (Hebrews 1:3), yet based from His love. This is something that must be remembered and applied daily. At that moment, when we fail to acknowledge that Christ is the Sustainer, we feed the lie that we are self-sufficient individuals. May we demolish the false thought of self-sufficiency by understanding and recognizing that we are only upheld and sustained by Christ? This should overflow into our ministries, as it should be considered a great honor to serve the One that is the Sustainer.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Christ is Creator
ReFocus: Humility in Ministry
Christ is Creator
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
Colossians 1:16
One of the greatest hindrances in ministry is discouragement. It is a divisive liquid that congeals and solidifies within the walls of the heart if allowed to fester. It doubles over in our solitary, our relationships, and even in our ministries. It is not foreign; all are aware of the outcomes and consequences of its presence. But what exactly causes discouragement? If we are aware of what will be the outcome, why do we allow ourselves to fall into this over and over again? Ultimately, the cause, in some way or another, can be directed back to an improper view of Christ. What is presented within the first chapter of Colossians, specifically verse 16, will provide instruction for veering our view of Christ back in its proper place.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, Gnosticism was a prevalent religion within the church at Colossae. Along the same lines, it had also been thought that there were others that worshipped angels. With this being the case, Christ was claimed to be less than the angels, and thus, not revered in the proper status. Paul wrote this book to refute these false teachings. This is something that is absolutely evident, especially within our primary verse and the verse preceding as Christ is claimed to be both the image of the invisible God while also being the firstborn of all creation (1:15). Within verse 16, our primary verse, Christ is claimed to be Creator.
Immediately following the claim that Christ is the firstborn, Paul continues the list of supremacies by claiming that Christ is the Creator of all things. He states “for by Him all things were created…” (1:16When Paul was making this statement, he was essentially referring to a universal idea of creation; Paul was not claiming that Christ just created the physical, but that He also created the spiritual. The idea that is present is the same that is seen in John 1:3 when it is claimed that all things that came into being can be attributed to Christ, as nothing came into being apart from Him. This was to be an all-encompassing idea in relation to creation. By stating this, the writer made his point extremely clear; Christ created all things. He could have stopped here without going any further in the debate, yet he chose to state even the specifics of creation. It has been thought that Paul’s purpose in doing this was to blatantly refute the false teaching that Christ was lower than the angels.
Paul takes this a bit further by stating that all things within the heavens and the earth were created by Christ, whether visible or invisible. The writer goes out of his way to be intentional, so as to specifically state the obvious; the heavens and the earth were created by Christ. He also states that the visible as well as the invisible things were created by Christ. This is a very interesting concept. The idea that Paul presents here is that all things visible on earth, and even in heaven, were created by Christ. This extends from the concept of the, now visible, creation of land to the creation of heavenly bodies that will one day be seen. Paul also stated that Christ created those things which are invisible. It has been thought that this was a reference to the soul of man that is not necessarily visible to the human eye. It is unseen, yet Christ created it.
It is evident that Paul was being intentionally thorough as he was writing this letter. He finalizes this topic of creation by stating whether there are “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” all things were created by Christ (1:16). Again, this is thought to stand in contrast against the previously mentioned false teaching that placed angels in a status to be worshipped. This is due, primarily, to the fact that the thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities mentioned within the verse could refer to specific ranks of angelic beings. Regardless, the point is extremely clear. There is nothing in this world that has existed or will exist that Christ did not create; He is the sole Creator, and to label Him as anything less is to neglect His omnipotence. He also created all things for Himself in order to showcase His glory and power.
Even though Christ’s ability to create is seen within this verse as the primary theme, there is another that is implied, though a bit more subtle. With the specifications of all that He has created, Christ’s sovereignty cannot be overlooked. Because Christ has created all things, He knows all things; even more, He knows how to fix all things, we do not. This is a slap in the face to pride. One of man’s biggest downfalls is the false sense of self-sufficiency that he possesses, which will, inevitably, lead to discouragement. With Christ being absolutely sovereign, we should trust that He has the ability to handle whatever situations we are facing, regardless of the circumstance. The challenge I present to you is the same challenge that faced me: trust in the sovereignty and ability of God; the first step in doing this is to loosen the reigns and to allow Him to be God.
