GOD DID IT ALL!

Col. 1:13-23

All around us people are proposing legalistic solutions to the problem of our separation from God.

[Are we good enough? How much more will it take?]

If we’re “good enough,” God will recognize our efforts and let us into heaven, or at least like us better!

How do we respond to people who propose a legalistic solution to our struggle to be O.K. with God?

In Colossians, Paul faces the Judaizers–cult doing greatest harm in his day.

Judaizers believe Christ’s death, by itself, isn’t enough to save us, or make us right with God.

Something else—some effort on our part—must be necessary.

... if not to be saved, at least for our walk with God—to be totally acceptable to Him!

Paul demonstrates: God has already done EVERYTHING for us.

PAUL’S PRAYER for them 1:3-23

HIS THANKSGIVING for them 1:3-8

He thanks God for work already apparent in them.

Thanksgiving isn’t because of their works.

It’s because of the evidence of God’s grace—because of what He’s done for them.

That grace is evident by their faith, their love, and their hope.

His petition for them (and for us!) 1:9-23

● His request: that we might know God's will 1:9

–be controlled by the knowledge of what He wants to do

● His purpose: that we might walk worthily 1:10-23

–walk in a way that is worthy of Him and pleasing to Him

♦ Bearing fruit 1:10a

♦ Growing in knowledge of Him 1:10b

♦ Being strengthened 1:11

♦ Giving thanks to the Father 1:12-23

In confronting legalism, Paul puts his finger on the problem:

WE FAIL TO APPRECIATE ALL GOD HAS DONE FOR US.

He urges us to thank God for all He has done–to make us conscious of it.

A man who owned a small estate wished to sell it.

When the realtor got the ad ready, he read it to him. "Read that again," said the owner.

=> "I don't think I’ll sell, I’ve been looking for a place like this all my life.”

As we thank God for what He’s done, our awareness of His provision increases.

=> FOUR REASONS TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD 1:12b-23

As we consider 4 blessings, which merit our gratitude, we should ask 3 questions about each of them:

Who did it? God

When did He do it? Time past

What’s the role of the law in this work? Absent

Correspond to FOUR PROBLEMS WE USED TO HAVE: We were:

1) Without inheritance 1:12; Eph. 2:19

2) Subject to the dominion of darkness 1:13; Eph. 2:1-3

3) Guilty because of our sin 1:14; Eph. 2:13-16

4) Alienated from God 1:21; Eph. 2:12-13

We used to be enemies of God, condemned because of our sin and rebellion.

God changed all that.

He’s given us a new state, not based on law, but on His work in us.

What has God done for us? [First = 1:12 ]

■ WE THANK HIM FOR QUALIFYING US FOR THE INHERITANCE 1:12

Thank God for making us qualified to participate in the inheritance!

We never fulfilled the requirements to participate in the inheritance of God’s people.

We enjoy it because God did what’s necessary in us.

Doesn’t indicate that we’ve become worthy; but that He made us eligible.

Previously we were far removed from citizenship in Israel,

left out of the promises God made to His people,

foreigners–even enemies–of God’s people.

Now, in Christ, we are co-heirs, co-members, co-participants with rest of God’s people

Our gratitude is NOT for the inheritance itself,

but for having made us capable of receiving it.

I.e., we’re thankful for what He has done IN US.

[Second work God did in us: 1:13a ]

■ WE THANK HIM FOR RESCUING US FROM DARKNESS

Inheritance is for those walking in the light (1:12b).

But we weren’t walking in light; we were walking in darkness and subject to its authority.

God freed us from the dominion of the shadows.

We were slaves under Satan’s power, but now we’re free from His power

He no longer has authority over us.

[Leads into 3^rd reason for giving thanks to God: 1:13b ]

■ WE THANK GOD FOR BRINGING US INTO HIS KINGDOM 1:13b-20

Opposite perspective: through finished work of Christ, God made us citizens of His beloved Son’s kingdom,

We’ve changed from enemies and foreigners, to family—people loved by God.

Our citizenship is changed. Christ reigns in the heart of those who trust Christ.

How did God bring about this change? 1:14

It’s accomplished by redemption => purchase of slave from marketplace.

Man returning from Africa tells about Colossians 1:13. The words "has delivered us," are rendered, "has taken our heads out!" They had lived in terrible slavery. Huge iron collars attached to heavy chains were placed around their necks. They dared not strain to get away because the cruel collars bruised their throats and choked them. When set free, they were released from those iron bands. Deliverance from power of Satan, is like that, "Jesus has taken our heads out!"

Major issue in our redemption is forgiveness of sins.

