Let us turn to God's Word again. I'm directing you this morning
to words that we find in the epistle of Paul to the Colossians. The epistle of Paul to the Colossians
in chapter 1. And I'll read from verse 15 through
to verse 19. Colossians 1 reading from verse
15. who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature, 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, and he is before
all things, and by him all things consist. that he is the head
of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For he pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell. And the words that I really want
to concentrate on for a text are those last two verses, the
reading verses 18 and 19. and he is the head of the body
the church who is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that
in all things he might have the preeminence for he pleased the
father that in him should all fullness dwell and the subject
matter that he said before us here is that of the fullness
of christ the fullness of christ and at the outset once Just briefly
to observe two things with you. First of all, Christ and his
relationship to the old creation, and then Christ and his relationship
to the new creation, which is, of course, the church. First of all, looking at the
general context, we read the passage from verse 15, we see
something of Christ and his relationship to creation, what we might term
the old creation. And there, at the end of verse
15, he is spoken of as the firstborn of every creature. The firstborn
of every creature. But does this statement mean? How would you understand these
words? Well, John Davenant in his great commentary on Colossians,
Davenant of course was back in the early 17th century the Bishop
of Salisbury, in that great work that he wrote, expanding the
epistle to the Colossians, he says of this statement that it
signifies that Christ was begotten before any created thing as the
Son of God, the eternal Son of God. He was begotten before any
created thing. John Gill says, he was begotten
of the Father in a manner inconceivable and inexpressible by men. The firstborn of every creature. It is quite clear from what follows
that he is himself not a creature, but he is the creator of all
things. The language that follows in
verse 16, 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, he's speaking there
of course of heavenly beings, a whole host of the angels and
so forth. He goes on to say at the end
of that 16th verse, all things were created by him and for him
and he is before all things and by him all things consist. Clearly then, here we see that
the Lord Jesus Christ is that one who is the creator. Think of the language again in
the book of Psalms, Psalm 33, six, by the word of the Lord
were the heavens made and all the host of them by the breath
of his mouth. And then when we come to the
New Testament, of course, we're familiar with the opening words
of the gospel according to St. John, in the beginning was the
word. and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same
was in the beginning. With God all things were made
by Him, and without Him was not anything made that is made. Here then, in this passage in
Colossians, it is clear that the Apostle is speaking of Christ
as that One who is the Creator. Again, going back to that language
at the end of verse 15 the firstborn of every creature for by him
were all things created and it's interesting to observe that word
for at the beginning of verse 16 that connects of course the
two verses and that word has the force of because is the firstborn
of every creature because by him were all things created. He is the cause of the being
of all things. And we know that in all these
works, in the great work of creation, what we have is a revelation
of God. God reveals himself in his works. The heavens declare the glory
of God. The firmament showeth his handiwork,
day unto day I trust voice, night unto night show of knowledge. God's line goes out in all the
world and men are therefore without any excuse. The fool says in
his heart there is no God. The invisible things of him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead. When we behold the pleasantness
of the weather in these days and the wonders of creation at
springtime? Or does He not have a voice and
reveal to us something of the glories that belong unto God? But then of course we know that
God reveals Himself in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. Again, going back to verse 15
and the first part of that verse, we read of Him who is the image
of the invisible God. No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which
is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. And Paul
brings that out so wonderfully in the opening words of his epistle
to the Hebrews. He speaks of God in a diverse
times, in times past, revealed himself unto the fathers by the
prophets, but in these last days he has spoken unto us by his
son. For he has revealed himself now
in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And Christ is here, I
say, working in all the works of creation. But turning to that
new creation, that new creation which is the church, because
ultimately God reveals himself in the salvation of sinners.
