Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
Colossians 1
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,5For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;6Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:7As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;8Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:16For 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:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.18And 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.19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;20And, having made peace 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.21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Verse 1, Paul affirms his apostleship of Jehoshua Messiah which is in accordance with the will of the Father Jehovah. Verse 2, Paul gives a greeting from God who he identifies as the Father and from our King who he identifies as Jehoshua Messiah. Verse 3, Paul identifies God as the Father of Jehoshua Messiah. This verse shows us the relationship that Jehoshua has between Himself and God. Jehoshua is the Son of God not God Himself. This statement by Paul is the foundation of the Church (Matthew 16:13-20). Verse 4, word of the faith of the Colossians spread to Paul his fellow labourers. The love of the Colossians was also known to the saints outside Colossae. The bible says we will be known by our love. Verse 5 "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel" The hope of Christians is a heavenly one, Paul says that the heavenly hope is part of the gospel truth. The hope that is laid up for us in heaven is detailed in the letters to the seven Churches in the book of Revelation. Crowns, white stones with new names and fellowship with the bright and morning star Jehoshua are just a few of the treasures we have in heaven awaiting us. Verse 6 "Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth" The gospel was being spread all over the known world at this time and it was bearing fruit meaning people were getting saved and added to the Church. The gospel of truth is also called the gospel of grace denoting the sovereignty of Jehovah God and His calling of those who believe. Verse 7 "As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ" Epaphras ministered to the saints at Colossae as Paul's worker. Verses 8 and 9, 8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; We should always be praying for the brethren that God would supply them with wisdom and the knowledge of His will for them. Verse 10 of Colossians 1: 10That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; The result of being filled with God's wisdom and the knowledge of His will is that we will walk worthily of the Son of God bearing fruit for the Kingdom. Verse 11 of Colossians 1: 11Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; If we devote ourselves in knowing God in an intimate way we will be strengthened with all might according to His power not ours. Zechariah 4 says that "not by might nor by power, but my Spirit saith Jehovah of hosts". Being filled with Jehovah's Spirit produces patience and joyfulness in the midst of suffering. Verses 12 and 13: 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: God the Father has made us "fit" (qualified) for the Kingdom of Jehoshua Messiah, His only begotten Son. This Kingdom of the Son of God is the inheritance of the saints as the Davidic King is the light of the world. The saints, by being in covenant with the Son of God, are in the light of His eternal Kingdom. Jehovah God delivered us from the darkness of Satan's kingdom and translated (transferred) us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. God did this through Jehoshua's earthly ministry in which the Son of God bound Satan through doing the works of the Spirit. After binding Satan, Jehoshua then stripped (spoiled) Satan's palace (kingdom) of it's goods (subjects) and then God made a transfer of these spoiled subjects from Satan's kingdom which is darkness to the Son of God's Kingdom which is the light of the world. Verse 14 "In whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: The Son of God redeemed us from the power of death which is the result of sin. His death on the cross provided full atonement for our sins as He fulfilled the day of atonement. Verse 15 "who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" Jehoshua is the visible image of God who is Spirit and invisible. Paul makes this statement about Jehoshua post resurrection so we have to understand this statement within that context. When we read the description of the Messiah in the book of Revelation it is very similar to how the Ancient of days Jehovah is described in Daniel chapter 7. Jehovah God does have a form and a shape but the specifics of what that entails are unclear, since we are made in His image it is possible He has our form. However, He is invisible to man and dwells in light unapproachable thereby we cannot see Him but one day we will. Jehoshua is the express image of God the Father (Hebrews 1). He is an exact representation of the Father both in character and in sight as the shekinah glory of Jehovah God dwells in the body of the Son of God. Verse 16 "for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him" This is one of the most misunderstood verses in Christianity. Many believe Paul is referring to the Genesis creation, however a close look at the passage shows it to be about the new creation brought about by the Messiah's resurrection. How do we know this is not referring to the Genesis creation? Because the things mentioned as being created in Him and though Him and unto Him are not the earth, sea and mountains. The