12/11/18 TREASURE BLOG 10 - JESUS OVER CREATION (COLOSSIANS 1:16-17)

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COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY 10

COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 JESUS OVER CREATION

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

This week we continue studying from this poem/song of worship that runs from 1:15 to 1:20. 

The song begins by telling us that Jesus is the creator of all things - the old creation; it climaxes by telling us that He is the Saviour of all things - the new creation is coming!  In our last study we saw that Jesus was God made visible to us, in this study we see that Jesus is over all that He has created. 

All things created by, or in, Him

·      What things are said to have been created ‘in’ and ‘through’ Christ? 

·      What do you think was Paul’s motivation in telling us that all of these specific things have been created in and through Him?

·      Read Genesis 1:1:1-3. Along with the Father and the Son (the word) who else was involved in creation? 

All things for Him

Paul says that all things have been created ‘For Him’. This idea has massive implications. Paul is not saying that they were, in the past, created for Him but now things have got out of control! No, he is teaching that creation continues to be be ‘for Him’ or, in other words, to serve His desires and will. 

·     How would this idea have been of comfort to Paul as he writes from his prison cell?

·     How can this truth, that all things created for Jesus, be a huge comfort to us? 

The cross was ‘for Him’ (For Jesus)

We could choose many examples from scripture, but the death of Christ was the worst evil in human history and yet was ‘for Him’ – the people and circumstances served His desire and will. 

·     What does Acts 2:23 and 4:27-28 says about God’s control and people’s guilt in the death of Christ?

Finally, read this quote by Charles Hodge on God’s control of all of creation. 

‘This sovereignty of God is the ground of peace and confidence to all his people. They rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; that neither necessity, nor chance, nor the folly of man, nor the malice of Satan controls the sequence of events and all their issues. Infinite wisdom, love, and power, belong to Him, our great God and Saviour, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed.’

RESONSE

The truth of God’s control of all things (sovereignty) can raise lots of questions, and studying this subject will help all of us. But, in the end, today and right now, we all need to decide to implicitly trust in God’s rule. Come hell or high water, and these come to all of us, the only place to stand in the flood in on God! Let’s respond by offering God our faith and asking for grace to remain faithful. 

DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

WEEK 10 - JESUS OVER CREATION

MONDAY – JESUS, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Colossians 1:16-17For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The words, ‘in Him…heaven and earth’ are used to link Jesus toGenesis 1:1 where we are told, 

‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ 

Interestingly and mysteriously, In Colossians 1:18, Jesus is said to be ‘the beginning’ in which God created all things! 

Paul uses the two all encompassing phrases: ‘heaven and earth’ and ‘visible and invisible’ to magnify Jesus; there’s no nothing in the universe or spiritual realms that were not created by God through Christ (and in concert with the Spirit). John proclaims, 

John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

This verse is enough to dismiss any false teaching about Jesus being created; through Jesus ALL THINGS WERE CREATED! 

The author of Hebrews writes,

Hebrews 1:2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

In the book of Genesis, we see that Adam was put in the Garden to ‘work it and take care of it’(Genesis 2:15); and he was set the task of naming the animals (Genesis 2:19) but, he creates nothing! Only God can truly create, which is to bring something out of nothing; and if you think it sounds hard for God to make something out of nothing, just imagine how hard it would be for nothing to create something, which is what you get if you don’t believe in God!

RESONSE

How often do you go out into nature, and when you do so, do you look for the glory of Christ? When was the last time you contemplated the seas, the stars… in order to be inspired in your admiration of Jesus? We read in Psalm 19, 

Psalm 19:1-4The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voicegoes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

TUESDAY – JESUS, CREATOR OF THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE 

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Mankind is attracted to the spiritual and mystical like a moth to a flame. We are physical and spiritual beings who, having lost connection with God, are constantly drawn to the unearthly. Jesus came into the world to show God and bring us back to God. Oftentimes in our pursuit of peace and an encounter with the spiritual, we can be attracted to false religion and methods that are not focussed on Christ. This is what Paul is confronting in this letter. 

Paul, having said that all things were created ‘in Him’ (in Jesus) he adds that Jesus created the ‘visible and invisible’ - the physical and metaphysical (spiritual) world. 

He includes this term (visible and invisible) to remind us that the realm of God, angels and demons etc. does exist; but, principally, he is reminding them (and us) that Jesus is Lord and creator of this realm. The Colossian church were being influenced by false teachers who seemed to have encouraged the worship of angels. As we read,

Colossians 2:18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

We can all be attracted by talk of religious experiences, methods of contacting the spiritual, contacting the dead, angels, demons, honouring images, ‘saints’… In many contexts, candles, music, lights and smoke machines…are trusted as the way of encountering the spiritual or God. Like Paul, let us emphasise Christ as ‘the only mediator between man and God’ (1 Tim. 2:5). 

RESPONSE

Let’s not honour the ‘visible and invisible’ above Jesus and the gospel. Don’t allow your happiness to depend upon how much you have and how well your life seems to be going. Don’t base your joy on feelings, spiritual experiences, fear and depression. Look to Christ. Trust in Him and His death to reconcile you. Through Him God is present. Though Him you have peace with God. Through Him you can ask to be filled with His presence by the Spirit and He will do it. But of this you can be sure, any true experience of the Holy Spirit will turn you toward and raise up Christ in your heart and mind. As you lead yourself, or if you lead anyone else, let’s put Jesus front and centre. 

