Saturday 23 February 2008
- Bible Book:
- Colossians
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers - all things have been created through him and for him... He is the head of the body, the church;..." (v.15-16, 18)
Background
When God created the earth it was good but the first man andwoman sinned (
Today's Scripture passage is poetic and even hymnlike. Jesus as aperson, and his heavenly and earthly works, are described in themost exalted terms. Through him, sin is overcome: humans are madein the image of God (
Paul or (some think, but not I) a disciple of his says that "inhim [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (verse19). This is remarkable language from a Jewish believer in one God,only about thirty years after Jesus' death.
In order to overcome human sin, God made covenants with manypeople, especially with Jews. God would be their god, looking outfor them and their good, and they would be his people, obedient andfaithful to him (see
Gentiles "who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evildeeds, he [Jesus] has now reconciled in his fleshly body throughdeath" (verses 21 and 22). All humans can make their peace withGod, because of the cross and the resurrection.
The instrument of God's purpose to draw the Gentiles to him is theChurch, of which Jesus is the head. That is its mission and ourtask and glory as Christians.
To Ponder
How do we deal with the credibility gap betweenthe Church's actions and its calling?
After many centuries of anti-Semitism, Christianshave begun to make their peace with God's ancient people, the Jews.Should we seek their conversion, or (for all the differencesbetween us) acknowledge that God has an irrevocable covenant withthem?