Journal Col 1 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
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.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Col 1:15-20
Observation: Sometimes I forget to understand how completely superior, how completely sovereign Jesus is. I get sucked into the common perception of what and who Jesus is and neglect his absolute fullness of preeminence.
Analysis: Lately I have been hearing (again) about the eternal conflict, and who the battle involves. It does not involve God v. Satan, Jesus v. Satan, or any kind of invisible power Dualism. It kind of involves Good v. Evil, but even that description is too broad and not focused enough on the facts.
Here is the eternal conflict: The Triune God v. Traitors and Rebels against his Eternal Supremacy over all things.
Before any discussions about the Eternal Conflict and the imagined combatants should begin, I think the line-up and the statistics need to be considered.
- “In him (Jesus) were all things created.” All things. Even the heavenly host (including the rebellious angels like Lucifer). Check “complete supremacy.”
- “…in heaven and on earth, visible AND invisible, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authority…” Check again “complete supremacy”, but this time defined minutely so there is NO misunderstanding the extent of Jesus’ supremacy.
- All things were created BY Jesus. Check “omnipotence.”
- All things were created FOR Jesus. Check “creator.”
- Nothing is rated “before” Jesus. He is the First, Head of all things. Not “first” like 1 then 2 then 3, but first in that He is primary, he is the foremost, he is FUNDAMENTAL to everything.
- “In him all things hold together…” Nuclear explosion consists of fundamentally breaking the bond that holds an atom’s nucleus intact. Think about it: Jesus holds all the universe’s nuclei intact by the Word of His power.
And all this for what? Two things:
- Demonstrated and Recognized preeminence. None of this was done to boast of His Preeminence, or to prove Preeminence, nor for us to be forced to acknowledge His Preeminence, for He is Preeminent. All by his lonesome. That is what he is: Preeminent, Superior, Supreme, Sovereign.
- By eternal, before creation, plan: He reconciles all things to Himself. Creation had to be shown through Judgment and Condemnation that the only thing that Creation deserves is the Wrath of God because of Rebellion and Traitorous ways. But His intention was to be the Reconciler, to wrap up the Salvation of all Creation through His Blood.
I wouldn’t have considered that solution; I would have started all over. God showed us the futility of that through Noah—the tainted seed of Adam continued. Man needed to have his Operating System overwritten (be born again if you understand that better). Jesus provided for that on the Cross.
The point for me to keep in front of my noggin is “get the fundamentals right.” Don’t let myths, unsubstantiated so-called biblical theory (like any taint of Dualism in our conversations or thoughts) keep us from searching more of Him through His word. That is what was being conveyed through Ps 119 recently.
Prayer: Just like sports, everyday success can come from just doing the basics, the fundamentals, right.
Father: keep me on the straight and level in You. Preaching and talking and singing about the Gospel.
AMEN
Rick Sutton