What Christ Is

by W. H. B. Fullard | Category: General | Jan 1943

SEVEN REFERENCES IN COLOSSIANS, CHAPTERS 1., 2., 3.

1. "Christ is the Image of the invisible God "(1.15). He is the Image of One who cannot be seen.

The Apostle uses a similar description of God in 1 Timothy 1.17, as also does the writer in Hebrews 11.27. John, in 1 John 4.12, says, "No man hath beheld God at anytime," and again in John 1.18, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him," or told Him out.

This is further emphasised by Christ's own words to Philip, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father"; not the physical appearance of Christ, but every word of His and every action revealed God to man-the miracles wrought, His righteousness, His love, His sympathy, His grace, His mercy, His power, all "told out" God. Truly Christ is the Image of the invisible God.

2. "The First-born of all creation." Here it is not a question of " birth," but rather one of position, of One who has the precedence over all others, as the many examples of the firstborn in Old Testament history show.

Christ holds a similar position in relation to all created things " for in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth" (verse 16). See Psalm 8.8: "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, also Psalm 19. 1 : "The heavens declare the glory of God."

3. "He is before all things " (verse 17) gives emphasis to the previous verse, and adds weight by the statement "and in Him all things consist" or "hold together" (see margin).

Only Deity could plan and maintain the mighty and complicated system of the Universe, for every function to be properly fulfilled in its due order.

4. "He is the Head of the Body, the Church" (verse 18).

Here is a subject which appears to be very little understood by professedly Christian people, and yet it is sublime and beautiful. The Epistle to Ephesians should be read at this point. In chapter 3. it is referred to as a mystery, revealed to the writer of the letter, namely, that Jewish and Gentile believers are now, "fellow-heirs and fellow-members of the Body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (verse 6).

Concerning this Christ said, "I will build My Church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." The building of this Church commenced on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2.), and has continued since that time. It does not refer to any group of Christians or to any one of the many churches (so called) with whose designation we are more or less familiar. All true believers on the Lord Jesus Christ are included in it. (See .1 Corinthians 12.). Christ Himself is the Head of the Church which is His Body (Ephesians 5.28).

The process of building will continue until the last born again one is baptised in the Spirit thereinto, until Christ returns in the air to fulfil the prophecy of 1 Thessalonians 4.18.

>From references in the New Testament, it is clear that there are vast domains beyond our sight and knowledge which are subservient to Christ.

5. "He is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead" or "from among the dead." (See Newberry). What an immense army of resurrected ones is here brought before our mind's eye! He, being the first to rise, is now brought before us as the Firstborn of this mighty host, the preeminent One, that in all things He might have the preeminence.

6. "He is the Head of all principality and power" (Colossians 2.10), nothing is excluded from His authority, this reminding us of His parting message: "All authority hath been given unto Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28.18).

7. "Christ is all, and in all " (Colossians 3.11). This is as though nothing further could be said of Him, a tribute of the Holy Spirit, quite beyond our finite minds to comprehend. "For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fulness dwell" (Colossians 1.19).

W. H. B. Fullard | Jan 1943
General