Don’t allow discouragement to sour your ministry.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Christ is Creator
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
Colossians 1:16
One of the greatest hindrances in ministry is discouragement. It is a divisive liquid that congeals and solidifies within the walls of the heart if allowed to fester. It doubles over in our solitary, our relationships, and even in our ministries. It is not foreign; all are aware of the outcomes and consequences of its presence. But what exactly causes discouragement? If we are aware of what will be the outcome, why do we allow ourselves to fall into this over and over again? Ultimately, the cause, in some way or another, can be directed back to an improper view of Christ. What is presented within the first chapter of Colossians, specifically verse 16, will provide instruction for veering our view of Christ back in its proper place.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, Gnosticism was a prevalent religion within the church at Colossae. Along the same lines, it had also been thought that there were others that worshipped angels. With this being the case, Christ was claimed to be less than the angels, and thus, not revered in the proper status. Paul wrote this book to refute these false teachings. This is something that is absolutely evident, especially within our primary verse and the verse preceding as Christ is claimed to be both the image of the invisible God while also being the firstborn of all creation (1:15). Within verse 16, our primary verse, Christ is claimed to be Creator.
Immediately following the claim that Christ is the firstborn, Paul continues the list of supremacies by claiming that Christ is the Creator of all things. He states “for by Him all things were created…” (1:16When Paul was making this statement, he was essentially referring to a universal idea of creation; Paul was not claiming that Christ just created the physical, but that He also created the spiritual. The idea that is present is the same that is seen in John 1:3 when it is claimed that all things that came into being can be attributed to Christ, as nothing came into being apart from Him. This was to be an all-encompassing idea in relation to creation. By stating this, the writer made his point extremely clear; Christ created all things. He could have stopped here without going any further in the debate, yet he chose to state even the specifics of creation. It has been thought that Paul’s purpose in doing this was to blatantly refute the false teaching that Christ was lower than the angels.
Paul takes this a bit further by stating that all things within the heavens and the earth were created by Christ, whether visible or invisible. The writer goes out of his way to be intentional, so as to specifically state the obvious; the heavens and the earth were created by Christ. He also states that the visible as well as the invisible things were created by Christ. This is a very interesting concept. The idea that Paul presents here is that all things visible on earth, and even in heaven, were created by Christ. This extends from the concept of the, now visible, creation of land to the creation of heavenly bodies that will one day be seen. Paul also stated that Christ created those things which are invisible. It has been thought that this was a reference to the soul of man that is not necessarily visible to the human eye. It is unseen, yet Christ created it.
It is evident that Paul was being intentionally thorough as he was writing this letter. He finalizes this topic of creation by stating whether there are “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” all things were created by Christ (1:16). Again, this is thought to stand in contrast against the previously mentioned false teaching that placed angels in a status to be worshipped. This is due, primarily, to the fact that the thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities mentioned within the verse could refer to specific ranks of angelic beings. Regardless, the point is extremely clear. There is nothing in this world that has existed or will exist that Christ did not create; He is the sole Creator, and to label Him as anything less is to neglect His omnipotence. He also created all things for Himself in order to showcase His glory and power.
Even though Christ’s ability to create is seen within this verse as the primary theme, there is another that is implied, though a bit more subtle. With the specifications of all that He has created, Christ’s sovereignty cannot be overlooked. Because Christ has created all things, He knows all things; even more, He knows how to fix all things, we do not. This is a slap in the face to pride. One of man’s biggest downfalls is the false sense of self-sufficiency that he possesses, which will, inevitably, lead to discouragement. With Christ being absolutely sovereign, we should trust that He has the ability to handle whatever situations we are facing, regardless of the circumstance. The challenge I present to you is the same challenge that faced me: trust in the sovereignty and ability of God; the first step in doing this is to loosen the reigns and to allow Him to be God.