WEDNESDAY – JESUS, CREATOR OF THRONES, POWERS, RULERS AND AUTHORITIES 

Colossians 1:16-17For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus not only created the earth and universe, He also created all things in the unseen, spiritual realm. Paul elaborates on things invisible as he states that Jesus created the ‘thrones or powers or rulers or authorities’.These terms relate to angel powers whether good or evil. Paul is lumping them all together and saying that these forces are not to be feared or worshipped. 

Angels don’t want our focus

The angel powers want nothing of your attention. They forever worship Christ and long for us to do the same. As we read,

Revelation 22:8-9I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

Dark forces want to distract us

The devil and demonic powers, however, want nothing more than our fear and attention – anything to detract from Jesus and joy, as we read in this episode in Jesus life,

Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

Join the Angel’s amazement of Christ

Peter writes that the angels are amazed at Jesus and His plan of salvation through the gospel. We read, 

1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them (the prophets) that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.

The Colossian church were being taught to honour spiritual powers besides or even above Jesus. Let’s join the angels as they ‘long to look into these things’ – Long to gaze on Christ and His grace for us. 

RESPONSE

The church to whom Hebrews was written, like the Colossians, had an excessive estimation of angels. They were in danger of mistakenly equating Jesus to an angel (a created spiritual being). 

Hebrews 1:1-4In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The ‘inheriting’ of His superior name, is declaring that after His death for sin, Jesus has, again, been restored in glory and rank as we read,

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. 

Let’s worship the one who ‘created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities’, who died, rose again, has the name above all names. He alone is worthy!

THURSDAY – ALL THINGS CREATED THROUGH AND FOR JESUS

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus has not created the world and then left it to its own devices (deism). All creation – heavens, earth, visible and invisible, are ‘for Him’ – they continue to serve His desires and purposes. We read something similar in Romans,

Romans 11:36For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

In our lives, and in a world where pain and suffering are so prevalent, how can all things be created ‘for Him’? 

The alternative is that some things don’t fulfil His will. Jesus is not in control. History is like a lorry, hurtling down a hill without any brakes – such a vision is not comforting! 

In the short space we have, here are two examples of how all, even evil, serve Jesus – is ‘for Him’. 

The example of Joseph was ‘for Him’ (For Jesus)

Joseph’s brothers hated, were jealous, tried to kill, and finally sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:4-28) 

Genesis 37:28So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekelsof silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

These circumstances would have been perplexing for Joseph and for his grieving father and mother; and yet even these things were ‘for Him’(serve God). Later Joseph could say, 

Genesis 50:20“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

The cross was ‘for Him’ (For Jesus)

Jesus’ death, and the details surrounding it, even the evil actions of people, were planned by God. It was ‘for Him’. 

Acts 4:27-28Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided (predestined) beforehand should happen. 

Although people were responsible for their evil choices, even these, mysteriously, were under God’s will and were ‘for Him’.

Acts 2:23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

Charles Hodge wrote,

‘This sovereignty of God is the ground of peace and confidence to all his people. They rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; that neither necessity, nor chance, nor the folly of man, nor the malice of Satan controls the sequence of events and all their issues. Infinite wisdom, love, and power, belong to Him, our great God and Saviour, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed.’

RESPONSE

Trusting that God is both good and in control is the path of peace, and is faithful to the teaching of the bible.Pain and grief come to all of us. It’s said, and it’s true, that time is a healer; I would add that time and trust are healing. Only by continuing to trust in God’s love, rule and purposes over all creation can we find a firm foundation. It’s called faith. 

A darker night has never been experienced that when Jesus was betrayed. We could think that the devil was in control as we read that ‘Satan entered Judas’ (Luke 22:3). But how wrong we would be to glorify these dark powers as having ultimate control; these things occurred under God’s will and plan for the salvation of the world.

Will you trust that ‘all things have been created through him and for him’? Will you confess the following over your circumstances?

Romans 8:28, 38-39  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

FRIDAY – JESUS, CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS

Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

As we continue in our study of the hymn to Christ (1:15-20) we come to a phrase which answers the question, ‘why is there something rather than nothing?’ We are told that the ‘heavens, earth, visible, invisible’ angelic and demonic powers continue to exist because of Jesus – ‘in him all things hold together.’

I was recently in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival. In the street was a man on a ten-foot high unicycle juggling with fire! The crowds were amazed that he could do some hard things at the same time; Jesus does all the things at the same time! 

We read something similar in Hebrews and Nehemiah, 

Hebrews 1:3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

Nehemiah 9:6"You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you" 

Whatever laws of physics there are. Whatever forces seem to hold atoms together. Whatever particles found and yet to be discovered there may be, they are all kept in existence by the word of Christ. 

RESPONSE

The days of our lives are in God’s hands.The Psalmist writes, ‘all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be’ (Ps. 139:16). Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:29-30). 

God has gifted us with salvation and, whilst He sustains, time to know and serve Him. Use this text to re-dedicate your life to Him. 

1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.