Restored Relationship Series

Chico Alliance Church

“Restored Relationship”

I. Paul exhibits effective Prayer 1:1-12

II. Paul exalts the Father’s great transfer program 13-23

A. The Father rescued us from the kingdom of darkness.

B. The Father transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

C. Jesus redeemed us and forgave our sin.

D. Jesus is supreme over all

1. He is the image of the invisible God

2. He is the firstborn (in charge of) all creation because he did it.

3. He is before all things

4. He holds all things together

5. He is the head of the church

6. He is the firstborn from the dead

The final two facts concerning our king are found in Colossians 1:19-23

7. All of God’s fullness dwells in Him 1:19

8. Father reconciled all things to Himself through Him. 1:20-23

Introduction

Broken relationships are among the most painful experiences on earth.

Marriages Friendships Parents and children Brothers and sisters

There are all kinds of pain in this fallen world. Relational pain ranks high on the list. It began from the first break in relationship with God due to self-centeredness.

God and man. Adam and Eve. Cain and Abel. The rest is history.

Jealousy, broken trust, ambition, competition, betrayal, prejudice.

In Galatians 5 Paul outlines some of the problems that come from a fleshly walk.

Galatians 5:19-22 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

I find it interesting to note how many of the things listed describe relationship problems. God designed us to live in community. Satan is out to destroy community. The first thing that happens when we stop living by the direction and energy of the Holy Spirit is broken relationships. When the desires of the flesh dictate behavior you can be sure that difficulties in relationships are not far behind. Kingdom kids are evident by the quality of their relationships. John makes it clear that you cannot love God and hate your brother. It is incompatible with how God’s kingdom operates. From the beginning, problems with horizontal relationships with people originate from a problem in one’s vertical relationship with God. Paul offers another list that illustrates what happens when man fails to acknowledge God as God. Romans 1:28-31

When we think of a depraved mind we think of someone who commits horrible crimes. Look at God’s view! In order to appreciate what God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit made possible; we must clearly understand man’s plight in his rebellious state. The need for rescue includes much more than the fact we were in bondage to the evil prince of darkness. Our need relates to broken relationship first with the creator.

7. All of God’s fullness dwells in Him 1:19

There are three significant words here.

“Fullness”

This is the same word used in Paul’s prayer earlier that they be “filled” with the knowledge of God’s will. In this form it indicates one who has been “filled”, “permeated”, “saturated” It was well pleasing that very person and purpose of the Father fill the Son.

“dwell”

It pleased the Father that this fullness “dwell” in him (emphatic position in the phrase). This word is the word to live, or to inhabit linked with the preposition “down” resulting in a more intensified concept to “make dwell”, “settle as a permanent residence. This is not just some but “all” the fullness. Jesus, fully man but also fully God. He is eternally the God/Man. As stated earlier and summarized here, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is the exact representation of the Father. It pleased the Father that this is the way it is. No competition, no jealousy.

Col 2:3 “In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Col 2:9 “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in body form.”

Being fully God and fully man, Jesus became the perfect one to bring about reconciliation between a Holy God and rebellious man. John 1:16 “Of His fullness we have all received.”

Just as it pleased the Father that all his fullness dwelt in Him, so it please the father to reconcile all things to Him self through him (empathic position).

8. The Father reconciled all things to Himself through Him. 1:20-23

The truth of reconciliation is a most vital truth. It is the answer to broken relationship with God displacing man and disturbing God since the fall of Adam. Before we can appreciate what Jesus did we must understand the gravity of our position before God. Just because we do not feel offense does not mean it does not exist.