God reveals himself in the calling out of the people and gathering
together into local churches. It's there in the church, of
course, that something of God's glory is seen even by angelic
powers I think of the language that we find back in Ephesians
chapter 3 and verse 10 Paul says to the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places speaking of angels
might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God Peter
speaks about the angels desire to look into these things those
angels those seraphim Cherubim are in the very presence of God,
or they want to look into the wonders of what God has done
revealing Himself in the salvation of sinners. And that's what we
have here in the world that I really want to take up with you for
a little while this morning. Our text in here in verses 18
and 19. Christ, we're told, is the head
of the body of the church, who is the beginning. the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.
For he pleased the Father, that in him should all the fullness
dwell. What is this fullness? The fullness
of Christ that is being spoken of in our text? Well, it is not the fullness
of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fullness of deity
was Christ of necessity. He was never anything less than
the eternal and co-equal Son of God. He always was that. Even in the mystery of the incarnation,
he doesn't cease to be God. As the hymn writer says, how
God contracted to a span incomprehensibly made man. And here, in chapter
2, verse 9, we're told, in him, speaking of Christ, in him dwelleth
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He never ceased to be
God, even when he became a man. Again, the language that we have
in that opening chapter, that remarkable opening chapter of
John's Gospel, the Word, was made flesh and dwelt among us,
and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth." And so the fullness
that is being spoken of here in the text is not the fullness
of the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is it then? Well,
it's that fullness that we're to think of in terms of the the
offices of the Lord Jesus as the mediator. We have to think here in terms of
why it was that Christ became a man. What was that great work
that he came to accomplish? There was a fullness in him as
he was appointed to this great work of redemption and salvation. Look at verse 19, then verse
20. He pleased the Father that He knew should all formers dwell,
and that He may please through the blood of His cross. By Him
to reconcile all things unto Himself. By Him, I say, whether
they be things in earth or things in heaven. He has His fullness
because of His work. He has come to reconcile, to
reconcile those sinners who were in that state of enmity and alienation. and to bring them back to God. There's a fullness here. There
is all that fullness of the church. All that work that he has now
fulfilled will not fail. All that he has died for are
to be signed. And as he cried there in John
17, as thou hast given thee power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Christ
is able to give eternal life to all those that were given
to him by the Father in the eternal covenant. All that the Father
giveth me, he says, shall come to them. And he that cometh to
me, I shall in no wise cast out. Everyone who cometh, he will
receive them. This is his fullness, the fullness
of the church. all that precious blood was not
shed in thy dear dying land my precious blood shall never lose
its power till all the ransomed church of God be silent to sin
no more there is all that fullness of the church there of which
he is the head and then there is in him of course also all
that fullness of Christ again going back to the opening chapter
of John's Gospel, verse 16, that his fullness of all we received,
and grace for grace, for the law was given by Moses, but grace
and truth came by Jesus Christ. All that fullness of grace. Here in verse 19, he pleased
the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Well, as
we come to consider these verses, verses 18 and 19, in a little
more detail, I want, in the first place, to say something with
regards to the beginning of the new creation. What do we read
here in verse 18? We read of him who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead. In him there is the beginning
then of a new creation. He is that one who was there
in the old creation. All things were created by him,
remember? But now we're thinking of this
new creation, because when we think of that old creation, we
have to recognize what happened. We have the record, of course,
there in Genesis chapter 3 disobedience of Adam and Eve, the fall of
man, the entrance of sin into that creation, and now the whole
world lying in wickedness. The doubt of that God is creating
a new thing. If any man be in Christ, he is
a new creature. Behold, all things are passed
away. Behold, all things are become
new. And sometimes we sing those words
of Charles Wesley, finished in my new creation, pure and holy
may we be, let us see my great salvation perfectly restored
in me. The Lord Jesus Christ is that
one who is the beginning of the new creation. What do we read
here in verse 18? who is the beginning, it says,
the firstborn from the dead. And as we come together, of course,
Lord's Day by Lord's Day, gathering normally in a proper fashion,
not like this, but gathering corporately, we gather on the
first day of the week to remember that Christ rose again on that
first day of the week. He's the firstborn. from the
dead. Now it is true that others were
raised from the dead before Christ himself rose again. In John chapter
11 we read of Lazarus and how the Lord raised his friend from
the dead. Christ makes that great statement
there in that chapter, I am the resurrection and the life. He
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest
thou this? For do we believe that the Lord
Jesus Christ is that One who is the Resurrection? He raises Lazarus from the dead.
