Colossians 1:17

He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

Author

Kayode Crown
December 09, 2024

We continue our focus on Jesus, magnifying him and both revealing and reveling in his identity. The one you have come to is the real deal. He is before all things and all things are held together by him, referencing his active operation even as you read these words.

God asked Job, "Where were you when I made” this and that? (Job 38:4). He was nowhere.

Now, imagine the one who was before all things being nailed to the cross, bringing himself that low.

That is why Jesus said the one who wants to be great among the apostles must be their servant (Matthew 20:26), because that is the example he laid down. He came from on high and emptied himself (Philippians 2:4), becoming the example of the perfect man according to God.

Someone else wrote that we should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). We wouldn't be able to follow in his steps if he had never stepped on the earth.

There is no one besides Him (Isaiah 43:11); He is God. He is the full revelation of God. He is the full stop of God's communication to humanity.

God came down in His Son, Jesus Christ. How does that work, three Gods? No. It's one God.

It's the beauty of the gospel truth, God differentiating Himself from any god that emerged from the imagination of man. It's one God, but this one is different from the human concept of one. It is a dynamic one, not a static one. And it makes sense when viewed through the lens divine revelation.

RELATIONSHIP IN THE DIVINE

God was in relationship with Himself from the beginning therefore he made humans, in his image, to be in co-equal relationships: man and woman.

The bible says that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). This idea did not originate out of the blues.

Follow this reasoning: if God was alone, then alone is good because God is good (Mark 10:18). But God said man being alone was not good, therefore God was never alone even from eternity past because God is good.

The image of God, man, was not alone.

When God said, "Let us make man in our own image," it was clearly stated that He made them male and female (Genesis 1:26-27). Man and woman were made in the image of God. The image of God is a community, if you will. Therefore God must necessarily exit in a community within himself.

God decided that man needed someone like himself, sharing the same essence but also distinct. He called it ONE flesh (Genesis 2:24). That mirrors a popular saying in Israel: "The Lord is ONE" (Deuteronomy 6:4 emphasis mine). But God being ONE does not equate to singularity. With God, we have the concept of plural ONEness, to which “man and woman” is analogous.

The Trinity is not an evolution of God; rather, humanity, made in the image of God, is a reflection of what God has always been from eternity. God has always been triune, but this mystery was kept hidden in previous ages, but it is now brought to the forefront with the gospel, making it clear that Jesus is Lord and that Christianity is the only true religion.

Christ deserves our complete and unwavering allegiance and adoration as he has been unveiled as preeminent and divine. This concept is so distinct that it calls for either total adoption without any competing allegiances or outright rejection. There is no middle ground. To remain unbelieving is not without consequences, however, as they will have their part in outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:13).

We have one of the earliest hints of God’s plural oneness in the "ONE flesh" statement regarding husband and wife. Take this to the nth degree, and perhaps we can begin to understand the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Trinity

Eternal: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all eternally existing. The Father is eternal (1 Timothy 1:17), Jesus is eternal (Colossians 1:17, John 1:1-2), and the Holy Spirit is eternal (Hebrews 9:14). Only God is eternal. What is eternal? 'Eternal,' like the Trinity, is a concept that is beyond us because we are not it, but we know it spiritually (1 Corinthians 2:14), though it is difficult to capture with words.

Knows all things: The Father knows all things (1 John 3:20), the Son knows all things (John 16:30), and the Spirit knows all things (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).

Prayer: Should I pray to the Father? Yes. Should I pray in the name of Jesus? Yes. Jesus has been given a name above every other name (Philippians 2:9). What about the Holy Spirit? He comes and by him we cry, "Abba, Father, (Romans 8:15)" and we feel connection with him even though we cannot see him and impresses on us the value of Jesus (John 16:14).

Spiritual: We can speak of them as distinct, but never lose sight of the idea that we are talking about the same God. It is not a magical reality, but a spiritual one. Jesus said that He and the Father will be in us (John 14:23), and the Holy Spirit will also have His home in us (John 14:16). God has His home in us.

Jesus is before all things, and by Him, all things hold together. He is the essence of all essences. He made all things, and they continue to exist because of Him. He did not create all things and then take a vacation, leaving the sustenance to an angel. No.

He is the Maker and the Sustainer. He is all in all.

Jesus told some people, "Before Abraham came into existence, I am," and they lost it (John 8:58-59). That is why He said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44). Without that “drawing,” we may be locked in an intellectual conundrum, stumbling at the idea that God become man.

Isaiah spoke beforehand about Jesus, that had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that would make us want to follow him (Isaiah 53:2).

The son of a carpenter (Mark 6:3)—where is the majesty in that? Born in a manger (Luke 2:7)—where is the majesty in that? You know his birthdate; what is special about that? He speaks with a human voice and not with thunder; what is special about that? He has a shadow, but what about that is special?

But he performed miraculous acts, which he said testify about him (John 10:25), about his otherworldliness, and he said that the scriptures testify about him (John 5:39). If the people do not believe the scriptures, they should at least be drawn in because of the miracles, but they weren't. So Jesus clearly stated in a parable that miracle is not enough to make people believe (Luke 16:31).

God came down, and people did not receive him (John 1:11). Now, it pleases God to save some through the preaching of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:21) as the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and the Son, works on the earth.

God came down, and people did not believe Him. The next time He comes, it will be to judge the earth (2 Timothy 4:1).

And who has more right to judge than the One who made all things, sustains all things, became man to walk in our shoes, and carried the sins of all on Himself on the cross? It's the one and only Jesus Christ, the Lord. Glory to His name.

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