I have been loving our Colossians Bible Study series that we’ve been doing on our Youtube Channel this month! As we are now about half way through the book of Colossians, I want to start writing out and highlighting a few main points that have been discussed. First, let’s examine the context. Context is always crucial in order to fully grasp what the biblical authors are saying and why they are saying it.
If you have not already watched it, you can watch our first video session (click link) of this series that explains the full context of this letter. The video further explains how we know this context, but for now let’s just list out what we know. We know that the apostle Paul wrote this letter, from prison, to the church at Colossae. He wrote this letter in response to a concern that his friend, Epaphras, had about false teachings trying to invade the church. Epaphras was a man who studied under Paul after hearing him preach the Gospel. He then went and planted this church in his home town of Colossae. Paul had never been to this church, but he loved them and had concern for them.
Knowing all of this helps us understand why Paul wrote some of the things in this letter. For instance, Paul wrote a lot about who Jesus is and what He has accomplished on the cross. The reason behind this was so that the church would continue to cling to the Gospel of Jesus, instead of turning away to other beliefs. Paul wanted to continually show his audience how sufficient their faith in Jesus was. The church needed nothing added to this Gospel and neither do we. Let’s examine, from Paul’s words, how amazing Jesus is and what His cross has done.
“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17)
In Day 3 of our Colossians study, we discussed the preeminence of Jesus. Paul plainly showed us that everything revolves around Jesus. All things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him. All powers and all authority came from Jesus. Nothing came before Him and He sustains all things. These were heavy words from Paul that were meant to open this church’s eyes to see that Jesus truly was the Son of God and their Savior. Paul then began showing them what the cross had done for them.
“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” (Colossians 1:21-22)
Day 4 of our Colossians study unpacked the amazing beauty that is in these verses about the cross of Christ. We were once alienated from God because of our sin. We all were hostile in mind and doing evil deeds. God requires a perfection that we cannot attain no matter how much effort we exert. Therefore, we would have continued to be alienated from God forever without a divine intervention. Enter the cross of Jesus Christ.
Jesus lived a perfect life to achieve the perfection that God requires. His death was in our place to be a final sacrifice for us. Where animal sacrifices were once used to outwardly cleanse sinners temporarily, the Son of God was sacrificed to inwardly cleanse sinners forever. If in Christ, all sin is covered by His blood. Peace with a perfect God is now attainable by faith.
Picture yourself standing as you are before God. If God looked to you, outside of Christ, He would see sin and imperfection. The justified result of that imperfection would be eternal separation from God. Now picture the blood of Christ covering you like a blanket. If God then looked to you, He would see the blanket of His Son’s blood. He would see perfection. Paul says that He now sees us as holy, blameless, and above reproach. The result of this perfection is heaven and the ability to be in God’s holy and perfect Presence! This is a free gift that we did not ask for and that we do not deserve!
Walk in what the cross has accomplished. Paul will show us even more glorious truth about the cross as we continue on in our Colossians study. Thank God today that you are covered by the blood of Jesus. The One who made everything and sustains everything decided to take on flesh to bring you to God. That is not an ordinary sentence so do not treat it as such! This Gospel is sufficient. This cross is enough for you. Join us as we continue our video series through the book of Colossians!