April 29, 2020
Colossians 1:15-23
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.
To be a fan of any Cleveland sports team is a study in frustrations. To be a fan of the Indians is to be a fan of the organization with the longest World Series drought. To be a fan of the Browns is exhausting because we have quite a large amount of hype and then disappointment. The Cavaliers have been the only team in recent memory with a championship title but now we are in the basement. The point of this study in the Factory of Sadness is that many fans in Cleveland are fair-weather fans. When the teams are successful, they pay attention and cheer and invest themselves heavily in them. But when the teams stink, they quickly root and follow other teams that are always successful and competing for the championships. Even if that means they root for the Steelers. Boo!
But what happens when like fair-weather fans we shift from discipling Jesus Christ to something else? What happens when we become fair-weather Christians? Paul writes, provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard. The Church in Colossae was on the verge of shifting their faithfulness and discipleship from Jesus Christ to another. They were amid the struggles and temptations to leave Christ for another more palatable and perhaps less challenging philosophy. To that end, Paul writes to remind them of who Christ is and how no other Mediator or Philosophy could replace him.
He begins by reminding his congregation that for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. The first thing the Colossians had forgotten was that Christ is the Creator, through him and for him all things were created. Not through any elemental powers or forces in heaven, they too were created by Christ. What is at stake for Paul is not the how but the who. Jesus is the Creator of the entire universe and the purpose for its creation. Any other person or thing in heaven or earth any other power or principality was created by him and for him. Therefore, why shift our hope from Him to something else?
But the point of reminding them that Jesus is the Creator of the universe is to remind them that He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Jesus is not just the one that existed before Creation, but the one that continues to hold and sustain all of Creation. All things are held together by Christ. Christ is the glue, the force, the power that keeps all of Creation together, despite the forces that seek to rip and tear it apart. Therefore, why shift our hope from Him to something else?
But he continues, He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. Not only is he the Creator of the universe, but by nature of his resurrection, He is now the Re-Creator. By virtue of His second birth all things are made new and given re-birth. That means that He has first-place, He is the head over all things, He is Lord over all creation. No other thing can be first or head or Lord. Therefore, why shift our hope from Him to something else?
But if he has been resurrected to be the Lord over all things, then through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. By virtue of his cross and resurrection, God has through Christ reconciled or exchanged hostility for peace. Through Christ, God has exchanged the relationship between Father and Son in the power of the Holy Spirit with the relationship of rebellion and defiance from us wayward children. Therefore, why shift our hope from Him to something else?
But, it continues, the whole point of reconciliation is so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him. The entire purpose of Jesus is to bring us back to God, without sin, without stain, without blemish and to live before God forever, to enjoy and be blessed by God. Therefore, why shift our hope from Him to something else?
My friends, Jesus is the one who has done all this: creates and sustains the universe, resurrected to be Lord in the first place over all things, reconciled all things to God through his death, in order that we might be presented to God without sin. Why should we then shift our faith and hope from Christ unto something else? Can any politician be Jesus? Can any scientist or scientific breakthrough be Jesus? Can any fortune or CEO be Jesus? Can any actor or athlete be Jesus? Can any sickness or injury thwart Jesus? Can any power in hell or scheme of humanity overcome Jesus? Then, let us continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. Let our discipleship not waver from Jesus Christ and shift to any other person, philosophy or lifestyle. Let us hold fast to Christ and place our hope upon him alone. Let us not be fair-weather Christians, but steadfast in our faith. Amen.
Prayer
O God of Grace and Glory, we thank you for the mighty work and deeds you have done for us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Help us to seek our hope in him alone without shifting to any other person or philosophy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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