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
Sunday, October 30, 2011
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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