In HIM: All Things Hold Together

                                              IN HIM: All Things Hold Together 

When we follow the domestic and global news, one cannot help but feel as if our world as we know it is falling apart at the seams. We would like to know if there is anyone who could repair the world's broken systems and hold them together so that we can live in relative peace and security. It has been challenging for Christians everywhere, especially those living in a pluralistic and secular society, to hold on to our Faith in God, particularly in Jesus and His redemptive work.

These challenges are not new; Christians of past generations have faced them as well. How did they handle those heretical views about Christ? We will ask the Colossian Christians, in particular, as they faced the heresy of denying Christ’s divinity, which threatened their Church in Colossae. They must have been blessed to have had the Apostle Paul on their side, who combated this damning heresy with a strong defense of Christ's divinity. In our 'In Him' series, we will explore how All Things Hold Together In Christ. Colossians 1:15-23.

Let us address two complex concepts in Col 1:15, "The Son is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." First, Jesus Christ is presented as the image of the invisible God. The Greek word "eikon," translated as "image," refers to that which resembles an object and represents it. Eikon always assumes a prototype, not merely what it resembles, but from which it is drawn. For instance, the reflection of the sun in the water is called by Plato Eikon.

 Paul's teaching here is that there was not a mere coincidental resemblance between Jesus Christ and his Father, but they were eternally related to one another. The One was the reflection of the Other, who was real and not merely the figment of our imagination. This is even though God is invisible. That which is invisible, nevertheless, can be and is real. John 1:18, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." In other words, seeing Jesus is equivalent to seeing God.

The second Word, 'firstborn,' is used twice in Col. 1:15 and 18. What it means here is that Christ holds the same relation to all creation as God the Father, and He is above all creation. It does not mean that He is part of the creation made by God, but that the relation of the whole creation to Him was determined by the fact that He is the cause of the creation of all things, and without Him, there could be no creation. Let's see how this concept is clarified in verse sixteen.

I. The Supremacy Of Jesus Christ

            Have you ever wondered how everything began—the universe with its vast number of galaxies and stars within them, the beautiful Earth with all its wonders and intricacies, and, above all, human life that lives and enjoys these lovely things? When you ask such a question, we will hear several arguments from scientists, evolutionists, biologists, philosophers, and religious leaders. As a shepherd, I approach the question of how it all began from the Scriptures.

Colossians 1:16, "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." To find out who this Him was, we will read John 1:1-5,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

 

 

John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The Word that once was with God and was God in the beginning, at the right time, was incarnated in the world in human form. We call Him Jesus Christ, our Lord. He was the one who created all that we see and don't see: plants, animals, oceanic life, the cosmic wonders, and humans.

The Apostle Paul debunked the heretical teaching that Christ was not God but a created being by affirming that all things have been created through Jesus and for Jesus. He went one step further by including thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities, which are various categories of angelic beings that were also created by Jesus and for Jesus.

In his letter to the Ephesians Church, Paul prays that the believers would be enlightened. And they might experience "the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:20-23.

Through both these letters, Paul silenced the heretics and skeptics by placing Jesus in the highest place over everything. Thereby, he established once and for all that Jesus is the only supreme God. No one would be a match for Him, for He has all the power and authority.

If everything has been created by Jesus and for Jesus, how about you and I? We, too, have been fearfully and wonderfully created by God, and we are made for Him. The Psalmist sums up the response of creation and all its creatures to their Creator. Psalm 148:1-14.

"Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command, they were created, and he established them forever. He issued a decree that will never pass away. Kings of the Earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on Earth, young men and women, older men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;  his splendor is above the Earth and the heavens." Let's examine another bold proclamation by Paul.

II In Him: All Things Hold Together

Colossians 1:17-18, "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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." These scriptures indicate that Jesus, the Supreme God, is not only the Creator of everything but also the sustainer of everything. 

When we feel overwhelmed, thinking that the whole world, including our personal world, is falling apart, let us take heart. Jesus, the one who spoke and everything came into existence, knows how to hold things together until He comes back and establishes His eternal Kingdom.

