OUR FATHER WHO

We revisit the apostle Paulˋs letter to the Colossians to gain further understanding of the the book and glean insights into the state of the believers in Colossae and into the status of the the risen Christ and ascended Christ.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father [a]and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 7 as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

In his opening remarks, Paul establishes the progression of the believers in Colossae in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and their growth in love and fruitfulness. Paul then mentions that they have continued to pray for the Colossians so that they may continue to to be filled with the  knowledge of the will of God in wisdom and spiritual understanding so that their continued walk in the Lord would be in alignment with purposes of God and the objectives of His kingdom.

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 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 may have the preeminence.

The apostle then reveals the exalted position of the Lord Jesus in whom they had believed.  The Father, having delivered us who believed  from  the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, elevated the Lord Jesus to the pinnacle of preeminence over all creation (both visible and invisble) which was created through Him and by Him (Jesus) placing Him over all thrones and dominions and principalities and powers.

Such is the firstborn of creation who was from before all things and by whom all things in creation hold together and in this position, is preeminent over all things in all existence.

Amen

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