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eLesson 001
Text: Colossians 1:13 - 1:23
Subject: The Person and Work of Jesus
 Printable PDF version of this lesson
Colossians - Part 2
A goal of these lessons is to change you. Since the last lesson, you should have
been praying for increased knowledge. In that lesson, you learned that increased knowledge has eight results ... a walk worthy of the Lord ... being pleasing to God .
.. bearing fruit ... increased knowledge (the more you learn, the more you can learn) ... increased strength ... steadfastness ... patience ... and joyful thanksgiving.
These are great benefits to gain. Where do you get the increased knowledge that produces these benefits? From one place … from His Word. So let’s move on in
our study. It might be helpful for you to re-read the first chapter of Colossians at this point. You should have your Bible open as you study this lesson.
The person and work of Jesus Christ are described next in Paul and Timothy’s
letter. They wanted to increase the knowledge of the believers in Colossae. These next verses about Jesus are very important. First, notice that we are not waiting to
enter God's kingdom. God has already moved us out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of Jesus, 1:13. The domain of darkness refers to Satan's dominion
… his control and authority. Satan is a real enemy. However, he has no ultimate control or authority over us. He cannot possess a believer. Satan can oppress, but
cannot possess, a child of God. God has already moved us from death into life ... from darkness into light. That happened when we put our faith in Jesus. The
payment has been made. Jesus paid for our sins ... that is redemption. You might want to read more about this in John 5:24, Acts 26:18, Ephesians 5:8, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:9.
Jesus is God. He is the image of God. He is not simply a picture of God. He was
the visible representation of God on earth, 1:15. Jesus was the first-born of all creation. First-born indicates a position of authority … but does not indicate order
of birth, or even birth. In a Jewish home, in Biblical times, multiple daughters could be born and then a son. That boy would be the first-born because it was his
position of authority in the family. In the same way, Jesus has first-born authority over all creation. Why? Not because he was born first ... but because He is the
Creator, 1:16. He existed before anyone was ever born. The eternal Jesus created absolutely everything that was created on earth and in heaven. The text in Greek does not say that He created all other things. That would imply that Jesus was
created. The word other does not occur in these verses. Jesus was not created. He is the Creator of all, John 1:3, Isaiah 48:13-16. Jesus precedes all of creation, 1:17.
He always existed, John 1:1-2, John 8:56-58, John 17:5, and Micah 5:2. In addition, Jesus, in His power as God, holds all creation together, 1:17. Jesus is the authority … He is God.
Why did Jesus come to the earth that He created? He came for multiple reasons. He came to be the head of the Body, the Church universal, 1:18. No man
is the head of the Church ... Jesus is. He proved His power by conquering death. He has first place in everything. Jesus is God, 1:19. If you have any doubt about the
meaning of that verse, read verse 2:9. As God, Jesus came to reconcile all things to Himself, 1:20. His death provided reconciliation. That does not mean that
everybody is automatically saved. Each person must individually be reconciled by putting his or her faith in Jesus. All sin was paid for, in total, at the cross ...
reconciliation was accomplished. However, each person must also be individually reconciled. The full payment was made in advance at the cross. Then at the
moment of our personal salvation, that payment is applied to us individually.
To reconcile is to put back into a right relationship. We reconcile our bank accounts by putting our records and the bank's records back in a right relationship. One or both records must be changed. Two people may need to be reconciled. One or both must change to return to a previous right relationship. Man needs to be
reconciled to God. Man needs to be changed. God is perfect … He does not need to change. The use of the word reconciliation implies that man once was in a right relationship with God ... that the relationship was broken and that it needed to be
restored. That is exactly what the Bible states. In Genesis 1 and 2, man was in a right relationship with God. In Genesis 3, sin entered the world and man's
relationship with God was broken and needed restoration. Without creation the word reconciliation would be inappropriate. Reconciliation means there once was a
right relationship between God and man. However, if man evolved by oozing up from the primordial slime, then man was never in a right relationship with Him …and therefore reconciliation would be a word used in error in the Bible. However, creation
is true. In the beginning, man was created in a right relationship with God. Therefore, reconciliation is an accurate word. Creation is required for reconciliation. Moreover
, reconciliation shows that creation is true.
