2017 Hymn to Christ the Lord Colossians 1:15-20 Dr. John Mahony - - PDF document

The Five Solas of the Reformation Conference Grace Bible Church of Olive Branch, MS

2017

Hymn to Christ the Lord

Solus Christus

• Dr. John Mahony

Chairman & Professor, Theological & Historical Studies, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, Memphis, TN

October 20-21

Hymn to Christ the Lord Colossians 1:15-20

• Dr. John Mahony

“What think ye of Christ?” is the test; To try both your state & your scheme; You cannot be right in the rest, Unless you think rightly of Him. John Newton Introduction: Three “clues” or affirmations:

• 1. The clear connection between the supremacy & the sufficiency of

Christ

• 2. The clear connection between Christ as Creator & Redeemer: “If the

source of the universe, as well as of the universal church, is to be found ‘in him’ (v. 16) then we owe to Christ our physical existence & joys, just as much as our spiritual life.”

• 3. The identity of Christ is clearly portrayed before time, on earth, & over

all. Two Creations summarize the entire biblical story: Creation-Fall-Redemption-New Creation The Biblical story is also summarized by two persons/Adams

• 1. Jesus: Lord of Creation (1:15–17)
• a. Christ’s Relation to the Father (1:15a): “Image”

2 Cor. 4:4, “ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the

Hymn to Christ the Lord Colossians 1:15-20

• Dr. John Mahony

unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Christ is also the second Adam (the original image-bearer):

• 1. Adam was created in the image; Christ is the Image
• 2. Adam desired to be like God; Christ did not grasp for equality
• 3. Adam sought to exalt himself; Christ humbled Himself
• 4. Adam disobeyed; Christ perfectly obeyed
• 5. Adam disfigured the image; Christ restores the image to

humankind >Representation: visible expression

• John 1:18, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten

God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

• Heb. 1:1-2, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the

prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. >Manifestation: identity of essence:

• Phil. 2:5-7, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in

Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form

• f a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.”
• Heb. 1:3-4, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact

representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the

Hymn to Christ the Lord Colossians 1:15-20

• Dr. John Mahony

Majesty on high, 4 having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”

• b. Christ’s Relation to Creation (1:15b-17): “Firstborn” (meaning that Christ is

the heir & ruler of all) >Creator, (15b-16): note series of prepositions-

• In Him (trans. “by him”): Source of all things (“in relation to Him”)
• Through Him: agent of creation
• For Him: goal of creation

>Sustainer, (17): Note the parallel expression, “in Him”

• His Pre-existence
• His Providence
• 2. Jesus: Lord of the New Creation (1:18–20)
• a. In Relation to the Church (18)

>His Position (18a): Ruling Head >His Provision (18b):

• Beginning:

arche refers to His place of prominence as the First of the new creation

• Firstborn: refers to His resurrection & His

>His Pre-eminence (18c)

• b. In Relation to the Father (19-20)

>Revealer of the Father (19): Fullness

Hymn to Christ the Lord Colossians 1:15-20

• Dr. John Mahony

>Reconciler for the Father (20): “If verse 19 tells us that nothing of God’s fullness is lacking in Christ, verse 20 asserts that nothing in the universe is

• utside the range of God’s reconciling work in Christ.”
• a. Reconciliation is a work of God.
• b. Reconciliation is a work that has been accomplished: “Therefore

reconciliation w/ God waits not upon human achievement but upon human acceptance.”

• c. Reconciliation was achieved at the cross. P “would turn our eyes

back to the cross for the place of power, & up to the throne for the true man of power.”

• d. Reconciliation through Christ takes in all things. “God has made

him the agent of reconciliation for all just b/c there is no other mediator capable of reconciling any.”