16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

1) What is the relationship between Christ and creation?
Paul’s letter to the church in Colossae opens with a straightforward message – Christ is over all of creation and is therefore the singular object of our worship.  Paul wanted to be sure that the Colossian church was clear on that fact.  Paul knew the understanding of that truth would lead the church to grasp the reality that Jesus created everything with the end in mind – that they would be reconciled to Him (v. 20-22).

2) What is the relationship between Christ and thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities?
Paul then continues his simple message.  Not only did Christ create all, Christ is over all – what we see on this planet, what we see in the universe, what has never been seen before, and any kind of created order in either realm.  He has authority over every single one.  Paul wanted the church to know Christ reigns over all of them, “…that in everything he might be preeminent.” (v. 18).  According to Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary, Paul references the fact that Jesus is over all relationships of authority, whether angels in heaven or humans on earth.  Later in his letter, Paul explains to his followers that when they concern themselves with something other than Christ, they are missing the mark (Col 2:16-23).  Not only that, but Paul also points to the truth that Christ has triumphed over any authority that might try to keep them from the gift of life through His work on the cross (Col 2:13-15).

3) What does it mean for Christ to hold all things together?
Paul’s heart was for the church to know that anything that may come their way – good or bad – fell under the dominion of the One who keeps them all in place.  His desire was for them to know peace as a result – peace with the truth of their own salvation (v. 20) and peace in their hearts with any circumstances they may encounter along the journey (Col 3:15).  Paul knew that Christ’s peace can bring us through any moment we may face with a sense of confidence in the future because we know that Jesus is in control of it all.

1) What is the relationship between Christ and creation?
Christ and creation are connected as two distinct ways that God chooses to reveal himself to His people – Christ in human form as, “…the image of the invisible God” (v. 15) and creation as a clear statement of the power and very existence of God (Romans 1:20).   Creation points us back to Christ; creation and Christ together bear witness to the Father; and all of that truth should lead us to worship with gratitude for our personal salvation.  It’s not about praising the creation, but the ONE who created it all.  Do you find yourself seeing the creation only, or do you allow it to point you back to the creator himself?

2) What is the relationship between Christ and thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities?
When we recognize Christ’s rule and authority over every other relationship in our lives, our perspective is transformed.  In our healthy relationships, we are spurred on to love and show Christ all the more to one another (1 John 4:7-8).  And in our difficult relationships, we remember that no challenge can overshadow our all-powerful God (Psalm 118:6).  And in any relationship where we have someone in authority over us and must submit to their leadership, we rest in the fact that they are under the authority of someone much greater (Col 3:18-25).  Those truths then lead us to worship Him in trust and faith, knowing that all of our relationships fall under the realms Christ created for Himself.  Think through your current relationships… How do your healthy relationships reflect Christ’s love?  How are you trusting God and worshiping him in your difficult relationships? How are you acknowledging God’s authority in relationships where you have someone in leadership over you?  Are there changes you need to make?

3) What does it mean for Christ to hold all things together?
Colossians 2:6-7 says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”  That is the message of Paul’s letter, and the point of this entire series of study.  Once we have received Christ, we have the ability to walk daily in a way that is grounded and stable, knowing that He is over it all.  As a result, our hearts, minds, souls, and words should be filled to overflowing with thanksgiving and praise.  Take a few moments today to close out your time by expressing your thanks to God – in all circumstances and in all relationships.

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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