In Luke 17 verse 11 following we read about He raises from
the dead the widow of Nain's son. He goes to the fire and
touches that coffin and the young man is raised again to life. We go back into the Old Testament.
In 1st Kings 17 we read of the widow of Zappaphath's son and
how Elijah the prophet raised him again from the dead. Historically,
there are these various incidents recorded in Holy Scripture of
the dead being raised to life. But of course, all of these would
eventually die again. But that was not so with the
Lord Jesus Christ. He is the firstborn from the
dead. And what Is that life? Well,
Hebrews 7.16, he's a priest after the power of an endless life. He has risen to see death no
more. And that resurrection of the
life then, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ alive,
is different to all other raisings from the dead. The power of an
endless life, And then there's a relationship between that and
those who are united to Christ as the head. What are we taught
here? He is the head of the body. The
church was the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. And
there's a relationship between Christ and his people. Guided
men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise. Well, that's how comfort, because
I live, he says. Ye shall live awesome. And remember how in 1 Corinthians
15 in particular, Paul clearly brings out the significance of
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to the
church, the believers, to the new creation. If Christ is not
risen, our preaching is vain. We're getting our sin. But now
is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruit of
them that sleep? You can read through that great
chapter, 1 Corinthians chapter 15. But we often refer to those
words in Ephesians chapter 1 with regards to how that new life
that is only in the resurrected Christ is necessary if any of
us are going to have true faith, saving faith. And surely, when
we look to ourselves and examine ourselves, this is the great
question. That faith that we profess, is it a real faith?
Is it a genuine faith? Well, what does Paul say there?
He speaks of the exceeding greatness of his power to us all to believe. according to the working of his
mighty power when he raised Christ from the dead. All those who
believe, savingly believe, must know that great power that was
there in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He must
have the preeminence. Our faith, it is the gift of
God. Our faith, where does it come
from? It is faith of the power of God. No, the Lord has to teach
us that. We have no saving faith that
we can produce in and of ourselves. Or what are we by nature? We're
unbelievers. It is that sin which does so
easily beset us, and we constantly beset us. Christ must have that
preeminence. We have to look to Him for faith. That's what Paul is saying there
in Ephesians 1 and verses 19 and 20. Christ has the pre-eminence,
he has the pre-eminence in time, he has the pre-eminence in eternity. First, when we think in terms
of God's eternal decree, doesn't Christ have the pre-eminence
there at the beginning, the great purpose of salvation, that that
lies behind the new creation? Christ there is seen to be God's
first elect, behold my servant whom I have called, mine elect,
in whom my soul delighted." And then in time, when it comes to
the application of that great salvation in the experience of
the believer, and the Lord again must have that preeminence. Look
at the words of the apostle there in Romans 5.10 When we were enemies,
he says, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
Much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. It's
not just his death, we're saved by his life. What is that life?
It's his resurrection life. It's that life that has to come
into the soul of those who are dead in trespasses and sins. My dead men shall live, he says.
