Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.
There are certain teachings that have been introduced into Christianity which should be addressed and clarified from a Biblical perspective. Some people believe that Jesus was a "good man" sent from God the Father. Others believe He is a secondary God, not equal to, or on the same level with the Father. Some others believe that Christ was a good man who graduated to the God-head over a period of time. And still others believe that he was created by The Father at some time in the distant past.
Our text for this morning gives us the correct view by stating unequivocally that Jesus Christ embodies "all" the fulness of the God-Head. In other words, Jesus is God in the highest sense. If He were a lesser God, Paul would have of necessity used the word "some"; but he uses the word "all", and all means all. It's very important in our exegesis of the scriptures , that we draw the right conclusions. Another passage of scripture which reiterates what is written in Colossians is found in Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom".
Here we have God The Father addressing His Son using the words "O God". Another passage in the Bible refers to Jesus as The Mighty God: Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
We should never allow Christ's condescension to save us, to cause us to underestimate His omnipotence or position within the God-Head. In other words, His humility never trumps His divinity.
Question: why is it then important for us to harbor the correct scriptural view of Christ?
Answer: Because our view of Him directly affects what we think of His abilities and authority. In other words, if He is not God in the highest sense, then we would ultimately limit His executive authority over animate and inanimate creation. For instance He could not conquer the grave if he was not fully God; but Jesus Himself sets the record straight by stating that He has the power to go into the grave and to come back out by His omnipotence. Let's read:
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Many "good men" have gone into the grave but they could not come out by their own power. Many of the world's great men have died, but were powerless to escape the portals of the tomb. Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Steve Jobs would all be here today, if they had "power to lay down their lives and take it again" as Jesus did. That's why we stated previously that our understanding of this important truth directly affects how we view Christ's executive authority. A striking example of this understanding is given in the scriptures. A centurion of the Roman guard had a servant who was suffering greatly from the palsy, and while Jesus was at Capernaum, the centurion told him of the servant's sickness, whereupon Jesus said that He would come and heal him. What follows next, in the centurion's response, is a great example of the correct understanding of Christ's executive authority. Let's read:
Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
The reason why Jesus marvelled is because the Roman centurion, who probably did not have an extensive knowledge of the scriptures, manifested an intelligent and correct understanding of who Christ really is. We who are living in the 21st century are privileged to have the scriptures at our disposal and at the click of a button. We have been given both the old and new testaments that we may discover Christ in all of His fulness and glory. If by the grace of God, we were to come to the right understanding of Jesus Christ, our relationship with Him will take on a whole new meaning, for we will realize by experience that all the fulness of the God-Head resides in the One who came to save us from our sins, thus rescuing the human race. May this revelation and experience be ours today. God bless!