CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS
A CHRISTIAN IS
COLOSSIANS 1:15-23
This message is meant to amaze believers of the good news. Paul included this part to warn the believers about losing their fascination with Jesus. False teachers were presenting another way of salvation: by works, through secret codes; angelic beings.
Paul corrects this false teaching by presenting Jesus as the good news:
1. THE GOOD NEWS IS JESUS. WHO HE IS DEFINES THE GOOD NEWS. HE IS THE GOOD NEWS. Colossians 1:15-20, Philippians 2:5-11
a. Jesus and God
The good news is that Jesus is God. (John 1:1,14)
The good news is that Jesus is the perfect image of God. (Hebrews 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; 3:18)
b. Jesus and Creation
The good news is that Jesus plays an important in creation.
Unlike the angels who are created beings, Jesus is the Creator. He is God who created everything in the universe.
Jesus also is the “firstborn” in all creation. Sadly some cults today misinterpret this phrase. They teach that this means that Jesus is created. He is the first created being, and therefore Jesus is not equal to God who is the only uncreated being. “Prototokos” means first in importance and rank (Colossians 1:15,18; Romans 8:29; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 1:15; Psalm 89:27).
The good news about Jesus and creation is laid out in Colossians 1:16:
All things came in him – sphere
All things were created through him – agent
All things were created for him – Jesus is the goal of creation
Jesus is before all things (1:17a)
Jesus holds everything together. This applies both to the universe and to every person (universal and personal)
The good news is also seen in some of the claims of Jesus:
Equal with God - John 5:18, 8:58-59, 10:30-38, 12:45, 14:7-10, 16:15, 17:11-22…
Voice of God - Matthew 5:17-44, Mark 13:31, John 6:63, 14:24, 8:51, 14:23
Have authority over all things - Matthew 8:27, 28:18, Mark 1:27, John 5:27
Determine People’s Destiny - Matthew 7:21-23, Luke 12:8-9, John 3:14-19, 5:22-27, 6:40, 8:12, 10:7-21, 14:6
Forgive Sins - Mark 2:5-7, Luke 5:20-24
Equal with God - John2.is that Jesus is
c. Jesus and the Church, Colossians 1:18-19
Jesus is the head of the church.
II. THE GOOD NEWS IS WHAT JESUS DID: (Colossians 1:20-22)
Through his death Jesus reconciled all things to himself. This refers to God’s creation that was plunged into ruin because of sin.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” Romans 8:22-23 (NIV)
The good news is that because of Jesus, one day every evil in the world will come to an end. God will make right every wrong in the world.
Reconciliation of sinners to God. The good news is that through Jesus, we have been forgiven of our sins. Romans 8:1 states, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The child of God is so forgiven.
III. THE GOOD NEWS CALLS US TO A LIFE OF COMMITMENT (Colossians 1:23)
The good news is not cheap talk. It affects the whole life. The good news of Jesus requires that we:
Continue in your faith
Established and firm
Not moved from the hope held up by the gospel
Commit to proclaim the gospel
Conclusion: Go live with this good news. Be a good news to others.