Forgiveness frees us from the debt we owed to God.

God freed us, because of work Christ finished on the cross.

Why do we keep struggling to add something, as if it somehow depends on us?

When we begin thanking Him for these things, we realize that He has already provided everything we need.Nothing’s missing for us to provide!

[Mention of all God has done for us forces Paul to focus on Christ's role in God's provision.]

We’re reminded of Who He is and what He has done for us.

Cults use what Paul wrote to exalt Jesus and give Him prominence, to demonstrate that Jesus isn’t God.

Paul never intended that any of these descriptions should limit Christ in any way!

Uses every possible description to show that Christ is God and He has done everything for us.

HIS PERSON—WHO IS JESUS?

Little boy asked by mother about S.S. class. "We had a new teacher. I think it’s Jesus' grandmother."

"What made you think that?" "All she did was show us pictures of Jesus and tell stories about Him."

1. Jesus is the image of the invisible God 15a

Demonstrates His relationship with God. “Image“ conveys two ideas:

(1) Likeness—used in process of making coins.

Original pressed in soft, wax-like substance.

After hardening, it’s used as mold to make copies.

(2) Revelation—Copy reveals nature of original:

Christ reveals nature of the invisible God for us to see what He is like (John 1:18).

2. Jesus is the firstborn over all creation 15b

Before examining expression itself, three observations should be made:

(1) Paul’s PURPOSE is to EXALT Christ; NEVER to limit Him.

(2) “Firstborn” never used to emphasize born.

Never used to prove someone was born.

Focus always on FIRST–demonstrates that person is first => primary heir.

Jesus is NUMBER 1, above all who form part of creation.

(3) Not used to identify Christ with creation, but distinguish Him from creation.

“What does firstborn mean? 3 related meanings. All introduce some aspect of our Lord:

(1) Precedence. Christ existed before all creation came into being.

(2) Superiority. He is first. He is NUMBER ONE over all of creation.

(3) Inheritance. In Israelite family firstborn was heir of everything

3. Jesus is the One for Whom All Creation was made 16

As Creator and as One for Whom it was made, Jesus is OWNER of all that’s created.

Impossible for Him to be one of the things made.

He’s the One who made EVERYTHING.

4. Jesus is eternal. 17

Doesn’t prove He’s eternal; demonstrates that He existed before every created thing.

Paul is trying to distinguish Him from everything else in the universe.

He isn’t part of it! He was there before it!

5. Jesus is the Head of the church 18a

He has authority over all God’s people. He is sovereign.

6. Jesus is the Beginning 18b

He’s the “point of origin”—the source—of everything that exists.

It all comes from and revolves around Him

7. Jesus is the firstborn from among the dead 18c

Christ was first to be resurrected.

As such He has authority over the dead, and over death itself.

8. Jesus is Supreme—He has supremacy over everything 18d

Deserves 1^st place, over universe, over all created things, over God’s people, over my life

9. The totality of God dwells in Jesus 19 most important in list!

It hasn’t made a big impression because we don’t understand it!

“God” (NIV), or “the Father” (NAS), isn’t in original text.

Added by translators to help us understand meaning.

Clarifies author’s intent to indicate God is being discussed; makes expression more difficult

Central expression = “all the fullness.”

Fullness refers to “totality” or “perfection.”–what’s “complete” or “perfect.”

“The Perfect One” was pleased to dwell in Him.

=> all that God is was in Christ. God decided to reside in Jesus.

Reaffirmed in 2:9: “in Christ the totality of God dwells in bodily form!”

Uniting affirmations, we must ask, “Of whom can we affirm everything said about Christ in this passage?” ONLY GOD!

Who is Christ? God Himself, revealing Himself to humanity in a visible form.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Heb. 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

THE TOTALITY OF GOD DWELLS IN JESUS

HIS WORK—WHAT HAS JESUS DONE?

1. Jesus redeemed us 14a

With His blood Christ paid price to obtain our freedom from slavery to sin.

2. Jesus forgave us 14b

With His blood He obtained the forgiveness of our sins.

Only on basis of this price, could God be BOTH just and Forgiver (Rom. 3:24-26).

3. Jesus created everything 16

Everything on earth and everything in the heavens was created by Him.

4. Jesus holds everything together 17

After He created it, God didn’t go off and leave it to do its own thing.

Creation isn’t like a big clock God winds up and goes off and lets run itself.

He sustains and controls everything today also.

We can trust laws of science to work, precisely because He maintains it all.

Little girl concluded prayer: "Dear God, take care of Daddy and Mommy, take care of my baby brother, Grandma, and Grandpa...and please, God, take care of yourself, or else we're all sunk!"