Don’t allow discouragement to sour your ministry.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Something to Consider: Spiritual Preparation
“Then Joshua said to the people, consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” – Joshua 3:5
Without a doubt, the book of Joshua is probably my favorite book from the Old Testament. I think that this is due, in part, to a class that I had the privilege to take that was centered on the book, along with the book of Judges. It also stands out remarkably because God’s faithfulness and providence are the all-encompassing themes presented within the book. Over and over again throughout the book, this can be seen. For instance, you can see very early in the book the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua as he leads them in the land that been promised years earlier. Not only this, but God continually illustrates His faithfulness to the children of Israel by keeping His word, and He does so in ways that are absolutely mind-blowing.
Getting into the text, chapter three of Joshua contains one of the most significant miracles recorded in the Old Testament. Within this chapter, God illustrates His faithfulness to Israel by allowing them to cross the Jordan into the land that had been promised. As mentioned, God illustrated His providence to Israel in ways that were astonishing. In this case, God allows the Jordan River to be parted in order for the Israelites to cross over on dry ground…much like what was seen previously with the Red Sea. Though this event is one that warrants much discussion and study, it will not be our primary focus within this particular post. Rather, I would like to bring into consideration the event that takes place prior to this miracle.
To set the stage, the book begins with Joshua stepping into command after the death of Moses. Before actually crossing into the land that was promised, Joshua sends spies into the land in order to know what could be expected after crossing the Jordan. After getting the report from the spies, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp at the edge of the River. At the end of three days, Joshua spoke to the people of the camp and stated “consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). Joshua was instructing the children of Israel to prepare themselves for something that was about to take place.
What was Joshua telling the children of Israel to do at this point? What does this mean? Other versions read this as “sanctify” rather than “consecrate.” Regardless of which English word that is used, the concept that is being described is the action to “set yourself apart” or “to separate.” He was presenting a challenge to the Israelites to prepare themselves spiritually for something that was brink of occurring, namely, the crossing of the Jordan.
It is interesting to look at Joshua’s discernment in this situation; he knew that something great and monumental was about to happen and his response is very unusual. Rather than challenging the Israelites to be prepared physically, which could have consisted of gathering food and other necessities, he challenges the Israelites to prepare themselves spiritually; he presented the challenge to remove from their lives anything that was unholy. This instruction was also given previously in the Old Testament. Before God had given the Ten Commandments to Moses, He presented the challenge to the Israelites to “consecrate” themselves (Exodus 19:22).
The reasoning for Joshua’s instruction is pretty clear. He knew that God was about to do a work and he wanted everyone to be aware of this. He was aware that minimal distractions were needed to shift focus from God to something of less significance; he wanted the Israelites to have their focus solely on God so that they could see that magnitude of the miracle that was about to take place. The same is true in our lives, especially in ministry. Whether it is the people that we are involved with or even the ministry itself, we are easily distracted.
We should be willing to consecrate ourselves, as well. Hebrews 12 provides clear instructions as to how this can take place within the life of a believer. The writer commands to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders from running the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). The writer also shows where focus is to be placed; he states to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The challenge that has been presented to me and that I pass to you is this: be willing to set the weights aside and consecrate yourself unto Christ; prepare yourself spiritually; fix your eyes on Him so that you are able to recognize the great things that He does in your life on a daily basis.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Without a doubt, the book of Joshua is probably my favorite book from the Old Testament. I think that this is due, in part, to a class that I had the privilege to take that was centered on the book, along with the book of Judges. It also stands out remarkably because God’s faithfulness and providence are the all-encompassing themes presented within the book. Over and over again throughout the book, this can be seen. For instance, you can see very early in the book the transition of leadership from Moses to Joshua as he leads them in the land that been promised years earlier. Not only this, but God continually illustrates His faithfulness to the children of Israel by keeping His word, and He does so in ways that are absolutely mind-blowing.
Getting into the text, chapter three of Joshua contains one of the most significant miracles recorded in the Old Testament. Within this chapter, God illustrates His faithfulness to Israel by allowing them to cross the Jordan into the land that had been promised. As mentioned, God illustrated His providence to Israel in ways that were astonishing. In this case, God allows the Jordan River to be parted in order for the Israelites to cross over on dry ground…much like what was seen previously with the Red Sea. Though this event is one that warrants much discussion and study, it will not be our primary focus within this particular post. Rather, I would like to bring into consideration the event that takes place prior to this miracle.
