This week's Bible Study - July 12, 2009
Exalting the Son
 Background Scripture:
Colossians 1:15-23
Quote of the Week:
“Jesus, like any good fisherman, first catches the fish; then He cleans them”
-- Mark Potter
This lesson continues the series of the Trinity. In the previous lesson, we looked at the role of God, the Father. We noted how he is holy, without any blemish. Even though we all struggle with sin in our lives, he still cares for us, showing compassion and mercy on each of us. However, there is a big problem that we all face on our own. None of us can stand before a holy God, in the midst of our sin. In the Old Testament, there was a strict sacrificial system that was setup to atone for sin. However, it was never complete. Even if you followed it to the letter, there was the continual need to sacrifice over and over throughout your life.
In this lesson, we look at the 2nd member of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. At least in America, most every person has heard of Jesus Christ. For some, his name may just be words used in vain. For some, they believe in the historical Jesus, but they are unmoved. Some people are fascinated at his teachings and put him on the same level as other religious leaders. Some believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but they don't allow that to change anything else in their life. To not recognize the role of Jesus Christ as intended is to miss the purpose of God altogether.
As this lesson points out, all things were made by him and all things are held together by him. The Father had every intention from the beginning of time to provide Jesus Christ as a Savior. The role of Jesus Christ wasn't to serve as a stopgap because humanity got out of control. Jesus Christ provides the opportunity for us to find peace with God. It will never be on our own, but through him. He is to be exalted.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. For centuries, the Jewish people had worshipped the Father, without ever being able to see him directly. They saw the things that he did and they knew of his wrath, but he was never seen. Even the disciples desired to see the Father. In John 14:8, Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." At that point, they did not realize who Jesus Christ truly was, and they believed he was with them to show them the Father in a more meaningful way. Jesus responded to Philip that those who had seen him (Jesus) had seen the Father.
Jesus is the author of creation. By him are all things created. We see the majesty of creation in nature, but there is more created than we have seen. There are likely beautiful places that you have seen. You may know many of these in your city, state or country. But, there is more that you have not seen in different parts of the world. You would be amazed. There are things that we can see with our eyes, but there is more than that. There is a spiritual realm around us. There are things on earth, but Jesus was involved in the creation of the heavens and the earth.
There are thrones and powers and rules and authorities. It may be hard to see sometime, with all of the wickedness rulers that have existed in the world, but all of them were created by him and for him. Psalm 33:13 and following says "The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From his dwelling place he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth; He who fashions the hearts of them all and He who understands all their works. The king is not saved by a mighty army. A warrior is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a false hope for victory, nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength." We tend to look at the might of mankind - specific countries or armies or powers. They have all been created by him and for him.
When people think of when Christ came into being, they generally go back to his birth. Granted, the whole calendar system changed at that time, but Christ was literally before all things. For those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, we know that we can turn to him in the course of any event in life and he is there to hold us together. Believers and nonbelievers alike experience issues and circumstances - and while many people make it through those circumstances, the believer will find that during those times they grow closer to the Lord.
He holds all things together. A few months ago, a friend loaned me a Louie Giglio DVD.
It was about the greatness of God. Towards the end, he began to speak of a revelation that a
molecular biologist informed him about. It was about laminin, a protein found in the body.
This protein forms the substrate of all internal organs and is sometime called the basement membrane.
It is the protein that literally holds your body together. That, in and of itself, is amazing, but
even more so, is that laminin resembles a cross. How appropriate that our body is held together
by a protein that resembles a cross? If you want to see the Louie Giglio clip, click here.
Jesus is also the head of the body, which is the church. Some churches seem to have a large organizational structure, and if you looked closely, you may not even see any hint of Christ. If a church is a true Christian church, it is founded upon Jesus Christ. It is from that leadership that the many churches become one large group of believers.
Jesus is the beginning and the firstborn among the dead. He was neither the first human to be born, nor the first human to die, but he is the first human to die and be born again. His death provides life for all who follow him in belief. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, one day you will follow in being raised from the dead for eternity. In all things, Jesus Christ is supreme.
God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him. Although God gave mankind plenty of opportunities to show their goodness, mankind always failed. I've actually heard people that have said if they were Adam or Eve, the mistakes would not have been made. It may seem easy to say that, but we all make our own mistakes in our own situations. None are without sin. There needed to be a price paid for our sin, and Jesus' purpose was to pay that price. He was born as a man, with the nature of a man, but he also possessed the nature of God.
God is holy and without sin, and sin cannot be brought into the presence of God. This is our major problem, as we deal with sin often. God's plan was to reconcile mankind through Jesus Christ and for that we can be eternally grateful. You know your own condition - and I know mine. On our own, we could never be reconciled to the most holy God. However, through the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed on the cross, we have peace with God.
We've covered this before, but our stance before God was non existent before Christ. Due to our sin and evil behavior, we were alienated from God and we were enemies in our minds. To be alienated is to be made indifferent or hostile. I believe that is a fair statement. When you think of others you know that are not believers, you can probably notice that indifference or alienation with the things of God.
But now, having been reconciled by Christ's physical body and through his death, we are made holy in the sight of God. We are seen without blemish and free from accusation. This is how we are seen, but this is not how we are. Each of us stills struggles with our own desires and sins, but thorough Christ, we are seen as holy. I have often thought of it as something like a color filter that may be used in theatre lighting to make something appear to be a different color. The "Christ" filter is how God sees you. When you are in Christ, you are seen as without blemish.
What is required to be free from the accusation of God? We must believe in Christ and base our hope in him. If we continue in our faith, established and firm, not moving from the hope as defined in the gospel, we are seen as holy men and women before God. This is the very nature of the gospel - the saving power and grace of Jesus Christ. Through him, we are reconciled to God, the Father.
Closing
Jesus Christ is the second member of the Trinity. He is the author of creation - all things were made through him and he holds all things together. For those who see Jesus as a mere human, with interesting teachings, they are missing so much more of what Jesus is all about.
Jesus is the head of the church. All ministries and activities should in one way or another glorify Christ. Jesus reconciles us with God. Although we are sinful and can not enter the presence of God, we have the holiness and righteousness of Christ imputed to us.
It is through Jesus Christ that we receive the life, both here and now, as well as eternally. Let us continue in the faith that is established and firm. And, let us exalt the name of Jesus Christ.
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