Together with my dead brethren shall they arise, for we must
have that preeminence. He is all the salvation of his
people. Of him are ye in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us. Wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption, that according as it is written, He that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord. He pleased the Father, that in
him should all fullness dwell. Now Paul loves to dwell on this
theme here in this epistle. Chapter 3 verse 11 he says Christ
is all and in all. Chapter 2 verse 10 we are complete
in him which is the head of all principality and power. He is the beginning. He is the
beginning of that new creation. it all comes from him, it all
comes through him. But then here, as he is the beginning,
so in the second place, we see that he is also spoken of as
the head of the body. Well, it's like saying he is
the head of the body, the church. And what are we to understand
here by the church? The reference is not to the local
church, but rather here it's a reference to the total sum
of all the election of brides, all that the Father gave to the
Lord Jesus Christ. Paul speaks in Hebrews 12 of
the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written
in heaven. What a remarkable statement that
is concerning the Church. It is the Church of the First
Book. We sought to say something last
Lord's Day on that great doctrine of adoption. Only the Lord Jesus
Christ is the true and proper Son of God. the son of the Father
in truth and in love, the only begotten of the Father, full
of grace and truth. But all who are in him are the
adopted sons of God. But they're all firstborn sons. They all have that right of inheritance
as the firstborn. The General Assembly and Church
of the Firstborn which are written in heaven. Well, this is that
church that he's being spoken of here in verse 18 he is the
head of the body the church and they're written in heaven and
when were they written in heaven? well we're told, are we not?
Revelation 13 8 and then chapter 17 verse 8 they're written in
the book of life of the Lamb from the foundation of the world
or they are those who were chosen before ever God had made that
old creation, before the foundation of the world. Remember, here
in verses 15, 16, and 17, we see something of the relationship
of the Lord Jesus Christ to that old creation, that first creation.
And then, here in verse 18, we see Christ's relationship to
the church, the new creation. And he is that one who stands
at the beginning of the church. He is the head of the church.
He is the mediatorial head of the body, the church, who is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. but in all things
he might have the preeminence. My servant, in whom I uphold,
says God, my elect, in whom my soul delighteth. I have put my
spirit upon him, he is the anointed one, he is the Christ. Christ be my first elect, he
said, then chose our souls in Christ our head. We often sing
those words of Hymn 73. It is in the head, it is in Christ,
that all the saved have been chosen. Again, the words of the
Apostle there in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 3, Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. according as
he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Oh, every blessing, every blessing
flows from Christ, who is the head of the church. Again, the language of the Apostle
there at the end of Ephesians 1. Verse 22, hath put all things under his
feet, and gave him to be the head over all things of the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all."
What a statement this is. He is head over all things. In all God's dealings with this
world, in all that God is doing amongst the nations, his eye
is always upon his church. His people are as the apple of
His eye. Do we really believe that, even in these days? We
feel ourselves so often to be so insignificant. For we are
but a little flock. What does the Lord say to that
little flock? Those people who are poor and
despised. Fear not, little flock, it is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the King. For the Lord
Jesus is sovereign over all things. To the Church, which is His body,
the fullness of Him, that filleth all in all. Again, think of the language
that we have back in the second a psalm concerning that position
that Christ occupies, yet God says, have I set my King upon
my holy hill of Zion. What is the holy hill of Zion?
That's the church. And the Lord Jesus Christ is
King. He is King in the church. And as He is over all things
for the good of the church, so that church is made up of those
who look to him as their king, who seek to submit to him, who
would embrace all his laws, all his commandments. Again, there
in Ephesians chapter 1, they are chosen in Christ, chosen
in him before the foundation of the world, Paul says, that
we should be holy and without blind before him in love. All
God's church is made up of holy people. They're those who delight
in his laws. How the old Scots Covenanters
would contend for the crown rights of King Jesus. Or do we contend
for those crown rights? We desire to embrace all his
holy precepts. We want to do those commandments
because he himself is that one who rules and reigns in our hearts. You see what it means for Christ
to be the heads of the church. We are to be a people then who
in all things would desire to be submissive to his authority,
wanting to do those things that are pleasing, longing after true
holiness, ever seeking to contend against all the forces of darkness,
ever seeking to mortify the deeds of the body, that all nature
that is within us, that we might live to his honour and his glory. All we want him then to have
that preeminent place which God himself has appointed in the
councils of eternity. And so this text this morning,
concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, that he is the head of the body,
the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he might have the preeminence, for he pleased
the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell. O God, grant
that we might be those who know what it is to have an interest
in that blessed fullness that resides in our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord bless this work
to us for his name's sake.