To set the stage, the book begins with Joshua stepping into command after the death of Moses. Before actually crossing into the land that was promised, Joshua sends spies into the land in order to know what could be expected after crossing the Jordan. After getting the report from the spies, Joshua and the Israelites set up camp at the edge of the River. At the end of three days, Joshua spoke to the people of the camp and stated “consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). Joshua was instructing the children of Israel to prepare themselves for something that was about to take place.
What was Joshua telling the children of Israel to do at this point? What does this mean? Other versions read this as “sanctify” rather than “consecrate.” Regardless of which English word that is used, the concept that is being described is the action to “set yourself apart” or “to separate.” He was presenting a challenge to the Israelites to prepare themselves spiritually for something that was brink of occurring, namely, the crossing of the Jordan.
It is interesting to look at Joshua’s discernment in this situation; he knew that something great and monumental was about to happen and his response is very unusual. Rather than challenging the Israelites to be prepared physically, which could have consisted of gathering food and other necessities, he challenges the Israelites to prepare themselves spiritually; he presented the challenge to remove from their lives anything that was unholy. This instruction was also given previously in the Old Testament. Before God had given the Ten Commandments to Moses, He presented the challenge to the Israelites to “consecrate” themselves (Exodus 19:22).
The reasoning for Joshua’s instruction is pretty clear. He knew that God was about to do a work and he wanted everyone to be aware of this. He was aware that minimal distractions were needed to shift focus from God to something of less significance; he wanted the Israelites to have their focus solely on God so that they could see that magnitude of the miracle that was about to take place. The same is true in our lives, especially in ministry. Whether it is the people that we are involved with or even the ministry itself, we are easily distracted.
We should be willing to consecrate ourselves, as well. Hebrews 12 provides clear instructions as to how this can take place within the life of a believer. The writer commands to lay aside every weight and sin that hinders from running the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). The writer also shows where focus is to be placed; he states to fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The challenge that has been presented to me and that I pass to you is this: be willing to set the weights aside and consecrate yourself unto Christ; prepare yourself spiritually; fix your eyes on Him so that you are able to recognize the great things that He does in your life on a daily basis.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Christ is the Firstborn of All Creation
Refocus: Humility in Ministry
Christ is the Firstborn of All Creation
Colossians 1:15
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”
A while back, my father-in-law made a statement that doubled me over with laughter. I don’t recall the exact context of the discussion, but I’ll never forget what he said. He was speaking to my wife and made this comment “It’s your world; I’m just living in it.” He was referring to his willingness to adapt her circumstances, whatever they might have been at the time, as if to say “the world just revolves around you.” Obviously, he and my wife were joking with each other, as she is one of the most selfless people that I have ever met, but there is truth in that phrase… “It’s your world; I’m just living in it.”
After hearing and thinking on this comment, it is absolutely clear that it is just more than words. It is an attitude; even further, it is an attitude that we all have in common. Whether we have said it or not, we have all demonstrated this attitude of egocentricity when have wanted all eyes and schedules to be centered on us. It is evident in times like these that we fail to acknowledge who Christ is; we compete for a place of preeminence with Christ and even put ourselves on His level, when in reality we are so far down on the ladder that we cannot even be seen from Christ’s place of elevation.
The Bible makes this very clear in this section of Colossians (1:15). The verse states “He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Last week we looked at the first part of that verse and this week, we will look at the second half. Upon first glance of this, it seems that Scripture is indicating that Christ was the first to be created on the earth. Is this possible? If you take a look further in the same chapter, you will find that Christ is also given the descriptor of being “Creator of all things” (16). How can Christ be the first person to be created if He is the Creator?
Essentially, the word “firstborn,” in this context is not referring to act of being created first. Instead, it is referring to a place of prominence and power. This relates specifically to the Old Testament concept of the firstborn son within a family. Typically, the firstborn son of a Hebrew family would be the son that would inherit certain special privileges. However, there are some instances where the son does not have to be the first one born in order to have this status. Regardless, he would be the son that would replace the father as “head of the house” and in some cases, even receive a double portion as his inheritance. This is the reason that we see such deception from Jacob, as he wanted to achieve the birthright that was given to the firstborn son, Esau (Genesis 25).