things mentioned are thrones (kingships/kingdoms), dominions (territories), principalities and powers (government structures) both those in heaven (angelic) and those on earth (human and fallen angels). Notice that verse 16 doesn't say that Jehoshua Himself created these things but rather they were created in Him. This can be understood that the Father created and ordered these things with the future intention of placing them under His Son's authority. At the end of the verse it also says these things have created through Him not by Him. Again, this denotes intention by God in that He created these things with His Son in mind and not that the Son literally created them before the world began. It also says these things were created unto Jehoshua. Again, this denotes someone else creating these things for the Son of God, not that the Son Himself created them but that they were created for Him. This someone else is the Father. The concept of things being created in something before the world began and that something not yet existing at the time of the creation of those things is in scripture in regards to us the saints. This will show that my understanding of verse 16 is not a wild theory but actually supported by scripture. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 9who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,10but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, Here Paul says that the grace we now enjoy was given to us before times eternal. We will all agree that we did not not exist in times eternal, so of course Paul is speaking of predestination. This is how we should understand Colossians 1:16 in that those things created in Messiah were done so because He was the predestined Messiah before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:18-21). This creating in Him does not depend on Him literally existing at the time those things were created, just as us having grace in Messiah before times eternal does not depend on us literally existing in those times. Predestination is in view in both Colossians 1:16 and the above passage in 2 Timothy. This isn't the only verse where we see this concept, lets go to Ephesians 1: 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ:4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:5having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. God chose us in the Son of God before the world began yet we did not literally exist before the world began. God predestined (predetermined) us to be His sons and daughters by way of having faith in His firstborn Son Jehoshua. Again, our predestination and us being chosen before the foundation of the world doesn't necessitate us having literally existed at that time but only that God conceived of us in His plan of salvation. Lets go to 1 Peter 3: 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. This passage in 1 Peter is key in understanding Colossians 1:16. Peter mentions the very things that were created unto Jehoshua in Colossians 1:16 and he says that it was after Jehoshua's ascension into heaven at the right hand of God in which angels, authorities and powers (principalities) were made subject unto Him. In Colossians 1:16, we see these things being created in Jehoshua before the foundation of the world which denotes predestination and then we see them created unto Him which according to Peter was fulfilled at Jehoshua's ascension into heaven. This is why it is better to understand Colossians 1:16 in the context of the Messiah's resurrection and ascension rather than the Genesis creation. Infact, the Genesis creation is nowhere in view here. The context of Colossians 1:16 is indeed about the Messiah's preeminence as a result of His resurrection making Him the firstborn from the dead. Peter confirms Paul's idea here of the angels, powers and principalities being created, or also made subject unto, the Son of God precisely because He is the firstborn from the dead and not because of anything in the Genesis creation. As we will see in the rest of Colossians 1, the resurrection of the Messiah is in view not anything having to do with the Genesis creation account. The things ( thrones and dominions) created in Jehoshua were not made subject unto Him until He ascended to heaven at the right hand of God. This shows that He didn't literally exist before the world began as then those things would have always been subject unto Jehoshua. To the contrary those things were not made subject unto the Son of God until He sat down on the right hand of the Father. The thrones, dominions, powers and principalities were created in Him before the foundation of the world meaning they were literally created by God the Father with Jehoshua in intention. These things would one day be made subject unto His predestined Messiah. This one day was when Jehoshua ascended to heaven at the right hand of God. Ephesians 3:9-11 9and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;10to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly [places] might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,11according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: Here we see predestination, in which the mystery of the gospel was hid in ages past yet existed in God's plan and mind. This plan did not manifest itself literally until His Son Jehoshua came to preach the gospel of the Kingdom. From the time of Jehoshua's ministry until now, the mystery which was only in God's mind has now been revealed in the salvation of many Gentiles into the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2). We see here that something could exist as a concept in God's mind yet not literally exist as being reality until the time