THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S
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Him'” include things “ in the heavens and upon the earth (the whole created universe in the fullest sense— cf. Gen. 1 :1), things visible and things invisible (not things material and things spirit ual, much that is material is not vis ible), whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” These lat ter words are designations of the vari ous ranks of angelic and heavenly dig nities (cf. Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Rom. 8:38; Col. 2:15; 1 Pet. 3:22). These all were created in Christ. Not only were all created “ in Him” but also “ through Him” (R. V .), i. e, by His instrumentality. The Father created by the action of the Son in whom He dwells and acts (cf. John 1:3-10; 1 Cor. 8:6, R. V.; Heb. 1 :2). And not only were they “ created through Him” but “ unto Him” (R. V.), i. e. He is the end and purpose of their creation. The whole created universe, including the angelic worlds, finds its meaning and purpose in our glorious Lord and Sav iour, the “ Son of God’s love.” The day is coming when they shall all be put under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25). “ And He is before all things.” The “ He” in this sentence is very emphatic. It is to be noted that Paul does not say that “ He was before all things,” but that “ He is before all things” (cf. John 8: 58; Ex. 3:14). He is the eternal “ I AM,” He ever is, while the creation came to be. “ And in Him all things consist (hold together)” ; He is the great unifying principle in the universe. It is He that holds it together (cf. Acts 17:28). FRIDAY, Nov. 15th. Col. 1:18. Not only is Jesus “ the Son. of God’s love,” “ the first born of all creation,” “ He is” also “ the head of the body, the church.” The creative cause . of the whole universe and the head of the church are one. The “ He” in the opening clause o'f v. 18 is emphatic, very emphatic. The thought is that He and no other is the head of the church. He is “ the head of the church” not only because He is supreme in the church, but also because He guides and governs the church as the head does the body, and also because He is in loving and inseparable union with the church as the head is with the body. The church lives only in loving union with Him (cf. Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 2:10-19). The church on its part is the body, not only because
something we hope to get, it is some thing we have, and we have it “ in Him,” in Christ. The redemption that begins with forgiveness leads on to much more, (Tit. 2:14; Rom. 8:23; Phil. 3:20, 21). WEDNESDAY, Nov. 13th. Col. 1:15. Verses 15-17 form one of the most remarkable and characteristic pass ages of this epistle. Paul has just spoken of our having our redemption in Jesus the Son of God’s love. This leads to a statement of truth regarding the person of Him “ in whom we have our redemption.” We are told what His relation is (1) to His Eternal Father, “ the invisible God,” (2) to the whole created universe, visible and invisible, (3) to the Church. He “ is the image of the invisible God” (cf. 2 Cor. 4 :4). The word renderd “ image” means not only likeness, but a like ness which is the representation or manifestation of that which it is like. The Son is not only like the Father, He is the' manifestation of the Father (cf. John 14:9; Heb. 1:3; John 1:18). He is not a mere shadow of God but the very “ image” (reproduction) of God Himself (cf. Heb. 10:1). God in His eternal essence is “ invisible,” not only unseen but unseeable. Jesus Christ “ the Son of His love” is the outward manifestation of that which God is in His invisible essence. The relation of Jesus Christ to the created u'niverse is that He is ‘ithe first born of all crea tion.” He is first in respect to time. In Greek usage “ first of” means only first of a series, but before that which is governed by the preposition “ of” (cf. John 1:15, 30, R. V. and Margin). As “ first born of all creation” He was begotten before every created thing, i. e., from all eternity (cf. John 1 :1). But Hie is not only first in respect of time, He is also first in respect of posi tion. He is Lord over all created things (cf. Ps. 89:27; Heb. 1:2; Acts 10:36.) THURSDAY, Nov. 14th. Col. 1:16, 17. The' 16th verse tells us why Jesus is “ the first born of all creation,” because “ in Him were all things crea ted.” The creation finds its cause and its meaning in Him. It was in relation to and in union with Him, by virtue of creative powers resident in Him, that God created all things. The all things “ created (brought into existence) in
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