When Paul was describing Christ as being the “firstborn of all creation,” he was not saying that Christ was the first one to be created, but that of all the things ever created and all things upon the earth, Christ is of highest rank and importance; he was stating that Christ was supreme over all things. This is an encompassing statement that includes you and me; Christ is supreme over us, regardless of what we think and, sometimes, illustrate. This is the same concept that is brought out in his writing to the Philippians as he states “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name…” (Phil 2:9). Christ was being lifted up to the position of sovereign Ruler and the preeminent One and no one could compete for this position or status.
This is absolutely sobering. To know that we compete for this position brings shame, yet we match up for competition daily. Equally sobering is the fact that the love of God flows most graciously despite our competing. In ministry, it is easy to shift the focus to our messages, to the way that we are perceived, and sadly, to ourselves. May we be quick to understand and submit to the reality that it is not about the one delivering the message but that it is about Christ; He is the preeminent One that is deserving of all glory and honor.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Christ is the Firstborn of All Creation
Colossians 1:15
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation”
A while back, my father-in-law made a statement that doubled me over with laughter. I don’t recall the exact context of the discussion, but I’ll never forget what he said. He was speaking to my wife and made this comment “It’s your world; I’m just living in it.” He was referring to his willingness to adapt her circumstances, whatever they might have been at the time, as if to say “the world just revolves around you.” Obviously, he and my wife were joking with each other, as she is one of the most selfless people that I have ever met, but there is truth in that phrase… “It’s your world; I’m just living in it.”
After hearing and thinking on this comment, it is absolutely clear that it is just more than words. It is an attitude; even further, it is an attitude that we all have in common. Whether we have said it or not, we have all demonstrated this attitude of egocentricity when have wanted all eyes and schedules to be centered on us. It is evident in times like these that we fail to acknowledge who Christ is; we compete for a place of preeminence with Christ and even put ourselves on His level, when in reality we are so far down on the ladder that we cannot even be seen from Christ’s place of elevation.
The Bible makes this very clear in this section of Colossians (1:15). The verse states “He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Last week we looked at the first part of that verse and this week, we will look at the second half. Upon first glance of this, it seems that Scripture is indicating that Christ was the first to be created on the earth. Is this possible? If you take a look further in the same chapter, you will find that Christ is also given the descriptor of being “Creator of all things” (16). How can Christ be the first person to be created if He is the Creator?
Essentially, the word “firstborn,” in this context is not referring to act of being created first. Instead, it is referring to a place of prominence and power. This relates specifically to the Old Testament concept of the firstborn son within a family. Typically, the firstborn son of a Hebrew family would be the son that would inherit certain special privileges. However, there are some instances where the son does not have to be the first one born in order to have this status. Regardless, he would be the son that would replace the father as “head of the house” and in some cases, even receive a double portion as his inheritance. This is the reason that we see such deception from Jacob, as he wanted to achieve the birthright that was given to the firstborn son, Esau (Genesis 25).
When Paul was describing Christ as being the “firstborn of all creation,” he was not saying that Christ was the first one to be created, but that of all the things ever created and all things upon the earth, Christ is of highest rank and importance; he was stating that Christ was supreme over all things. This is an encompassing statement that includes you and me; Christ is supreme over us, regardless of what we think and, sometimes, illustrate. This is the same concept that is brought out in his writing to the Philippians as he states “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name…” (Phil 2:9). Christ was being lifted up to the position of sovereign Ruler and the preeminent One and no one could compete for this position or status.
This is absolutely sobering. To know that we compete for this position brings shame, yet we match up for competition daily. Equally sobering is the fact that the love of God flows most graciously despite our competing. In ministry, it is easy to shift the focus to our messages, to the way that we are perceived, and sadly, to ourselves. May we be quick to understand and submit to the reality that it is not about the one delivering the message but that it is about Christ; He is the preeminent One that is deserving of all glory and honor.
