Admittedly, our Lesson title is a bit opinionated! Especially since the Gospels are sitting at the Head of the New Testament! Still, Colossians says some things about Jesus that are vital to our faith.

As I studied late last night, I read from a Book that summarizes Paul’s Presentation of Jesus in Colossians’ four relatively short chapters.

I share with you.

First, Jesus in His Relationship with God the Father!

For example, in Colossians 1:15 Jesus is the very “Image” of the “invisible God!” In ancient Greek culture, that would have been the equivalent of calling Jesus the very “Portrait” of God! (Jesus did say to His Disciple Philip one day … “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9)

Second, Jesus in His Relationship with the world!

Right off, in Colossians chapter 1, Paul declares about Jesus … “By Him were all things created.” He is the Creator of the world! Of “all things!” (More detail … “All things that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him.” Colossians 1:16)

Third, Jesus in His Relationship to any other so-called “means” of salvation!

There simply is no other way to God! There is no other God, in fact! Paul, tell us please … “In Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” ALL of God is in His Son! No “idol” is needed! No other “religion!” No other “Saviour!” See Colossians 2:9, quoted above.

Now dear readers, Bible students, that’s being Jesus-centered! Or, Christo-centric some call it. (And I have here barely scratched the surface!)

But WHY is Paul being so “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” in his writing to the Colossians?

Because certain Jesus denying heretics had tried to infiltrate the Church there in the Lycus Valley (where Colossae and Laodicea and Hierapolis were located. See Colossians 4:13, where these cities are mentioned by name.)

Men who did not believe Jesus was God. Or certainly did not accept Him as God in the flesh, with a human body!

Note … Paul did not choose to attack them negatively, listing all their false tenets or beliefs. HE JUST PRESENTED JESUS IN ALL HIS GLORY AND EXALTED PERSONHOOD!

And that’s the underlying reason why Colossians is so very, very “HIGH” on JESUS! And we, two thousand years later, are still reaping the benefits of Paul’s “High Christology!”

Paul even believes that Jesus is the Reason atoms and solar systems (from microscopically small to telescopically large) “hold together!” Read it, and believe it … “By Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:17, where “consist” literally means “to hold together!” Jesus is the Cohesive Power of the universe!

Wow!

And I know Him personally! You can as well …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I have often (and fairly recently) alluded to this verse of Scripture … “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” It’s located at Psalm 11:4.

The very word “fundamental,” which is dear to the hearts of many of us, hails from the Latin word “fundare,” meaning “to lay a foundation!”

The foundation of any building may well be considered its most important part!

Now, in a slight turn of emphasis, I want to talk about the Bible, God’s Holy Word. Its foundation Book is indisputably Genesis. The Book of creation! (Which I still believe God accomplished in six literal 24-hour days.)

But beware! The devil has the Bible’s very “foundation” Book under attack these days.

Here’s what I mean … the doctrine of creation, God’s miraculous act whereby He brought something out of nothing. That’s a foundation, the Bible’s first two chapters!

And yet … the devil is trying to destroy this very bedrock of Scripture!

So is he mocking the world-wide Flood of Noah’s day!

And even the reality of the Tower of Babel!

Each of which great miracles is (from the Latin, I hope you remember) “fundamental,” or if you prefer … “foundational” to our lives as Christians.

Yes, the foundations of the Bible are being corroded and weakened by that sly old fox Satan. Slowly at first, more rapidly now! 

And if (or when) America (or any other people) allows such to occur … blatant denial of creation, flood or tower … which in turn places all Scripture under suspicion … “destruction” may not be far away!

We need to remain “fundamentalists” in more ways than one!

If one (an enemy of Truth) can destroy credibility in God’s miraculous week of Creation, he will eventually (if not sequentially) destroy the Cross of Calvary! Demolishing its reality among us moderns.

And if that happens, what can anybody do?

Only God Himself will be able to solve that dilemma. Which He will indeed accomplish, by coming back to earth in strict judgment!

