Christ is the Source of the Church (Col. 1:18)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/23/2017 10:58 PM

My Worship Time                                                          Focus:  Christ is the Source of the Church

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Colossians 1:18

            Message of the verses:  “18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”  “18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (AVLRE).”

            We are looking at the second of three sub-sections that fall under the main section of “Jesus Christ In Relation To The Church.”  We must understand that Colossians 1:18 is a very important verse from this letter that Paul writes to the Colossians as he continues to show the Colossians who Jesus Christ really is, that He is God in the flesh the second person of the godhead, something they were having problems with. 

            Let me give a quote from Dr. Warren Wiersbe “It seems odd that Paul used the word born in connection with death, for the two concepts seem opposed to each other.  But the tomb was the womb from which Christ came forth in victory, for death could not hold Him (Acts 2:24).  The Son was begotten in resurrection glory (Ps. 2:7; Acts 13:33).

            “This bring us to the theme of this entire section:  ‘That in all things He might have the preeminence’ (Col. 1:18).  This was God’s purpose in making His Son the Saviour, Creator, and Head of the church.  The word translated ‘preeminence’ is used nowhere else in the New Testament.  It is related to the word translated ‘firstborn,’ and it magnifies the unique position of Jesus Christ.  ‘Christ is all, and in all’ (Col. 3:11).” 

            I wanted to get some impute from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on this important verse from Colossians as I always value what he writes and have learned much from his writings.

            John MacArthur writes “Arche (beginning) is used here in the twofold sense of source and primacy.  The church has its origins in Jesus.  God ‘chose us in Him before the foundation of the world’ (Eph. 1:4).  It is He who gives life to His church.  His sacrificial death and resurrection on our behalf provided our new life.  As head of the Body, Jesus holds the chief position, or highest rank in the church.  As the beginning, He is its originator.”

            We will look at the last sub-section in our next SD which speaks of Christ being the firstborn from the dead, something we mentioned in the quote from Dr. Wiersbe.  That section will be a bit longer and I want to take my time to go over it as it has been a bit confusing to many people. 

1/23/2017 11:17 PM