The first step in the life of the Christian is to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. From then on, the Christian grows in their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. Yet, for all of our change in heart as Christ restores and reforms those who come to him, growing closer to God…
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At the end of Paul’s letters to the churches, he greets those he writes and the letter to the Colossians church is no exception here. Yet, most of us skip these sections of scripture as merely boiler plate issues and matters only pertaining to the Colossians church. As we read scripture, we must approach it in the understanding that all scripture is God breathed, even the portion we may not fully understand. The final segment of Paul’s letter to the Colossians church continues in the message of the book. As followers of Jesus Christ, we participate in a generational faith that transcends boundaries of age, race, and other forms of division. Christ is preeminent. Jesus comes before all things and everything falls under His divine and righteous purpose.
Christ rules on the throne of haven as preeminent, the first before all things. For the Christian, we do not coronate Christ as King but merely catch up to and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. One of the joys of theology and studying God comes from the sheer practicality. Paul does not stop at the head knowledge or philosophical but gives the practical application.
John looks out and sees a New Heaven and a New Earth and the sea is gone. The distance that once separated man from God, that vast sea that surrounds the throne, has gone. Throughout the history of the church, Jesus’ acts can best be understood as an invasion to pluck His beloved creation from the grasp of death’s hands. Now, the great intercession is complete and the relationship between heaven and earth become new, resembling a perfected Eden where mankind and God exhibited no separation from one another.
Christ rules on the throne of haven as preeminent, the first before all things. For the Christian, we do not coronate Christ as King but merely catch up to and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. One of the joys of theology and studying God comes from the sheer practicality. Paul does not stop at the head knowledge or philosophical but gives the practical application.
John looks out and sees a New Heaven and a New Earth and the sea is gone. The distance that once separated man from God, that vast sea that surrounds the throne, has gone. Throughout the history of the church, Jesus’ acts can best be understood as an invasion to pluck His beloved creation from the grasp of death’s hands. Now, the great intercession is complete and the relationship between heaven and earth become new, resembling a perfected Eden where mankind and God exhibited no separation from one another.
Followers of Christ live in a tension between what we once were and we we will one day be. Our former selves, the one that gave in to selfish ambition and the desires of our flesh cannot peacefully consist with our new life being raised with Jesus Christ. We claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior yet, if we are honest, crave our sins. For some, it may even be that we attempt to conduct ourselves as both under the Lordship of Jesus Christ but living in rebellion to our commitment. Even for mature Christians, we wrestle our sins and struggles. As Paul continues in Colossians 3:1-17, he alludes to the idea of “Progressive Sanctification,” the idea that we continue to grow in perfection and righteousness until we arrive at eternity. Paul exhorts us to seek the things of Christ based on His position at the right hand of God. We are to put to death the old self and come alive to the new self.
John looks out and sees a New Heaven and a New Earth and the sea is gone. The distance that once separated man from God, that vast sea that surrounds the throne, has gone. Throughout the history of the church, Jesus’ acts can best be understood as an invasion to pluck His beloved creation from the grasp of death’s hands. Now, the great intercession is complete and the relationship between heaven and earth become new, resembling a perfected Eden where mankind and God exhibited no separation from one another.
As Paul continues his letter to the Colossians church, he addresses the issue of those who would seek to disqualify them because they did not say or do specific things. Paul essentially looks at barriers to outsiders joining the church and receiving the grace of God. For those not raised in a particular jewish upbringing, their faith would look different from those who were raised in Jewish homes. Furthermore, as they shifted to a faith in Jesus Christ, they would no longer fit in with the standards of the world and the image the world speaks to be the most important. With Christ is before and above all things, the Christian does not need any additional steps to receive Christ. Paul firmly roots His message in the Gospel that understands Jesus came for the blessing of mankind and for the enjoyment of His presence forever. We are not to indulge ourselves in self-righteousness or fleshly indulgence but we should not cast away the blessing of God for the sake of appearing holier than others, giving off the false image of being a “good Christian.”
On the heels of chapter 18, we see the response of the throne room of heaven. Throughout the course of Revelation 19:1-10, there is cause for celebration. Evil’s defeat is secure as the justice of God comes to its fullness. The prayers of the saints from earlier has come to fruition and the finality of God’s judgments, the sorting between the wheat and chaff, is completed and those who have remained faithful to the One True God can celebrate in the victory of Jesus Christ. This chapter, and the chapters that follow, look as if they are wrapping up the defeat of goodness over evil. But to view it as the climax of the story would be to miss the point of the Gospel entirely. The thrust of the Gospel is not evil is defeated (though this is certainly a central piece) but rather is that God’s glory surpasses all things as He reigns throughout eternity and we, as recipients of the love of God, enter into the fullness of God’s presence for all eternity. Revelation is not the climax of evil’s defeat but the birth of the bride of Christ’s relationship that will last forever.