Yes, coming again … “When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the Presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His Power; when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe …” Quoting here 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our verse today is found at Romans 11:36. Here it is in our Bible, the King James Version … “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Needless to say, God Himself is the Subject of the verse, the Antecedent of those three pronouns! (The three “him” words.)

Of Him … all things come from God as Source! All good things anyway. (I do not believe God is the Author of sin.)

Through Him … noting touches me as a Believer, a Christian, but it has flowed through the mighty Hands of my God!

To Him … everything and everybody will ultimately bow down and worship the Lord God Almighty! Yes, all existence is flowing back to Him! He is the Goal of it all!

In Greek, “ek” (to Him) then “dia” (through Him) then “eis” (to Him), or as Paul words it in Colossians 1:17, speaking about Jesus as God the Son … “By him all things CONSIST.” All things “hold together!” Jesus is, in reality, the “glue” of the universe!

The Creator and the Culminator … as well as the Redeemer!

What a Saviour!

Dwell on (meditate and ponder and revere) that Great God today!

Glory to Him forever!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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A whole Verse today, for our meditation …

“And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.” 1st Samuel 5:3

I love Old Testament history! And the Stories (all of them true) of Israel’s life as a Nation intrigue me.

Ashdod, mentioned above, was one of the main Philistine cities of the past. Thus, it was symbolic of Israel’s enemies. But notice in our Text that the Philistines then (another Story) possessed the “Ark of the Lord,” the very “Ark of the Covenant!” This is where God sat and reigned and inhabited Isarel! Where the Shekinah Glory once hovered and rested!

Note where God has been placed. In the vicinity of the world’s god, here named “Dagon!” (Half fish, half man!)

I’m not a theological expert, but I do know that the True God of Israel, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will NOT permanently coexist with some heathen so-called deity.

Nonetheless the two (the Real GOD and the false god) spent the night under the same roof … BUT LOOK WHAT THE PHILISTINES FOUND THE NEXT MORNING!

“And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.”

Wow!

The man-made god had fallen prostrate before our God! Before the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob!

Hence my lesson title today … THE POWER OF GOD!

Some day not only false gods … but also every human being will fall before Him and proclaim Him Lord!

God Himself says so! Listen … “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” Isaiah 45:23

Now, that’s POWER!

And dear reader here this morning, that Power is available to you! Right now! To help you navigate life week after week after week, all the days of your being in fact!

Oh, back to our Story … soon afterward … the very next verse in Samuel … “And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.”

As I said … POWER!

“Cut off” this time!

No wonder Paul can confidently write: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Bible is the greatest Book ever written!

Actually, it is a library consisting of 66 Books! Written over a period of 1600 years by up to 40 different men!

Without a single contradiction, when read in context, I might add!

And that unique Volume is filled with “word pictures.” Some would prefer the term “figures of speech.”

Now let me specify …

James 1:6 … “For he that wavereth (is unfaithful) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

That’s a word picture … “like a wave of the sea!”

Now Jeremiah 15:20 … “I (the Lord God) will make thee (the Prophet Jeremiah) unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee.

That’s another word picture … “a fenced brass wall!”

What a difference between the two!

One is liquid, the other solid!

One is unstable, the other unmoveable!

One is driven by the wind, the other resists the wind!

One is symbolic of a man who lacks faith, the other a man who possesses it in quantity!

No wonder Paul longed to be “steadfast!”

No wonder Jesus is as solid as a “Rock!”

Reader here today, what kind of life do you want to pursue?

Wishy-washy, like the wave of the sea?

Or strong and steady, like a brass wall?

Oh, here’s another word picture, or a series of them …

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3

A firmly planted tree!

And just how does one attain such a life?

By staying away from sin! By loving God’s Word and consistently meditating on it! See Psalm 1:1-2 for the details.

I know my heart’s desire.

How about you?

Waves or walls?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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