Jesus is the head of the Church, His body on the Earth. We are members of his body. When Jesus is the center of our lives, we are together. When we move away, we will fall apart. Jesus is committed to making us holy and presenting us to the Father without any blemish.

That is the good news. We have heard it and responded to it by placing our trust in Him.

            At times, we may not understand why we go through difficult times, but during such times, let's trust Him to know that He will hold all things together in our lives. I have been a Christian for over forty years. All these years, Jesus has never failed me; I have failed Him several times. But as he promised, when we are faithless, He remains faithful to us.

How does this truth in Him, that all things hold together, impact our daily living? Believers in Christ can hold onto this truth and remain calm and trusting while facing the turbulence and storms of life, knowing that Jesus holds all things concerning our lives together.

When the world all around us is spinning out of control, God's peace will rule our hearts because we belong to the Prince of Peace and His everlasting Kingdom. How is your life today? Is it falling apart at the edges? Are you afraid of your future and the future of your children? Run to Jesus, who holds all things together in the present and all the days of our lives.

 

 

 

In Him : The Greatest Rescue

                                               IN HIM: The Greatest Rescue

On July 4, 1976, the day the US celebrated its 200th birthday, an Israeli expatriate took a phone call that would change his life. A student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he went by the name Ben Nitay, an Americanized version of his original name. On the phone was his younger brother, calling with grave news. It concerned their older brother Yonatan, or Yoni. At 30 years old, ruggedly handsome and newly installed as the head of Israel's elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, Yoni, in the early hours of that day, led a raid to rescue more than 100 Israeli hostages held at Entebbe, Uganda.

The rescue mission had been astonishing, and the hostages were free. The leader on the ground, Yoni, had been killed in action. Their brother was dead. Ben Nitay, born Binyamin Netanyahu, drove seven hours to Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where his father taught. The 26-year-old was determined to break the news to his parents himself. "I could see my father pacing back and forth. And all of a sudden, he turned his head and saw me. He looked surprised but immediately understood and let out a sharp cry.

The family flew in virtual silence from the US to Israel for the funeral of the son and brother who had already been garlanded as a military hero and was now about to enter the national mythology. The Netanyahu name would take its place in the Israeli pantheon and, in the process, open up a path that would take young Binyamin to the top of Israeli politics."[1] Over two thousand years ago, another son and brother, a young Jewish man of 33, offered his life to pull off the Greatest Rescue in human history. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, writes about how that recuse mission was unfolded. In Him: The Greatest Rescue. Colossians 1:9-14

We continue our "In Him" series from the book of Colossians, exploring the incredible spiritual blessings found in Christ for all who believe in Him. Today, we will learn about The Greatest Rescue Mission in Christ and how that impacts our daily Christian life.

To understand the gravity of the rescue mission and appreciate its benefits, we must consider the perilous place we once lived in and the safety we will enjoy eternally.

Colossians 1:13-14, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." NIV. NASB reads, "For He rescued us from the domain (authority) of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of  His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

These verses inform us that God conducted a significant rescue operation at some point, delivering people from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son. The NLT reads, "For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son." This translation suggests that there are two kingdoms—one of Satan's and the other of God's. God is the only King we have with an enduring Kingdom. All Satan has a dominion, or "power and authority." Let's examine the dominion of darkness and its influence.

 

I. The Dominion of Darkness

During my preaching, you have likely heard me discuss God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Satan repeatedly. But did you know that a lot of Churches and Christians reject the reality of Satan?

Barna Group research in 2008 notes, "Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan is not a living being but is a symbol of evil."[2] In the 1995 film Usual Suspects, Kevin Spacey says, "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist," Why this confusion? What does the Bible say about Satan? Let's explore.

Consider the following scriptures that explain the origin and fall of Satan. Isaiah 14:12-15 indicates Satan was created as a holy angel. Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes Satan as having been made a cherub, apparently the highest created angel. He became arrogant in his beauty and status, wanting to sit on a throne above God (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15).

How did Satan fall from his high position? It was Satan's pride that led to his fall. Notice the many "I will" statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Because of his sin, God permanently removed Satan from his exalted position and role. Though he was cast out of heaven, he still seeks to elevate his throne above God. He counterfeits all that God does to gain the worship of the world and encourage opposition to God's Kingdom. Satan is the ultimate source behind every false cult, world religion, and system. He will do anything to oppose God and those who follow Him.

