Lesson 536

(Lesson 536)(02-03-13) Collossians 1:16-29, "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 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. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."

This lesson again establishes that God is the Master and Creator of all things, both physical and spiritual and that Jesus is the appointed administrator of all things until such a time as the Father recollects His kingdom.

Paul clearly establishes, as Jesus did, that the Church is the physical body of Christ, and that it is made up of those who have, by faith, taken the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon themselves.

The Church is what Paul was referring in Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ". The children of God are the Church.

This reference to baptism does not imply that to be a part of Christ's Church, one must be immersed in water into Christ. Water is not contextually implied in this statement. It means that those who make up the body of Christ, the Church, have immersed themselves into the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and in like fashion, with Jesus, been redeemed from the condemnation of sin, into eternal life.~