appointed arrives. This should help us understand Colossians 1:16 in terms of the powers, thrones, dominions and principalities being created in Jehoshua before the foundation of the world as a concept yet not become a reality until His ascension when He sat on God's throne. In verse 10 of Ephesians 3 notice that Paul says that now (present tense) the powers and principalities would be made known the mystery of the gospel which is the manifold wisdom of God meaning it was not known unto them before but is being made manifest in the last days by the bringing in of the Gentiles into the Commonwealth of Israel. Even though the fulfillment of this mystery didn't start to happen until the arrival of the Son of God, it was already in God's plan back in the ages past. This shows the idea of predestination and that because a thing is predestined does not mean it has to literally exist or be happening during the time it has been predestined. Verse 11 of Ephesians 3 says that the mystery of the gospel was according to the eternal purpose (before the world began) which He (God the Father) purposed in Messiah Jehoshua. Notice that it is God the Father alone that decreed (purposed) the mystery of the gospel in eternity and He did this in Messiah with Him in Intention. There is no need for the Son of God to have literally existed when Jehovah purposed the mystery of the gospel, but rather that He was simply in the plan of the Father in which the mystery would be centered on. Let's now return to Colossians 1: Verse 17 "and he is before all things, and in him all things consist." Before all things should be understood in the context of Colossians 1, which is not preexistence but rather preeminence meaning position of authority rather than length of time. Paul is clear in the remaining verses of Colossians 1 that this preeminence is precisely because of Jehoshua's being the first begotten from the dead. This is why Jehoshua is before (head, chief ruler) all things. All things consist in Jehoshua. This goes back to verse 16 in that all thrones, dominions, principalities and powers were made subject unto Jehoshua at His ascension into heaven at the right hand of God (1 Peter 3:22). Hebrews 1 also touches on this concept of all things consisting in the Son of God: Hebrews 1:1-3 1God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,2hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;3who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Jehoshua has been appointed heir of all things clearly showing that they weren't inherently under His authority but rather the Father appointed and then put them under His authority. In the context of Hebrews 1, all things were not put under the authority of the Messiah until the last days which the author says began when Jehoshua began to teach the gospel of the Kingdom. The appointment of all things to be under the Son of God's authority took place in eternity as we have read in Colossians and Ephesians. The context of Hebrews 1 is the ascension and exaltation of Jehoshua into heaven receiving the throne of David. This is when the Messiah received the things He was made heir of. This is clearly shown all throughout the new testament. The phrase "through whom also He made the worlds" is better rendered "through whom also He designed the ages" which fits perfectly what i have been discussing re Colossians 1:16 in that Jehovah God predestined all things to one day be put under the headship of His Son. Jehovah God designed the ages with His Son in intention as one day be the ruler over all creation. We see this concept in Ephesians 3:9-11 as the mystery of the gospel was hid in ages past yet now is being made evident ever since the arrival of the Son of God onto the scene beginning at the Jordan river. The ages were designed according to the eternal purpose of the Father which He purposed (designed in intention) in Jehoshua Messiah. In others words, the Father did the actual designing of the ages but they were done so with His Son in mind as one day being the ruler in which the ages culminated in and around. The old testament pointed forward to the Messiah and the new testament was the revealing of the Messiah and the arrival of of the promised Davidic King. Verse 18 of Colossians 1: "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." Jehoshua is the head of the church as a result of being resurrected from the dead. Jehoshua is actually the first human ever to be resurrected from the dead. This is how we should understand the term "firstborn" meaning it is related to the resurrection not some eternal begetting in heaven or being God's first created angel. Jehoshua is the firstborn precisely because of His being the first human ever resurrected from death. It is His resurrection from the dead that validates His Sonship to the Father (Romans 1:4) and places Him as the head of all creation as He now sits on the throne of David in heaven at Jehovah's right hand. Jehovah God resurrected His Son Jehoshua so that He would have the preeminence over all creation. This verse shows the absolute importance of the resurrection and that it wasn't until the resurrection that the Son of God became preeminent over all of God's creation. Verse 19 of Colossians 1: "For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell" All the glory and majesty of Jehovah God dwells in Jehoshua Messiah. Again, this is a result of the resurrection and ascension of the Son of God. These things are being said of Jehoshua post resurrection and has nothing to do with the trinity or hypostatic union. While the Father dwelt in the Son of God in a mighty way during His earthly ministry, it wasn't until after the resurrection and