Read Colossians 1:19–20
Questions from the Scripture text: What was pleasing in Colossians 1:19? What dwells in Christ? How much of it? What did this make it possible to do by Christ (Colossians 1:20)? To how many things? With Whom were they reconciled? In Whom? From where? What did He make? Through what?
God has designed that His way of saving the church would display Christ as God the Son by giving Him the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18). Now, Colossians 1:19-20 highlights two ways by which the Son’s glory is displayed in redemption. There is no provision, except in Jesus; and, there is no reconciliation except in Jesus.
There is no provision, except in Jesus. It pleased God that in Christ “all” the “fullness” should dwell. In Christ, there is fullness. Abundance. Not just barely enough but more than we could ever need. And this fullness is not available anywhere else. All of it is in Christ. All our righteousness before God’s judgment. All our life and strength and goodness for any right living of our own. All of our knowledge, wisdom, holiness, and faithfulness. Christ is abundant for all of it, and none of it can come except from Him.
There is no reconciliation, except in Jesus. All which God reconciles to Himself, He reconciles in Christ. There is no unmediated reconciliation with God. There is no other mediator except Christ. Those who are reconciled on earth are reconciled in Christ. Those who are reconciled in heaven are reconciled in Christ.
This is because the reconciliation is with God, and the peace that had to be made is a peace with God. What atonement could be provided that is as big enough to make peace for wrath that is a great as the goodness of God (cf. Romans 1:18–21, Romans 3:23). But the Word become flesh. The Son of His love became the Seed of the woman. And God bought the church with His own blood (cf. Acts 20:28). When “the blood of His cross” is the purchase price of peace, how could reconciliation possibly be obtained in any other way?
So it pleased God to make Jesus all our provision and all our reconciliation, so that God’s ultimate display of His glory would be in saving us by His Son. If we look to ourselves or someone else for our righteousness before God, or if we look to ourselves or someone else for any spiritual life or good, then that will be something much worse than looking in the wrong place for something. It will be directly opposing the glory of the Son that is so pleasing to God.
What are you most tempted to find apart from Christ? How would more love for His glory help you look more to Christ for it? Who can help you love His glory more and look to Him more?
Sample prayer: O Triune God, it has pleased You that all of the fullness should dwell in Your Son, Whom You have given as our Lord Jesus. We praise and thank you for the abundance of Your provision in Him and for the completeness of our reconciliation in Him. Forgive us for when we look to or dwell upon ourselves or anything else; we hate that we can be so unmindful of Christ’s glory. So, grant unto us life and goodness from Him, to dwell even more upon Him, for we ask it in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH435 “Not What My Hands Have Done”
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