Colossians 1:13-23

13: For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
14: in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

15: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16: For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17: He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
18: He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
19: For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
20: and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

21: And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
22: yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
23: if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

*** 

In verse 12 Paul spoke of giving thanks to the Father, and here he said why—because He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son. His Son, Jesus, is the One in whom we have redemption—forgiveness of sins.

Paul went on to describe this One—Jesus—who is the image of God whom we can’t see. Jesus is the firstborn of many (Romans 8:29). He created all things—seen and unseen—in the heavens and on earth. Any type of rule or authority has been created through Him and for Him. Not only that, but Jesus—the Word made flesh—existed before all things, and all things are held together in Him. (John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:2-3).

Beyond that, He is the head of the body—the church. Being the firstborn from the dead makes Him head over all the church—those who are brought from death to life through faith in Him. This was all done because it pleased the Father. It was His desire for the fullness of all things to dwell in the Son. It was the Father’s desire for all things to be reconciled back to Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus made peace between the Father and mankind through the blood of His cross.

Paul then made it personal to the Colossians by saying that they too, who used to engage in evil deeds, He had now reconciled to the Father so He may present them before God holy, blameless, and beyond reproach. This would happen conditionally—if they continued in the faith and did not move away from the hope of the gospel. The same gospel which was preached in all creation under heaven, the one of which Paul was made a minister.


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