to us. Now once again we'll turn
for a meditation in the Epistle of Paul to the Colossians and
the first chapter and we'll read tonight verses 14 to 17. The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians
chapter 1 and verses 14 to 17. In whom we have redemption. through His blood, even the forgiveness
of sins, who is the image of the firstborn God, the firstborn
of every creature. For by Him were all things created
that are in heaven and are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers,
All things were created by him and for him, and he is before
all things, and by him all things consist. Well, surely in these four verses
we really have set before us the greatness and the glory of
our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. This 14th verse tells us about
the great, wonderful blessing of the shed blood of the Saviour
as we read, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins. It stands therefore to reason
that if there was no redemption through his blood, there would
be no forgiveness of sins. And yet how important and necessary
it is for all of us to know that we do possess and are given the
great and glorious blessing of the forgiveness of all our sins. and to realise therefore this
could only occur through what the Lord Jesus Christ achieved
by giving his life as that one sacrifice for sin when he died
upon that cross at Calvary. And therefore how true it is
And bless God, we do have redemption through His blood. How necessary
it is then to realize the importance of this shed blood. Indeed, we've
just read in that ninth chapter to the Hebrews, without shedding
of blood, there is no forgiveness, there is no remission. How vital
it is, the apostle knew the importance of it. The saints of God realise
how important it is and may we even tonight realise the blessedness
of it and the relevance of it and the importance of it. And
so may we be thankful tonight to have that good hope through
grace that we are redeemed indeed with the precious blood of Christ. the apostle when he wrote to
the Ephesians. And on the first chapter, in
the seventh verse, he quotes very similar words. In whom we
have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, and
he adds, according to the riches of His grace. Well, how wonderful
is His grace, that free unmerited favour to unworthy sinners. And this tells us it is according
to the riches of His grace. It is a wonderful value, a wonderful
blessing to receive this glorious gift of the redemption of our
soul. So may we truly tonight be very
thankful that this is so. And then the apostle goes on
to say, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature? Well, of course, no one has seen
God the Father. who is the image of the Invisible
God that's talking of course about the Saviour who is indeed
the image of the Invisible God sometimes wonder how wonderful
it will be when the saints of God get home to glory that then
the Father will not be the Invisible God but he will be visible to
us And we shall see him in all his glory. What a wonderful truth
it is, what a wonderful thought it is, to think this will be
so. And so this Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ, is the image of the invisible God. And then he
goes on to say, the firstborn of every creature, well that
really must, of course, refer to those who are raised from
the dead. And Christ, of course, was the
first fruits of them that slept. Perhaps we have a little insight
into that truth in the 89th Psalm, which is a long psalm, but just
a few verses we might read, perhaps, from verse 20. I found David
my servant, With my holy oil have I anointed him, with whom
my hand shall be established. Mine arm also shall strengthen
him. The enemy shall not exact upon
him, nor the sun of wickedness afflict him. And I will beat
down his foes before his face and plague them that hate him. But my faithfulness and my mercy
shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. And I will set his hand also
in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. And he shall cry
unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation
also. I will make him, my firstborn,
higher than the kings of the earth. My mercy will I keep for
him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him." Clearly
we see the prophetic words of the Psalmist with regard to our
Saviour there, and surely we have this picture here given
to us. in these words, the firstborn
of every creature. Well, what a blessing it is to
go and look forward to the time of the resurrection, when, by
the grace of God, all his saints will be raised from the dead,
incorruptible, to spend eternity with their Saviour. And then
he says, for by him were all things created that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created
by Him and for Him. Surely that is a comprehensive
statement to confirm to us the glorious truths of Scripture
that we can read from Genesis right through to Revelation. And to realise this is the Saviour
that we desire to praise and honour and to glorify. This Saviour
who has died for us, to redeem us from all our sins. This Saviour who created all
things without any exception. Before Him there was nothing. For by him were all things created
that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible,
whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers,
all things, were created by Him and for Him. Well, it's a blessing,
isn't it, if you and I are given faith to believe this great and
glorious truth. And then he says, and He is before
all things, and by Him all things consist. He was in eternity. He always was. He always will
be. It is a great mystery, which
our minds cannot really comprehend. Eternity is something we can
think about, but we can't really understand it. And to think that
with our God, there was no beginning and there is no end. He is eternal. He is before all things. And if it was not for Him, there
wouldn't be anything. That's why we read, and by Him
all things consist. If it was not for the Saviour,
we would not be here today. There would be no world. There'll
be no human beings. There'll be no universe. So can
we not rejoice, really, as I said to begin with? This sets forth,
really, the greatness of God, naturally, and the greatness
of God in redemption. And may we truly rejoice in such
wonderful truths.