When Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ wrote to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which were at Colosse, he had a gladness in his heart -- because of their "faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints." (Colossians 1:1-4) Further, Paul witnessed that the believers at Colosse had come to know the truth of the gospel, which it is in all the world, but also, as a consequence of their love in the Spirit, their willingness to bring forth fruit. (Colossians 1:1-8)
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:9-14)
Interestingly, the same head of the Church, who is the Lord Jesus, also created the world in which we live, John confirms this - "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
You see, when God planned our salvation, even before the world was formed, He also knew that in order for the sacrifice to be perfect, He would have to robe Himself in sin-prone flesh (wherein He would feel our infirmities, but yet without sin) in order to shed His precious, holy blood on the cross for you and I. This was God's plan from the very beginning -- that He would gain a family.
And that plan, wherein He would walk among us was never cast aside - even in the knowing that He would eventually be crucified -- because of His abundance of love for you and I -- His beloved creation.
Indeed, the visible image of God (He Himself becoming flesh - I Timothy 3:16) loved us so much that He willingly took our transgressions upon Himself so that we could find abundant life -- in Jesus -- so that He might have the preeminence in all things.
And that we, through the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, might know what real love is - when we come to know the truth of the gospel.
Yes, as Peter said on the day of Pentecost, "This same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36-41)
But the tomb could not hold Him. The stone could not stop the King of kings and Lord of lords from arising. And now, as we know, He has risen because the powers of darkness had no hold on the Lord God. Now, because of His perfect sacrifice (wherein our sins are forgiven once and for all) we can have redemption through His blood, even forgiveness of sins -- if we also ask Jesus to be both Lord and Christ in our lives!
Why is this important? Because the worldly and religious systems don't want you to know the Author and Finisher of life -- the One and Only truth that sets you free. Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
In this current dispensation of grace, His name is JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23)
Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment