Colossians 1:15 - 17 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (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: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
Everyone needs a proper understanding Who Jesus is, because
it seems that so many today have no idea who He is. His name is Jesus, and He
is “The Christ” or the Anointed One meaning He is the Messiah.
His proper name is Jesus the Messiah, John 1:41 “He first findeth his own
brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being
interpreted, the Christ.” Second, Paul called Him “image of the
invisible God” The word “image” means - a likeness, or resemblance of God. This
is defined as such because of His incarnation which means Jesus was the manifestation
of Deity or of God. Paul also called Jesus the “form of God”, “Who, being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” Philippians
2:6 The word “form” means – nature – of God,
therefore Jesus “thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” The word equal
means - as much, equal, like – which tells us that Jesus the Messiah is the
mirror image of God in the flesh. Therefore, Jesus was not committing robbery of
God’s image because He said these words, “I and my Father are one.”
John 10:30 The Jews, because of their ignorance of Jesus crucified Jesus
because of these very words. John told us “In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John
1:1 Leaving no doubt at who Jesus is, He is God in the Flesh, “And 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.” John
1:14 Therefore, without question Jesus is God in the flesh and to us He is the Messiah
as the woman at the well came to understand. "The woman saith unto him,
I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will
tell us all things. (26) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am
he." John 4:25 – 26
So, why did the Jews not understand who Jesus was, why did
they crucify their very Messiah? Because it was not revealed to them by the
Holy Spirt, understanding who Jesus is, is a revelation it doesn’t come
naturally. Paul who was Saul of Tarsus, who was also a very educated Jew said
these words. "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my
mother's womb, and called me by his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in me,
that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood:" Galatians 1:15 – 16 Saul was a nasty Jew, he
hated Jesus and His church, but Jesus called him and saved Him through revelation,
Paul did not change on his own, Jesus changed Him. People confuse God’s
chosen Nation with God’s chosen People. God’s chosen Nation is the nation that
the Messiah would come through, Jesus was a Jew but rejected as the Messiah by
His own people. “He came unto his
own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11 All Jews will not be saved, Saul
was as many others were, but the nation itself hates Jesus so much they
crucified Him out of pure rejection and hate.
Paul said in our text these words, “…he is before all
things, and by him all things consist." Only Jesus Christ can give people
a real salvation. Paul wrote that salvation “…ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves…” Eph 2:8 Paul went on to say that salvation is not of works
verse 9 “Not of works…” because it is of grace. “And
if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But
if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
Romans 11:6 Grace praises the Creator and works praises the creature, “Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:25 So,
if you believe that salvation is by works you have rendered God and the Messiah
useless and the glory is yours, but at the same time you have changed God’s
truth into a lie and called God a liar. "He that believeth on the Son
of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him
a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11)
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life
is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the
Son of God hath not life." 1
John 5:10 – 12 “Him a Liar” means you make God I liar because you
reject His account of salvation and changing the truth of God into a lie. The
chosen nation that God chose to have His Beloved Son to enter this world, has
and still deny Him. The Jews make countless money off of Jesus name, but they
still deny the truth about Who He is, the Messiah. Countless so-called Christians
and so-called churches deny Jesus Christ as Savior because of works for
salvation. Remember what God said, “And if by grace, then is it no more of
works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no
more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6 Works is a denial of
Jesus Christ as Saviour and calling God’s record of His Son a liar. If you do
not know who Jesus the Christ is, then you are not saved. John 5:37 - 41 "And
the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have
neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. (38) And ye have not
his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. (39) Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they
which testify of me. (40) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
(41) I receive not honour from men."
