Colossians 1:15-20
Life in Christ – Colossians series Part One
• Who Jesus is: Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10
• What Jesus has done: Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22, 2:13-15
I. Who Jesus is: Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10
Image – likeness, formed to resemble a person, the appearance or depiction of,
· Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” 2 Corinthians 4:4 Colossians 1:15 John 12:45, 14:9
· God made humans in his image and according to his likeness, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1.
· Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature”, in Hebrews 1:3.
· In the face of Jesus, God’s glory is seen, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6
· Scripture uses “in” to designate humans as those made “in” or “according to” God’s image, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6, James 3:9
· Newly created believers are those being renewed in knowledge “according to the image” Colossians 3:10
”fullness of God in Christ,” – Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the fullness of God in Him, Jesus Christ is God. We believe that God in Trinity is One, inseparable
“For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – Colossians 2:9-10 CSB
We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as One God existing in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible. (Matthew 23:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man. (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 714; 9:6)
I. What Jesus has done: Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22, 2:13-15
“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14 CSB
“Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him,” – Colossians 1:21-22 CSB
“And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” – Colossians 2:13-15 CSB
We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25)
We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church. (John 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11)
What does this mean? Jesus took our sins on himself, on the cross, so we can be made right with God, receiving new spiritual life and forgiveness.
What do we learn?
1. Jesus Christ is first, above all, our Savior King, the fullness and the image of God.
2. Jesus Christ has redeemed us, making us right with God, bringing us from spiritual darkness to the light of God’s Kingdom.
3. Jesus leads us in a spiritual journey with our local church family.
4. We are actively learning more about the truth of Jesus and rejecting deceptive narratives and their sources.
What should we do?
1. Read Colossians chapters 1 and 2 this week.
2. Write down one thought we have learned.
3. Apply the truth to how we pray and how we see ourselves.
4. Try to identify one deceptive narrative that we should reject.
5. By Wednesday, read Colossians 3:1-4 and memorize one phrase from it.
“Life in Christ” series
“saints in Christ at Colossae” – Colossians 1:2 “your faith in Christ Jesus” – Colossians 1:4 CSB
“In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:14 CSB