The Characteristics of Christ: Part 2

Colossians 1:18-20

I. Our Worthy Savior: Chapters 1-2A. Introduction 1:1-12

B. Christ is Supreme 1:13-29

C. Complete in Christ 2:1-23

II. The Worthy Walk: Chapters 3:1-4:6A. Personal walk with Christ 3:1-17

B. Life with Christ in the home 3:18-21

C. Life with Christ at work 3:22-4:1

D. Spiritual walk with Christ 4:2-6

III. Closing: 4:7-18

… for He rescued us from the domain of darkness, transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins;

Colossians 1:13-14

As believers in Jesus Christ we (Jews and Gentiles) have been given a share in the inheritance (v 12), i.e. the Kingdom of His beloved Son (v 13).

We are transferred because we have been redeemed (purchased from slavery to sin, Rom 6:17-18); we become slaves of righteousness when our sins are forgiven. Our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ, Eph 1:7, Rom

3:26

Only the righteous (people with their sins forgiven) are in the Kingdom. Jewish judgment: Ezekiel 20:37-38

Gentile judgment: Matthew 25:31-46

Saints in “white robes” return with Christ: Rev 19:14

So, what qualifies Christ to redeem us, and to forgive our sins, whereby we are given a position in the Kingdom? Verses 15-20! The characteristics of Christ

He is the image of God, and the first born of creation, v 15 He created all things, v 16

He is before all things, and He is the sustainer of all things, v 17

He is the Head of the Church, v 18 He is God, the Fulfiller v 19

He is the Reconciler, v 20

The Church is a body Church members = members of a body

Romans 12:3-8

1 Corinthians 12:12-26

Ephesians 4:11-16 Members have capabilities, i.e. spiritual gifts

Members serve one another

Spiritual Gifts: 12, 12, 4, 4

Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4, and 1 Peter 4

Christ is the Head Members fulfill the wishes of the Head

The Church is a new body Matthew 16:13-18

Ephesians 2:11-22

The Church is not Israel, and Israel is not the Church Sine qua non of Dispensationalism: Dr. Charles Ryrie

Dispensationalism, 1995

Israel: descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

Church: Believers in Jesus Christ Indwelled by the Holy Spirit

Acts 2

He is the “origin” of the Church The first one to be resurrected

Lived in the flesh to conquer sin and death

Died as a sacrifice for sin

First to receive a glorified body

In order that He will be first place in everything Subordinate clause, “so that”

Proved He is God

He will take the dominion Adam lost

“will be”: middle, subjunctive

Two possibilities: He is God or He is the Fulfiller

He will have first place, because He is God Colossians 2:9 Only God could die for “all” people Only God could send His Spirit to indwell people Only God could raise people from the dead Only God could make eternal promises, Rom 8:28-30

Another possibility: He is the “fulfillment” of all Pleroma: πληρωμα

Means either “fullness” or “fulfillment” He will complete everything He will complete everything, because He is God!

It was the Father’s “plan” for Christ to reconcile all things. Adam and Eve given dominion, Genesis 1:26-27

Adam sinned (Gen 3), led to the curse, loss of dominion

The “Second” Adam has/will defeat sin, Romans 5:12-21

The eternal covenants guarantee the result Abrahamic Covenant, Genesis 12 and 15

Land (Palestinian) Covenant, Deuteronomy 30

Davidic Covenant, 2 Samuel 7

New Covenant, Jeremiah 31

The cross is the centerpiece of history Sin is solved by the death of Christ

Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22

Sin caused the problem, Christ became sin for us 2 Corinthians 5:21

He conquered sin and death by rising from the dead

He will return to finally defeat sin Revelation 19:11-20:10

As Believers we look for His appearing, Titus 2:11-14

He is the Alpha and the Omega

He is the image of God, and the first born of creation, v 15 He created all things, v 16

He is before all things, and He is the sustainer of all things, v 17

He is the head of the Church, v 18 He is God, v 19

He is the Reconciler, v 20

“This is My body, which is for you; do this in

remembrance of Me.”

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as

often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:24-25

There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel’s veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood, loose all their guilty stains;

Lose all their guilty stains, Lose all their guilty stains;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood, loose all their guilty stains.