We have been changed and we need to change, 1:21-23. Each of us was alienated from God, hostile to Him in mind and deeds. Then at our moment of salvation, He changed us ... He reconciled us to a right relationship with God. However, that did not make us holy, blameless, and beyond reproach. Well, in our
position before God, it did. However, in practice, it did not. We still need to change. We were firmly rooted in Him at salvation. After that, we need to grow. Repeatedly
replanting a single seed does not produce a mature plant. In the same way, repeatedly going back to renew salvation does not produce maturity in a believer. In
a sense, that is an insult to Jesus. It is telling Him that what He did was inadequate and that He needs to do it again. However, that is never the problem in a true
Christian's life. Remember the cross. Then move on to maturity. Continue steadfastly in the faith that He established in your life. Remember the hope of the
Gospel. Do not move away from it. Remember that you are going to live with God forever. Therefore, grow up. Then Jesus can present you holy, blameless, and
beyond reproach to the Father. Will He present you to the Father as a new seedling? ... or as a mature plant? He has done His part in saving you. Will you do your
part ... in growing to become a living, holy, and acceptable sacrifice? However, a word of warning is appropriate. If you have any doubt about your own salvation, it
would be appropriate to settle it one and for all. If you need to do that, visit www.911GOD.org for assistance.
At this point, their letter changed. Paul, by himself, began to write some personal comments about his own hard work and suffering. What happened to Timothy? Did he go for a walk or something? Did he go out to buy lunch?
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Study Questions Answers at end of lesson.
1. According to 1:13, where has God taken us from … and taken us to?
2. What does it mean that Jesus is the first-born of creation … and what does it not mean?
3. What is the difference between redemption and reconciliation?
4. How are reconciliation and creation interrelated?
5. List the facts about Jesus (who He is and what He has done) found in 1:13-23
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
6. Why is it inappropriate for a struggling, truly born-again believer to attempt to be saved-again? Why might that be insulting to Jesus?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Personal Reflection No answers provided for these questions.
1. Satan’s attacks can be very real. But what does it mean to you that, as a believer, you cannot be under his ultimate control?
2. What does the interrelationship between reconciliation and creation mean to you?
3. You found many facts about Jesus in verses 13-23. Why do you think this
concentration of facts is included in the first chapter of Colossians?
4. Had you ever skimmed over all those facts in a previous reading of Colossians
chapter 1? What does that indicate about your studying the Bible? Do you need to pay more attention to the details?
5. Which of those facts were most significant to you? Were any of them new to you?
6. There is a difference between being born-again and being saved-again. Have you
ever attempted to be saved-again? What do you think was the real problem?
8. What are you doing to keep on growing to maturity?
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Answers to Study Questions
1. According to 1:13, where has God taken us from … and taken us to? He has taken us
from the domain of darkness (Satan) to the kingdom of God.
2. What does it mean that Jesus is the first-born of creation … and what does it not mean? First-born indicates His position of authority. It does NOT mean that He came into existence at His birth … or at anytime before creation. He always existed.
3. What is the difference between redemption and reconciliation? Redemption indicates
the payment made by Jesus on the cross. Reconciliation indicates change … the change in us because of the cross.
4. How are reconciliation and creation interrelated? Man was created in a right
relationship with God … after his sin, reconciliation was needed. Without creation, there would be no initial right relationship to be reconciled back to … creation is required for
there to be reconciliation.
5. List the facts about Jesus (who He is and what He has done) found in 1:13-23
a. He delivered us from darkness to light … from Satan’s dominion to His own.
b. He redeemed us … paid for our sins.
c. He provided forgiveness.
d. He is the visible image of the invisible God.
e. He holds the authority position as first-born of all creation.
f. He is the creator of all on earth and in Heaven.
g. He is the creator and ruler of all dominions, rulers, and authorities.
h. All creation is for Him.
i. He precedes all.
j. He holds all things together.
k. He is the Head of the Church.
l. He was resurrected … is the first-born from the dead.
m. He holds the first place in all things.
n. All the fullness (of deity) dwells in Him.
o. He is the agent of reconciliation.
p. Through His blood, He provides peace with God.
6. Why is it inappropriate for a struggling, truly born-again believer to attempt to be saved
again? Why might that be insulting to Jesus? True believers may struggle because of
lack of maturity … but not because their salvation, wrought by Jesus, was insufficient. Attempting to be re-saved, when already truly saved, doesn’t work … and tries to shift the
blame from us to Jesus.
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