Satan wages war against God and God’s people in the spiritual realm. This is how Paul describes this Spiritual Warfare: Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Satan influences the systems and governments of the world through his evil agenda to commit evil against God and people.

He will have dominion or power over the disobedient at an individual level. Eph 2:1-2, “And you were dead in your offenses and sins, in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Under his control, people commit sins by engaging in acts of darkness. (Rom 13:12-13). All of us once were disobedient to God and walked in darkness (John 12:35), not knowing where we were going. We were all subjected to the wrath of God and were in danger of eternal destruction. Who would deliver us from the domain of darkness? God, being rich in mercy, conducted the greatest rescue because of his great love for us. Eph 2:4.

 

II. In Him: The Greatest Rescue

Colossians 1:13, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.” This is the greatest rescue operation that God ever conducted to deliver people from the power and authority of Satan. This rescue did not happen without bloodshed. It took the life of God’s only beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross. Through his blood, he paid the penalty for our sins. Gal 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.”

Paul never wants believers to forget who was behind this greatest rescue, saying, “In Christ, we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.” Where are we transferred to once we are rescued from the dominion of darkness? Into the Kingdom of Light, of God’s beloved Son.

 

III. The Kingdom of God's beloved Son

Vs. 13, “For he has rescued us from the domain of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves.” This is where all the believers in Christ live today, while we are still alive in this world. When we die, we will live in His eternal Kingdom when he establishes it on the second return of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Jesus becomes our true King, and we become the citizens of His enduring Kingdom. What is God’s Kingdom like? It reflects its King.

It is the Kingdom of Light, where no darkness or evil will exist. It is the Kingdom of Love, where there is no fear and hatred. It is the Kingdom of righteousness and justice, and injustice has no place. It is the Kingdom of Peace; unrest and anxiety will not exist.

It is the Kingdom of Joy, where sadness and sorrow will flee. It is the Kingdom of eternal life and health. Sickness and death are dealt with once and for all. That is the kind of Kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray when he said, “Let Your Kingdom Come.” That is the Kingdom Jesus preached about and commissioned us to preach. Matthew 24:14. As the citizens of God’s loving Kingdom, let us enjoy its benefits now. However, as heavenly citizens,  let us work hard to lead as many people as possible to believe in our eternal King, Jesus Christ.

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[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/25/entebbe-raid-40-years-on-israel-palestine-binyamin-netanyahu-jonathan-freedland

[2] https://www.barna.com/research/most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exist/

In HIM: True Knowledge & Wisdom

                                         IN HIM: True Knowledge & Wisdom

Take this simple true or false quiz. 1. "Prayer is more important than mowing your widowed grandmother's lawn. 2. Sharing the gospel is more important than taking a meal to a new mother and father just home from the hospital. 3. Doing "sacred" work, such as preaching or being a missionary, is more important than "secular" work, such as accounting or being a lawyer.

If you answered "true" to any of these questions, you've been deceived by the ancient heresy of Gnosticism." We will see how so.[1] In our "In Him" series, we have been learning about the incredible spiritual riches found in Christ in the book of Colossians. So far, we have learned that in Christ we belong to God and His family of brothers and sisters, both locally and globally.

One of the spiritual benefits of belonging to God's family is that we can be protected against heretical teachings that derail our Christian Faith. In our passage today, the apostle Paul tackled a heretical teaching called Gnosticism that plagued the Church in Colosse by pointing them to Christ, in whom True Knowledge & Wisdom are found. Colossians 1:9-12

I. The Heresy of Gnosticism: Both Then and Now.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Colossian believers to warn them about Gnosticism, a heresy that affected the believers in the early Church in the first 200 years. This heresy was repudiated not only by the writers of the N.T. Epistles, but also by the Church Fathers.

Irenaeus exposed Gnosticism by saying, “Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than the truth itself." What is Gnosticism? How does Gnosticism mask itself today, and how does it affect our Christian faith? The word is derived from the Greek word, gnosis meaning, "knowledge." The Gnostics separated matter from thought.

