God’s Grace In Christ Over The Church – Colossians 1.18

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Colossians 1.18).[1]

      Christ is the Creator of the world, the universe and everything we can see and cannot see. This should give us hope and confidence in Him, knowing there is nothing we cannot bring to our Heavenly Father. No problem, no situation, no issue, no circumstance, no homework problem, no social life problem, no relationship problem, nothing under the sun or in the heavens, which He cannot handle, give an answer for, or help out with. All we have to do is come to Him, talk with Him and allow the Creator of all things to work within our lives for His glory and be amazed how an all-powerful God could care about us so much.
      However, Christ did not stop there, He did not stop with Creation, He wanted more for us, more with us. He wanted a personal, intimate relationship with each and every one of us. So, He set forth His church, His bride, to form this relationship so we could have this relationship with Him. The very personal relationship which was set in the garden of Eden at creation (Genesis 1-3). However, sin and disobedience entered into the picture, man lost his way, he began focusing on the one tree God said do not eat from, instead of focusing on all the trees God said to eat from. His relationship with God was broken, never again did God commune with man in the same way. Yes, God talked with man, but from a distance, using various means such as prophets, nature and His Word. But He wants to have a very close personal intimate relationship with us, one where we are in constant contact with Him.
      This was made possible by the shed blood of Jesus Christ at the cross. John said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1.29). Christ was the final sacrifice for all our sins, He shed His perfect blood, paying our penalty and defeated death, hell and the grave for us (I Corinthians 15.54.56). This gives Jesus Christ the right to be the head of the church, His body, He is supreme in all things (Romans 12.4, 5; I Corinthians 12.12-17; Ephesians 4.1-16). “As the Head of the church, Christ unifies the church, edifies the church, directs the church, and empowers the church.”[2]
      Just as He is the beginning of all creation, He is also the beginning of the church, the head. He is where everything starts, and where everything must go to for order and function. Just as our body only does what the head (mind) tells it; so, also the church is supposed to be under the direction of its Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. However, too many times we want to allow other things to influence our decision-making process. God has called us into His service to obey Him and Him alone. This is not a democracy but a dictatorship, where God says do and we obey; after all His One and Only Son paid for us with His shed blood on the cross, His body in the tomb, and is life resurrected and now sitting, interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. Obedience is the least we could do for such an amazing sacrifice.
      Christ is the first to die and come back to life, and live forever. Yes, there were others who died and came back to life, but all of them died again. Jesus Christ is the first to die, and then raise from the grave, walk among us, and then ascend into heaven (Acts 1.1-9; I Corinthians 15.1-11). It is because of Christ’s glorious resurrection we will be about to see Him again. He promised to go and prepare a place for us and return to receive us to Himself (John 14.1-6). Jesus Christ has prepared the way for each of us to get to heaven, He has created this world to show His glory and power.   He has set a plan in motion to bring all who would believe in His beloved Son into a personal intimate relationship with Himself. Ensuring their future with Him in heaven and giving them eternal life (John 3.16; Romans 6.23). But the choice is yours, it has always been yours. The Father is speaking to each of us, calling us, drawing us to His Son, will we answer, “Yes” to His call?
 
Application

1. How does knowing Jesus Christ is the head of the church change your outlook on how you serve and choose to serve in the church? Please explain.
2. What does it mean to you to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? How do you go about maintaining this type of relationship?
3. Understanding the sacrifice Christ made for you, the price He paid, how does that influence you to; a) Serve God with a Joyful Heart, b) Serve God in Obedience, and c) Serve God out of Love? Please explain each one.

 
Prayer
 
      Lord over all creation, over the church, and my life. I humbly come to You asking for Your wisdom and understanding to flow through my life so, I might better understand what my Savior went through at the cross. How He could love a sinner such as me, so much, that He would freely give His life in my place. Lord how amazing, what Love, I thank You for Your Son, and His love for me. Lord, help me to find the time to fellowship with You, to draw closer to You and to have a personal relationship with You. I desire this more than anything else. Help me today as I go through this day to be pleasing to You and a great example of Who You are to all I meet. All this I pray in Your dear Son Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Col 1:18). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2] Gingrich, R. E. (1999). The Book of Colossians (p. 15). Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing.