The Epistle to the Colossians

1. Col 1:19 – “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,” For, what is it there for? What enters your mind when you think of the heavenly Father being pleased? ‘the Father that’ is hoti - a conjunction simply meaning that Thus, ‘the Father’ is not in the original translation. 1 Chron 28:4 - “However the Lord God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen Judah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. How do we best interpret this passage? Does this relate only to David. in Him Matt 3:17 - And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1: 19,20 The Work of Christ: Its Description 1 Mar 31, 2019 Bob Eckel

2. beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This occurred immediately after Jesus was baptized, Peter states this again, 2 Peter 1:17 - For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” That in Him all the fullness should dwell fullness or plērōma, denoting the totality of the divine powers and attributes. The Gnostics felt that this was just one of many manifestations of God, e.g. creation, and had no special relevance. dwell or katoikeō, to be at home permanently or make abode. Therefore, Christ is the eternal manifestation and home for all of God’s fullness (attributes). What about His earthly dwelling? Wuest –‘at home in the sense that this divine fulness was not something added to His Being that was not natural to Him, but that it was part of His essential Being as part of His very constitution, and that permanently. The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1: 19,20 The Work of Christ: Its Description 2 Mar 31, 2019 Bob Eckel

3. Did Christ’s divine power exist before His resurrection? See verse 18 Eph 1:22,23 - And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. 1 Tim 2:5 - For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, John 5:20 - “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. And we are identified with this fullness! John 1:16 - And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. What do you think about when you are told that we are so identified? Righteousness, wisdom, power, and every blessing? And the temple is not a structure but is us. 1 Cor 6:19 - Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1: 19,20 The Work of Christ: Its Description 3 Mar 31, 2019 Bob Eckel

4. Col 1:20 – “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” In some translations, having made peace …. precedes and by Him … Is this order important? Which do you prefer? Does Christ reconcile all things to Himself or to the Father? What does it mean to reconcile? reconcile – bring back a state of harmony Wuest – ‘A holy God is reconciled in that justice has been satisfied at the Cross, and sinful man is reconciled in that, in the case of the believing sinner, his attitude of enmity towards God is changed to one of friendship.’ McCalley and reconciliation: The Need: man is a sinner The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1: 19,20 The Work of Christ: Its Description 4 Mar 31, 2019 Bob Eckel

5. The Standard: God Himself The Means: The cross of Jesus Christ The Basis: Jesus Christ identified with sinners and took our place The Change: New position before God The Condition: Our faith The Responsibility: Our witness In summary: 2 Cor 5:18,19 - Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, hat is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. And we have a responsibility to abide. 2 Cor 5:20 - Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. and things, whether on earth or heaven? Including all that is lost in eternity? The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1: 19,20 The Work of Christ: Its Description 5 Mar 31, 2019 Bob Eckel

6. No, but He brings them into subjection to His will. Eph 1:10 - that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Good angels too but not the fallen ones. Jude 1:6 - And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; having made peace through the blood of His cross. And it must be the cross! Heb 9:12 - Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. making peace or eiro(aorist active participle) - binding things together Here sinful man and a Holy God! 2 Cor 5:21 - For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The Epistle to the Colossians Col 1: 19,20 The Work of Christ: Its Description 6 Mar 31, 2019 Bob Eckel