Angelic Conflict part 318: Current work of Christ – Col 1:15-20; Rom 8:31-39; Psa 42:9-11; 44:20-26; 1Co 5:20-26.Title: Angelic Conflict part 318: Current work of Christ – Col 1:15-20; Rom 8:31-39; Psa 42:9-11; 44:20-26; 1Co 5:20-26.
The One who created all things is to have supremacy over all things by being the head of the body, the Church, as well as the King of the Jews, and the Victor over all enemies of God.
He accomplished this by virtue of becoming incarnate, dying for the sins of the world, and having risen from the dead.
Christ created all things and will ultimately reconcile all things to eternal salvation or eternal judgment and damnation.
Col 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.
Col 1:16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created by Him and for Him.
Col 1:17And He is before all things [before the rebellion and thus Lord of all], and in Him all things hold together.
As the creator of all, the Son of God is the rightful ruler of all. But some of the thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities that He created chose to establish their own independence and to fight against His lordship rather than to carry out their delegated functions in harmony with it. Paul continues that these powers need to be reconciled, which word doesn’t have to always mean salvation, for in this context it refers to the salvation of all believers as well as the eternal judgment of satan, all fallen angels who followed him in rebellion, as well as all of the human race who rejected Christ’s offer of salvation. All things being reconciled here is speaking of all things being brought finally and eternally under the ultimate rulership of Christ, including the redeemed in heaven and the judged in hell.
In this context, reconciliation means that nothing will be able to effectively oppose Christ’s lordship over all. One will and perfect peace will return to God’s universe.
Everything will be put in its proper place. In the case of the unredeemable hostile powers of darkness, that place is under Christ’s feet.
Col 1:18 He is also [in addition to this] head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead [immortality]; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.
Col 1:19For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
Paul mentions the fullness [pleroma] to refute Gnostic teaching. In Christ dwelt the sum total of all divine power and attributes.
Col 1:20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Through His death, burial, and resurrection Christ is ultimately going to reconcile all things to Himself, including demonic forces that have opposed Him.
This passage shows us again, beyond a doubt, that it was the cross that brought about the complete victory. The cross and resurrection brought the crushing blow upon the head of the serpent, and although some skirmishes are yet to be fought out, the war is in essence concluded.
This passage also stresses the role of the Church, which He fills and is the fullness of Him, in displaying the manifold wisdom of God to the principalities and powers, Eph 3:10. The Church has been called to carry out the ministry that the Lord began and through His victory established in each positive believer’s life, to be expert witnesses for the prosecution, the Advocate Jesus Christ. The Church, in at least those who are positive towards God’s will, experiences peace in the midst of the culmination of this war and proclaims that peace, a peace that the world does not comprehend without Christ, to the world.
Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Joh 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
We accomplish this, as we will see, because our resurrected Savior sits at the right hand of God in victory.
The ruler of the world has been driven out and a legitimate ruler has been enthroned in his place, Joh 12:31.
Joh 12:31 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world shall be cast out.
The very place from which satan used to accuse us is occupied by the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Zec 3:1-2 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan!
Christ has released to all men through faith in Him and His word to live free of the tyranny of satan dethroned, though they still experience the effect of his world system.
Every possible form of demonic power has been subjugated to Christ and that power, released to all men when Christ was enthroned at the right hand of God, is for all who have faith in Him and His word, but not to rebuke satan or to cast out demons, but to live free of their tyranny though walking in the midst of their world system.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Rom 8:32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Rom 8:33Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
Herein lies the application of justification of life. All condemnation has been taken away from the accuser of the brethren.
Rom 5:18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
Justification of life is to walk in life as one who is justified before God despite the charges that are brought against you as Christ's elected one. Again, don't forget that the charges are impersonal and from a flesh that has already been judged. Don't fight back and don't let it get to the core of you by taking it personal and thus enabling stress in your soul. Adversity is inevitable but stress is optional.
Rom 8:34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Rom 8:35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long ; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." This quote is from Psa 44:11 and repeated in verse 22. Israel had suffered defeats because of sin, but in this Psalm it is written that the people were faithful. |