Happy Reading,
CBMaxwell
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Christ is the Image of the Invisible God
Refocus: Humility in Ministry
Christ is the Image of the Invisible God
Colossians 1:15
“He is the image of the Invisible God”
One concept that truly separates Christianity from any other religion across the face of the planet is our perception of Jesus. For instance, there are many religions and cults that hold the view that Christ was a prominent figure in history. There are even religions and cults that deem Christ as being prophetic and powerful in his speaking, and even provoke correction to wrongdoing. Yet, they fail to acknowledge Him as being truly who He is. The church at Colossae exemplifies this.
At Colossae, one of the primary religions that was upheld was that of Gnosticism. Within the realm of Gnosticism is the belief that God is good and matter is evil. Also within this view, they believe that Christ is just one of many emanations that have been sent from God, place Christ on a level with all the other emanations that descended. This, in itself, automatically discredited Christ from being who He truly was, as He was being compared with others that were on His same “level.” It has also been thought that with this belief came the concept that there needed to be a higher and deeper knowledge, beyond Scripture, that was needed for salvation.
This is the reason for the writing of Colossians. It has been thought that Paul had never actually visited the church, but when hearing of this, was prompted by the Spirit to write them. Thus, his reason for writing is two-fold. First, he wanted to make sure to correct this heresy that was being taught; he wanted to put an end to Gnosticism. He did not want to stop there; he wanted to correct the church in right doctrine. Because of this, it is easy to see the theme of the book as “the Supremacies of Christ.” Paul, throughout chapter one will focus on seven different supremacies of Christ in an attempt to define Christ to the Colossians.
In order to fully understand these different characteristics to be presented, it is important to begin reading just a bit earlier in the passage. Verse 13 states “for He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The “He” referenced within this passage is referring back to “the Father” mentioned in verse 12. It is also imperative to note that verse 13 shifts focus from speaking of the Father to speaking of the Son, as it states” …and has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Essentially, everything that will be stated after this point, through the end of the paragraph, will be concentrated upon the Son, Christ.
Now that that Paul has shifted focus, he will begin describing the different supremacies of Christ. He begins in verse 15 with this characteristics; the first of which is stated as “He is the image of the invisible God.” This passage, especially this verse, completely contradicts the theory that the longer you are a believer, the easier the Bible is to read. Essentially, this passage is one that requires much contemplation and meditation in order to find proper meaning and application. It is easy to look at the verse and think “OK, Christ is the image of the invisible God,” and move on. How much is missed if this is the case, though. There are so many passages throughout the Word of God that have a prerequisite for diligence in study as they are not fully understandable upon skimming.
Digging deeper, the word “image” presented in verse 15 suggests that Christ is the very likeness of God. Not only is He just God’s Son, He is the exact representation of who God is. Paul is indicating that Christ was more than just a prophet; Christ was more than just some emanation that descended from God; Christ is the exact image of who God is. To be more specific, Christ can be seen as deity wrapped in humanity. For instance, Christ was fully God, yet fully man. Through Christ, the invisible God was made visible. Christ truly was God; He is the express image of who God is (John 1:14, Phil 2:6). Hebrews provides insight into this concept as well, as the writer indicates that Christ is “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…” (Hebrews 1:3).
A chapter later in the book of Colossians, we find an even more direct statement that supports this same concept. Paul states “for in Him, all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form…” (Col. 2:9). Going back to the concept of Gnosticism, matter was taught to be evil while the spirit was good. In this case, Paul was blatantly refuting this teaching by stating that incarnation of Christ was a reality, and that Christ, in human form, was the very representation of who God was.
For believers, this adds such a sense of reality. It is so easy to get trite in our relationship with Christ, even to the point where we simply go through the motions and do everything right, but in reality, our hearts are not in the right place. Being reminded that Christ is the very image of God is something that seems to provide a staunch wake-up call. This is absolutely essential in ministry. The reality of Christ’s person should drive us daily.
Christ is the Image of the Invisible God
Colossians 1:15
“He is the image of the Invisible God”
One concept that truly separates Christianity from any other religion across the face of the planet is our perception of Jesus. For instance, there are many religions and cults that hold the view that Christ was a prominent figure in history. There are even religions and cults that deem Christ as being prophetic and powerful in his speaking, and even provoke correction to wrongdoing. Yet, they fail to acknowledge Him as being truly who He is. The church at Colossae exemplifies this.
At Colossae, one of the primary religions that was upheld was that of Gnosticism. Within the realm of Gnosticism is the belief that God is good and matter is evil. Also within this view, they believe that Christ is just one of many emanations that have been sent from God, place Christ on a level with all the other emanations that descended. This, in itself, automatically discredited Christ from being who He truly was, as He was being compared with others that were on His same “level.” It has also been thought that with this belief came the concept that there needed to be a higher and deeper knowledge, beyond Scripture, that was needed for salvation.
This is the reason for the writing of Colossians. It has been thought that Paul had never actually visited the church, but when hearing of this, was prompted by the Spirit to write them. Thus, his reason for writing is two-fold. First, he wanted to make sure to correct this heresy that was being taught; he wanted to put an end to Gnosticism. He did not want to stop there; he wanted to correct the church in right doctrine. Because of this, it is easy to see the theme of the book as “the Supremacies of Christ.” Paul, throughout chapter one will focus on seven different supremacies of Christ in an attempt to define Christ to the Colossians.
In order to fully understand these different characteristics to be presented, it is important to begin reading just a bit earlier in the passage. Verse 13 states “for He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The “He” referenced within this passage is referring back to “the Father” mentioned in verse 12. It is also imperative to note that verse 13 shifts focus from speaking of the Father to speaking of the Son, as it states” …and has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Essentially, everything that will be stated after this point, through the end of the paragraph, will be concentrated upon the Son, Christ.
Now that that Paul has shifted focus, he will begin describing the different supremacies of Christ. He begins in verse 15 with this characteristics; the first of which is stated as “He is the image of the invisible God.” This passage, especially this verse, completely contradicts the theory that the longer you are a believer, the easier the Bible is to read. Essentially, this passage is one that requires much contemplation and meditation in order to find proper meaning and application. It is easy to look at the verse and think “OK, Christ is the image of the invisible God,” and move on. How much is missed if this is the case, though. There are so many passages throughout the Word of God that have a prerequisite for diligence in study as they are not fully understandable upon skimming.
Digging deeper, the word “image” presented in verse 15 suggests that Christ is the very likeness of God. Not only is He just God’s Son, He is the exact representation of who God is. Paul is indicating that Christ was more than just a prophet; Christ was more than just some emanation that descended from God; Christ is the exact image of who God is. To be more specific, Christ can be seen as deity wrapped in humanity. For instance, Christ was fully God, yet fully man. Through Christ, the invisible God was made visible. Christ truly was God; He is the express image of who God is (John 1:14, Phil 2:6). Hebrews provides insight into this concept as well, as the writer indicates that Christ is “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature…” (Hebrews 1:3).
A chapter later in the book of Colossians, we find an even more direct statement that supports this same concept. Paul states “for in Him, all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form…” (Col. 2:9). Going back to the concept of Gnosticism, matter was taught to be evil while the spirit was good. In this case, Paul was blatantly refuting this teaching by stating that incarnation of Christ was a reality, and that Christ, in human form, was the very representation of who God was.
For believers, this adds such a sense of reality. It is so easy to get trite in our relationship with Christ, even to the point where we simply go through the motions and do everything right, but in reality, our hearts are not in the right place. Being reminded that Christ is the very image of God is something that seems to provide a staunch wake-up call. This is absolutely essential in ministry. The reality of Christ’s person should drive us daily.
Happy reading,
CBMaxwell
Monday, October 17, 2011
Introduction: The Need for Humility in Ministry
Within area of ministry, there is always the self-driven "need" for the minister to demonstrate their authority or position in a way that is solely for the purpose of self-glory. Though this may seem harsh, it is absolutely accurate, as it has the capability of consuming all within a position of such stature. No one is above it. However, this is something that is not new; it has been around, even since New Testament times and Christ's ministry.