ascension that the absolute fulness of the Father's majesty dwelt in Jehoshua. Verse 20 of Colossians 1: "and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens" God reconciled all things unto Himself through His Son Jehoshua. The cross was the means in which Jehoshua made peace between sinners and God. Jehoshua's death on the cross provided a final atoning sacrifice fulfilling the day of atonement. The Son of God's blood brings redemption to fallen man. This redemption brings one from certain death to eternal life in the Kingdom of heaven. Verses 21 and 22 of Colossians 1: 21And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,22yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: While man is tempted to glory in his goodness, Paul the apostle makes it clear that we needed a Saviour. It is through the love of Jehoshua sacrificing Himself that we are now reconciled to God, being transferred from being children of the wicked one to being children of Jehovah God. We once were filled with wicked works in our mind to now being new creations. Make no mistake about it, Jehoshua's death on the cross is the key to having peace with God. His flesh being killed and sacrificed as the passover lamb, provided us with the ministry of atonement and presents us as blameless and holy in the sight of God the Father in the holy of holies. Verse 23 of Colossians 1: "if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister" Continuing in the faith is no guarantee but requires diligence and keeping oneself rooted in the gospel once delivered to the saints. We are to keep the hope of the gospel at the forefront of our lives. This hope is centered on the only begotten Son Jehoshua and His cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead. The Davidic King is the mercyseat for our sins and His blood shed on the cross was pure and undefiled. The Son of God provides the only way to God the Father. Any other way is a false way and crooked road. Faith is not merely a mental ascent of knowledge of something but rather a commitment to that thing you say you believe Verse 24 of Colossians 1: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church" Paul is the example of a true minister of the Son of God. Those who wish to be ministers must be willing to suffer for the church just as Jehoshua did. Not only did Paul suffer but he rejoiced in those sufferings. The Messiah's death was the all sufficient atoning death and there is nothing lacking in the crucifixion of His flesh. Paul is referring to the suffering of Jehovah's people in the last days which started during the ministry of the Messiah. Verses 25-27 of Colossians 1: 25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: God gave Paul an administration (dispensation) to minister to the Gentiles making known to them the mystery of the gospel. The mystery of the gospel is centered on bringing many Gentiles into the Commonwealth of Israel being partakers of the covenants of promise. This grafting in of the Gentiles into Israel is contingent in them having faith in the Son of God. The Messianic Davidic Branch is the bridge and door in which the Gentiles can gain entrance into the Kingdom of Israel. Once primarily based in the ethnic identity of being Israelites, the nation of Israel is now a spiritual family of Jews and Gentiles who have faith in Jehoshua Messiah the seed of Abraham and David. This mystery has hid in ages past but was manifested in the last days to the saints of God. While there has always been a universal aspect of the Abrahamic promise, the full display of God's purposes in salvation was not clearly seen until the arrival of the final Davidic King Jehoshua. Jehoshua's death, resurrection and subsequent ascension was/is the means in the which Gentiles are reconciled to God and brought into the Kingdom of David. The content of the mystery of the gospel that is now fully revealed is namely that the Gentiles enjoy full participation among the people of God. All those trusting in Messiah enjoy His covenantal presence, namely Messiah in you. Whereas the Messianic Spirit was in the prophets, priests, judges and kings in the old testament, the Spirit of prophecy now abides in believing Gentiles as well as believing Jews. The Son of God in us is the hope of glory, not ritualistic religion. We have graduated from the law of Moses in which we were servants to now having the Spirit of adoption which is the foundation of our hope. The hope of glory is that the presence of the only begotten Son Jehoshua dwells in our flesh causing us to walk in His commandments and displaying His perfect righteousness. The Son of God pours out His Spirit to the church so that they can testify the things pertaining to salvation which is found in Jehoshua alone. Verses 28 and 29 of Colossians 1: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Messiah Jehoshua: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. New covenant believers preach Messiah as He is the Spirit of prophecy. Now that we have Messiah living in us, the hope of glory, we can do nothing but speak of His testimony which is His doctrine, life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven on the throne of David. We don't preach the law of Moses, we don't preach the land in the middle east which is falsely called "Israel", we preach the cross of Messiah and His wonders and glory. We preach His sacrificial love, kindness and righteousness and perfect character. We speak of His glorious heavenly throne in the holy of holies where He sits majestically on the right hand of Jehovah God. We labour in the power of the Son of God
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
November 2021
Categories |