Heresies and false doctrines have always been a problem that the Church has had to deal with. We see that today, especially with people being so hesitant to judge others, and feeling that everyone has the right to believe what they want. The spreading of heresy and wrong beliefs started even in the early Church, during the Apostle Paul’s day. Paul sought to correct the spread of false doctrines, and to teach the truth of God. Let’s look at the truth of God's Word today that counteracts one prevalent heresy.
In our Scripture passage today from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we are presented with the doctrine that the Lord Jesus Christ is divine, and has always been pre-existent. Jesus was not a created being, like every other person. He is divine and the Second Person of the Trinity. There are some denominations today, actually cults, which teach that Jesus was a created being, and is not the Creator Himself. This is not something new, as these teachings began to spread during the early days of the Apostles. As we look at God’s Word, we see that this is a heresy that Paul sought to correct.
Looking into our Scripture, we are taught that Jesus is the Creator, not a created being (vs. 15-19). He was present at creation, and is divine. He existed before any of creation, before the universe came into existence. He is greater than all that He made. Jesus is supreme over all, including all ranks of angels.
Jesus is not only equal to God, He is God. He is the visible image of the invisible God, the exact representation of God (vs. 15). The fact that Jesus was “born” into this world at a certain time and place is part of His choice to become a man and die for our sins. That was part of redemption’s plan, which Jesus freely decided before the dawn of time. That does not negate His infinite role in the Trinity.
As the first-born over all creation, Jesus has all the priority and authority of the first-born prince in a king’s household. Jesus came from heaven, not from the dust of the earth, as every other created person is. He is Lord of all. Jesus is supreme over all creation, including the spirit world (vs. 16). There are some people today, as there were back in the days of the early church, who are over-enamored with angels and angelic beings, making them out to be divine beings. Angels are not divine. They are created beings, and Jesus neither was, nor is an angel. He created them to be His ministering servants (Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 1:13-14).
We might wonder, then, why Jesus, who is God Himself, chose to become man, come to earth, and die for mankind? It was because of His great love for us that He did (John 3:16). Here in the U.S. we are celebrating Thanksgiving, and even if we feel that we have very little to be thankful for in this world today (and really, there is so much to be thankful for!), we can and should be thankful for God’s redeeming love for us! All those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior have been delivered, rescued from the dominion of darkness, Satan’s rule, and transferred to the Kingdom of Christ (vs. 13). Jesus defeated Satan through His death on the cross. All who believe in Him are rescued and brought out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness, and into Jesus’ Kingdom of light. We do not need to fear the dominions of darkness anymore.
Before we were saved, we were alienated from God, rebellious, sinful enemies, separated from His presence. Our relationship with God has been restored through Jesus’ Blood on the cross (vs. 20). His Blood should remind us of the enormous price and sacrifice paid to secure our salvation. For this we need to walk in gratitude (vs. 12). When we realize what Jesus has done for us, in addition to all the many good gifts He has given us, we can and should live with thankfulness, contentment, and joy, with a grateful heart.
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