They considered matter as evil and thought or knowledge as the ultimate for salvation. That heresy led them not to attribute humanity to Jesus Christ, since humanity, being material, was evil to them. Such a belief developed into two directions. One was a complete denial of sexual and other bodily appetites, virtual asceticism, and the other was the unrestrained indulgence of the body. The key belief is that the spiritual is good, the physical is bad.

Gnosticism disguises itself in contemporary culture. According to an article on Gnosticism by the Christian Institute, "Millions of people today unknowingly hold Gnostic beliefs that are central to the transgender debate. The distinction between men and women should be rejected because it is part of the useless creation order, which led to Gender Identity Issues.

Many famous people were influenced by Gnosticism, such as the Swiss Psychiatrist Carl Jung. A music legend, John Lennon, said, “The only Christians were the Gnostics, who believe in self-knowledge, i.e, becoming Christ themselves, reaching the Christ within.” Gnostic themes, “chime in with contemporary ideals of self-discovery, self-awareness, self-actualization and self-salvation, not to mention a dislike of any kind of authority, especially the Church.

The New Age movement shares common thoughts with Gnosticism. Gnosticism affects all aspects of life, for instance, the Gnostics would say, “since the real you is what you feel deep inside, the inner person overrules all external factors, including objective biological reality.

So the transgender movement claims that gender identity doesn't necessarily align with birth sex. A person can look within to write their own script—whether that's male, female, or some other option, regardless of their body." How does this flawed thought get refuted biblically? God, in his supreme Wisdom, "Created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him male and female. He created them." Gen 1:27. The Gnostics claim to have access to superior knowledge and Wisdom, but what is their real source of knowledge and Wisdom?

II. Worldly Knowledge & Wisdom

The scripture indicates two sources of knowledge and Wisdom: worldly and godly. What is the difference between knowledge and Wisdom? The dictionary defines Wisdom as "the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting." Knowledge is "information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance." Knowledge can exist without Wisdom, but not the other way around. One can be knowledgeable without being wise. For example, knowledge is knowing how to use a gun; Wisdom is knowing when to use it and when to keep it locked.

Not all worldly Knowledge and Wisdom is bad. For instance, developing and properly using education, medicine, science, and technology could improve society and the quality of life. Here are some Biblical views on worldly knowledge and Wisdom. Paul notes that knowledge without love amounts to nothing. I Cor 13:2. Human Knowledge makes one arrogant. 1 Cor 8:1.

King Solomon noted that pursuing knowledge without God is foolish. "Then I applied myself to the understanding of Wisdom, which, too, is chasing after the wind. For with much Wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes 1:17-18.

Paul urges us to "Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge.”1 Tim 6:20-21. James 3:13-16 reads, “Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for Wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly.

It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't Wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't Wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't Wisdom. It's the furthest thing from Wisdom, it's animal cunning, and devilish plotting. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart, and everyone ends up at the others' throats.” (The Message). If the Gnostics' source of knowledge comes from the world, where does true Knowledge and Wisdom come from?

III. In Him: True Knowledge & Wisdom

We don’t combat Error with more Error but with truth. The apostle Paul dealt with Gnosticism, not with worldly knowledge and Wisdom. Instead, he implored Godly Knowledge and Wisdom. James explains that Godly Wisdom comes from heaven, which is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. James 3:17

The Apostle Paul prayed that the believers would be filled with True Knowledge and Wisdom. Colossians 1:9-10, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the Wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” Where do we find True Knowledge & Wisdom? In Him alone!

Man can create AI (Artificial Intelligence). But only God is the source of  True Knowledge and Wisdom. Since He is the source, they are called godly knowledge and Wisdom. One of God's natural attributes is that He is Omniscient, which means “All-Knowing God.” Everything in the universe, on earth, and in your life is known to God.

That all-knowing God challenges the wise people. “Let not the wise boast of their Wisdom, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” Isaiah 9:23-24. How well do you know Jesus, who became Wisdom for us?

Our lives will change when we know the One who is the True knowledge and Wisdom. We live wisely “Pleasing God in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” Col 1:11-12. 

 

 

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[1] Derrick G. Jeter, www.DerrickJeter.com.