The Cosmic Christ (Pt 1)
Dale Gooding - Col 1:15-20
https://youtu.be/FJqtrP8XhOY
I) Jesus is the Image of God - Col 1:15,16a
We need to understand a few things:
1) This text is often titled "The Hymn of Christ"
A) Early Catechism to teach Who Jesus was
B) Correlate with: Gen 1:1; Jn 1:1-3; Heb 1
2) The Impetus - "The Colossian Heresy"
A) Heretical
B) Tenets
i) An insistence on legalism
ii) A belief in heightened knowledge
iii) Not denying, but dethroning Christ
C) Human Deficiency
i) Divine Transcendence
ii) Communication Comprehension
iii) Change (Perversion)
3) Importance of background (Col 2:4;16-19)
4) Paul's intent
1) Identify Jesus as pre-existent Creator
2) Demonstrate Jesus as Divine / Sustainer
3) Show that Jesus is The Reconciler
A) Jesus is the "eikon"
B) Jesus is a man - "firstborn"
C) Jesus is the Creator - John 1:1-3