The Book of Colossians Pt. 7 Jesus Christ Is God In The Flesh!

Colossians 1:12-14  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: 14)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 

We are moving on in our study but I wanted to bring these three verses back, because they connect to the next section where Paul explores the preeminence of Jesus Christ. 

Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

Jesus Christ is mentioned in verses 13,14, so when Paul begins this text with the word "Who" he is specifically speaking of Jesus Christ. In doing this, Paul took on the Gnostics and philosophers who promoted spiritual deviation, rather than promoting Jesus Christ.

Satan's attacks are subtle and he enticed people to search for some secret knowledge that contains the secret for a deeper life. Thus, one error of Gnosticism is that of adding something to Jesus Christ. 

Satan uses sincere but misguided people to propagate error in the church. Gnostics claimed to offer secret knowledge for a fuller, deeper spiritual life. However, they were guilty of adding something to Christ and His cross. 

There is nothing that can be added to the work, words or person of Jesus Christ. 

He is the ONLY Perfect Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29-36). 

He is the ONLY door to salvation (John 10:7). 

He is the ONLY way of salvation (John 14:6). 

He is the ONLY source of truth (John 14:6). 

He is the ONLY mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5).  

He is the ONLY Son of God (John 3:16). 

He is the ONLY High Priest who lives forever and can save us to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25)! 

He is the ONLY one who purged us from our sins and sat down because His saving work is eternal (Hebrews 1:3). 

Jesus Christ is the exact representation of the Father.

Colossians 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

The apostle is now going to show us the sovereignty of Christ and the nature of His Person by showing who He is and His exalted place in the universe. Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God.  

Adam was created in the image of God but he reflected only a part of the glory of the Godhead.  Jesus Christ, the Second Adam perfectly and visibly reflected the exact image of God. 

The word "image" is like a prototype that is made from an exact image or stamping of the original. A prototype is in all respects as exact as the original source. It must have the same measurements, tolerances, weights and materials and must perfectly conform to the original source. 

Jesus Christ is the Eternal King and Only Wise God. 

1 Timothy 1:17  Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Thus, Christ is the exact image, the precise and perfect prototype of the invisible God. 

John 1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John tells us that no one has ever seen the heavenly Father. However, the only begotten Son of God is one with His Father. Jesus Christ alone declares Him to mankind. 

The word "declared" means to unfold this truth by teaching the things related to God. It is the idea of rightly interpreting all that is sacred and divine for our understanding. 

2 Corinthians 4:4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4)  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Paul told the church at Corinth that there is saving light and power in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. The apostle continued by telling them that Jesus is the very image of God. 

Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father.

Hebrews 1:1-3  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3)  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 

The writer of Hebrews tells us that God spoke in Old Testament times through the prophets. He sent visions, dreams, and used scribes to dictate from the mouths of God's prophets. 

In New Testament times, the Father spoke to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. He has given all things to His Son. He made the world and all created things through His Son. 

Jesus Christ does not just reflect the brightness of the Eternal Godhead. He is that the full essence of that very brightness. This is the same glorious brightness that the disciples saw and fell down before Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (See Matthew 17:1-6).

This same Jesus Christ who is the exact, express image of God is also Creator and Sustainer of all life. He holds the entire universe together by His omnipotent Word.

The Greek word translated "express image" is found in our word "character" and refers to metal stamping with a die and press stamping something with an exact impression.  

This same Jesus who is the image of God, paid our sin debt, absorbed the wrath of God for our sins and wiped it out by His blood. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father. 

If you see Jesus, you have seen the Father. 

John 14:8-9  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9)  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 

Jesus Christ is the exact representation of the Father in human form. Philip asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, but Jesus made it very clear that when you see Jesus, you have seen the Father.

How can this be? Because Jesus and His Father are one (See John 10:30). 

God was manifest in the flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ. 

1 Timothy 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

This verse is perhaps the most well attested, strongest verse that declares the Divine Nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was fully God and fully man and this is why He can be a mediator between man and God. 

Now, this text is another one that was altered by heretics like the Gnostics, Arians and others, who denied the reality that God became a man while still remaining fully Divine.

Let us look at how modern Bibles translate this text. 

(1 Tim 3:16 NRSV)  Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.                

(1 Tim 3:16 NIV)  Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

(1 Tim 3:16 NASB) And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.                 

(1 Tim 3:16 ESV) Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.      

(1 Tim 3:16 NKJV) Footnote “NU text reads who.”  

This is perhaps the single greatest verse in the New Testament attesting to the deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. For example, to “reveal” something is to disclose that which has been kept a closely guarded secret. 

Jesus’ virgin birth was prophesied in detail hundreds of years before He was born, so it can hardly be classified as a secret, however, the word reveal does sympathize with Gnostic views that believe receiving secret knowledge is the key to salvation.

More than 300 manuscripts, a host of foreign language versions and all church fathers writings contain the Greek word for God (theos), while only about ten omit that word.  

Dean John Burgon’s meticulous research found that 252 of 254 cursives (also called minuscules) contained the verse, along with all lectionaries (Greek New Testament scriptures to be read in the churches on certain Sundays), 23 Church fathers and 3 prominent foreign language versions. 

However, many uncials (manuscripts written in capital letters), virtually all lectionaries (Greek New Testament readings for specified Sundays) and the vast majority of cursive or minuscule manuscripts contain “theos” in this verse. Therefore, it is wrong and malicious to remove "God" from this text and replace it with fabricated words. 

Readings of “He who” found in modern versions are totally fabricated. There is not one Greek manuscript that reads the same way modern Bibles have translated this passage. 

Modern versions use of the word “appeared” is compatible with the Gnostic belief that there were multiple appearances of good spirits throughout the ages, called emanations. 

Both words (revealed & appeared) convey a sense of a spiritual or mental knowing, rather than a physical, tangible manifestation. After all, angels and even Satan, appeared in bodies, but that cannot compare to “God being manifest in the flesh.” 

The KJV employs the word “manifest” because it means to make an object plain, evident, or provable in a physical sense. Manifest also can mean something that is palpable, implying a definite weightiness, physical presence and tangibility.  

Certainly, this harmonizes with what Jesus taught since He told Thomas to thrust his hands into His wounds, something that could not have been done if Christ merely exhibited an appearance, like a spirit. 

The Greek word that is normally translated “manifest” is used in this verse, not the Greek word for “revealed.” 

Therefore, we see that various heretical groups attacked the doctrine of the incarnation of God. They did this at Colosse and many other New Testament cities. They certainly altered the copies of the scripture to make them conform to their heretical views. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Ancient heresies still exert some influence today, although perhaps under different names.

They tell you that you must add something to the Work and Person of Christ. This means they believe that all Jesus taught and did was not sufficient for us. 

Adding anything to the finished work of Jesus Christ means you are depreciating all that He did. 

Such aberrant views must be resisted by shining the searchlight of God's Word upon false beliefs. 

We can rejoice in the fulness of teaching that supports this vital doctrine of our faith and we can praise God for sending us the perfect mediator, the God-Man, Jesus Christ.

May we renew our determination to serve our loving Lord by telling others about His saving work and transforming power. 

Bob