5. Jesus controls everything that happens among His people 18

Head directs all parts of the body. It sends out instructions.

That’s how Christ functions as Head of the church.

He controls body, giving instructions to each member, according to His plan.

6. Jesus reconciled everything 20-22

He brought all the things which were alienated by sin back into harmony with Himself

God provided way for all creation to be at peace again–with Him and with one another.

Christ provided way people of all kinds, without distinction based on social status, race, national origin, or sex, can be at peace.

7. Jesus will present us to the Father holy and blameless 22

When we arrive before God, we will stand before Him just as Christ Himself does, without shortcoming, because God will see us in Christ.

What more do we need?

CHRIST HAS DONE IT ALL!

WE LACK NOTHING!

WHO IS HE? GOD HIMSELF!

WHAT HAS HE DONE? EVERYTHING!

Jesus, the One Who gave us this provision, is God Himself.

All that God is was present in Him.

When He died an adequate price was paid to reconcile all things to God.

NOTHING MORE IS NEEDED.

A man wanting to buy a vacant house was particularly struck by one room he wished to turn into a study; but he objected to a cupboard in the corner.

"I will remove it," he said. "No, you won't," was the reply. "But I can do what I like if I buy the house,"

"You cannot do what you like with that cupboard," answered the realtor.

"Why not?" he asked. "Is it protected by a clause in the deed?" "No, it’s not on the deed; it’s on the plan. You cannot take away the cupboard without taking down the house, it’s part of the structure."

If we take away Christ, we destroy the whole structure of Christianity.

How do we respond to people who tell us Christ’s work is good–it’s part of the picture–but not enough? Surely we must do something to deserve eternal life!

[The final reason we give thanks to God when we think of all He’s done for us:

Introduced by last of the things Jesus did: 1:21-23

■ WE THANK HIM FOR RECONCILING US BY JESUS’ DEATH 1:21-23

Previously, like all pagan gentiles, we were far removed from God, with no hope of ever coming near, and no desire to do so.

Our attitude toward God was hostile.

Even while we had that attitude, God demonstrated His love for us in that Christ died for us

We didn’t deserve it but God chose to do it.

Now we have hope of eternal life because we’ve trusted in Jesus.

Recognizing how much God has done, we give Him thanks.

When we thank Him for all He has done for us, we realize He has already provided everything we need. NOTHING IS LACKING!

Passage points to security we have when we trust Christ instead of our efforts; how could it be used to introduce doubt about the security of our salvation?

Verse 23 is sometimes applied that way.How should we understand this verse?

Underline three key words: FAITH, HOPE, and GOSPEL.

“WORKS” aren’t mentioned! The question has to do with our faith–what are we trusting?

It’s always legitimate to ask ourselves whether we’re going to continue in the faith.

However, observe that this “continuation” is always based on faith; NEVER on works of any kind.

Neither we nor they could ever DO anything that would cost us our salvation.

Second observation about this verse is related to the kind of condition used.

“If you continue . . . ,” supposes we will continue.

It could be legitimately translated: “Since you will continue . . . .”

Christ will present us holy, without blemish, and free from accusation,

because we will continue established and firm in our faith.

This conforms to John’s message that those who truly trust Christ do in fact remain.

Those who don’t continue, give testimony that they never belonged to Christ (1 John 2:19).

This is “good news”: Those who truly trust Christ DO remain established and firmly based in their faith because God has already done everything for us. WE LACK NOTHING!

So then, what can WE add?

All we can do is trust Him

—not as a work, not as something we deserve, but as a recognition of the truth,

and then praise Him for such a great salvation!

Summary: THREE REASONS TO BE SURE OF SECURITY OF OUR SALVATION:

1. AGENT of our salvation: GOD HIMSELF

2. BASIS of our salvation: WORK OF CHRIST (already completed)

3. CONTINUATION of our salvation:

People who trust Jesus CONTINUE in Jesus!

Paul’s statement is an assumption that their faith IS genuine.

Those who are genuinely trusting Christ are saved FOREVER, because GOD has already done EVERYTHING to assure the continuity of that salvation.

That’s the greatness of the Gospel! That’s GOOD NEWS!

GOD HAS ALREADY DONE EVERYTHING FOR ME!

If He has already done everything, we have no reason to doubt, nor to fear what future may bring.

We just make sure we’ve trusted Him.

=> We praise Him for what He has already done for us.

=> Then we live like new creatures that He has made us

We have much to be grateful for.

Rest of book looks at the logical consequences of this truth,

If Christ is God, . . .

If He has already done everything, and we lack nothing, . . .” Then, what should we do?