For example, in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 10:35-40) we see the disciples James and John having a conversation with Christ. In this dialogue, the disciples are asking something of Christ: they ask to sit on both sides of Christ within His kingdom. It was evident that these men had a desire to use their current position for selfish gain. Though they may have desired this just to sit close to Christ, they were more concerned for their own place within the kingdom than with others'. Christ responds with an answer that is shocking, mainly to the secular world. He states that those who are recognized as rules use their titles to show authority, however, "it is not to be that way among you" (10:43). Rather, Christ describes the measure of greatness in servant hood..."whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the slave of all" (Mk 10:44). He finishes this discussion with the disciples by closing with his own personal example of coming into the world to serve the world by giving His life.
For the disciples and even us as believers, Christ had just prescribed a dose of humility for the terrible symptom of pride. Pride is something that is evident within all people; however, the way that it is seen can be different. For some, it is the feeling of self-entitlement (as the disciples thought that they deserved to sit next to Christ in His kingdom). For others, it is the need to continually compare themselves with others, or to even seek the praise of man in many areas. Regardless of which head is seen, pride ruins ministry. This is why Christ responds the way that He does to the disciples.
It is absolutely essential to view ourselves within the shoes of the disciples in this situation; rather than expecting to be served, we should be willing to serve with humility if mind. Philippians 2 serves as a command to regard one another as more important than ourselves, which is the absolute definition of humility and is brought to life through the sacrifice of Christ. However, for the believer, this is not something that comes naturally; it requires attention. This is the reason for this blog and series.
Throughout the study of Colossians 1:15-20, it is my desire to focus upon the a few key aspects of Christ as presented within the passage. By focusing upon these attributes, our goal should be to gain a better understanding of who Christ is while also gaining a better understanding of who we are. After concluding the study in Colossians, it is my desire to see how a proper perspective of Christ can be played out in ministry via a study through Philippians 2:1-11. By following the example of Christ, we will truly be able to see what it is to have Humility in Ministry; He is the standard.
Happy Reading
CBMaxwell
For example, in the Gospel of Mark (Mk 10:35-40) we see the disciples James and John having a conversation with Christ. In this dialogue, the disciples are asking something of Christ: they ask to sit on both sides of Christ within His kingdom. It was evident that these men had a desire to use their current position for selfish gain. Though they may have desired this just to sit close to Christ, they were more concerned for their own place within the kingdom than with others'. Christ responds with an answer that is shocking, mainly to the secular world. He states that those who are recognized as rules use their titles to show authority, however, "it is not to be that way among you" (10:43). Rather, Christ describes the measure of greatness in servant hood..."whoever wishes to be first among you shall be the slave of all" (Mk 10:44). He finishes this discussion with the disciples by closing with his own personal example of coming into the world to serve the world by giving His life.
For the disciples and even us as believers, Christ had just prescribed a dose of humility for the terrible symptom of pride. Pride is something that is evident within all people; however, the way that it is seen can be different. For some, it is the feeling of self-entitlement (as the disciples thought that they deserved to sit next to Christ in His kingdom). For others, it is the need to continually compare themselves with others, or to even seek the praise of man in many areas. Regardless of which head is seen, pride ruins ministry. This is why Christ responds the way that He does to the disciples.
It is absolutely essential to view ourselves within the shoes of the disciples in this situation; rather than expecting to be served, we should be willing to serve with humility if mind. Philippians 2 serves as a command to regard one another as more important than ourselves, which is the absolute definition of humility and is brought to life through the sacrifice of Christ. However, for the believer, this is not something that comes naturally; it requires attention. This is the reason for this blog and series.
Throughout the study of Colossians 1:15-20, it is my desire to focus upon the a few key aspects of Christ as presented within the passage. By focusing upon these attributes, our goal should be to gain a better understanding of who Christ is while also gaining a better understanding of who we are. After concluding the study in Colossians, it is my desire to see how a proper perspective of Christ can be played out in ministry via a study through Philippians 2:1-11. By following the example of Christ, we will truly be able to see what it is to have Humility in Ministry; He is the standard.
Happy Reading
CBMaxwell
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