Search
Colossians reveals the all-inclusive and unlimited Christ. Speaking of Christ as the Beloved, 1:15 says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation.” Verses 17 through 19 say, “He is before all things, and all things cohere in Him; and He is the Head of the Body, the church; He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that He Himself might have the first place in all things; for in Him all the fullness was pleased to dwell.” We need to pay attention to a few things in these verses. First, Christ is the image of the invisible God. Without Christ, people cannot see God. Second, Christ is before all things. Third, Christ is the Firstborn of all creation. Fourth, He is the Head of the Body, the church. Fifth, He is the Firstborn from the dead. Verses 15 and 18 speak of two aspects of Christ’s being the Firstborn. He is the Firstborn of all creation and the Firstborn from the dead. Sixth, because Christ is the Firstborn both in creation and from the dead, He has the first place in all things, in everything. Seventh, all the fullness is pleased to dwell in Him.
I hope that we can remember these seven points. Christ is the image of God; Christ is before all things; Christ is the Firstborn of all creation; Christ is the Head of the Body—the church; Christ is the Firstborn from the dead; Christ has the first place in all things; and all the fullness is pleased to dwell in Christ. Most Christians pay attention to verse 14, which says, “In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Every believer is deeply impressed with the redemption that Christ accomplished for the forgiveness of sins. As a result, when we consider the Lord, we thank and praise Him mainly for redemption. However, we must remember that in addition to redemption Colossians speaks of at least seven more points concerning Christ. It is regrettable that we often neglect these seven points.
Colossians 2:2-3 says, “Unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.” Verse 9 says, “In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” These verses reveal that Christ is the mystery of God. In other words, Christ is the explanation of God, because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ bodily.
Colossians 3:11 says, “Where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.” The word all here refers to all the members who compose the new man. In the new man Christ is all and in all.
The vision concerning Christ is a great matter in the Bible and a tremendous matter in the universe. It is not an exaggeration to say that Christ is the meaning of the universe. Human beings invented religion, but religion is unable to understand the central meaning of the universe. God created man with a spirit so that man would have the desire to worship God; however, man does not know the meaning of the universe, because man lacks revelation from God. It is easy for man to realize that there is a God in the universe, but it is not so easy for man to see the central purpose of God in the universe. It is easy to lead people to believe that there is a sovereign God in the universe, because this does not require much revelation or vision. Romans 1:20 says, “The invisible things of Him, both His eternal power and divine characteristics, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being perceived by the things made, so that they would be without excuse.” Hence, people are able to perceive from the various things in nature that there is a God in the universe. But if they want to know the central purpose of God in the universe, they must receive revelation from God. I hope that we will see the central purpose of God in the universe and the meaning of the universe.
Discussions concerning worshipping or serving God usually involve concepts related to philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts. A person who neither desires nor worships God will not consider these things. However, the day that this person desires to worship or serve God, his concept will fall into one of these four areas. He may have a philosophical concept, or he may have a moral concept of doing good. He may have a religious concept of revering and fearing God and of trying to please God, or he may have a more advanced concept of wanting to be spiritual or gifted. As soon as a person considers God or wants to serve Him, he cannot avoid these concepts. These concepts are good, but they are natural and are not based on revelation from God. Many believers, who have a heart to serve God, have still not been delivered from these concepts. The Bible reveals that these concepts are not the central purpose of God in the universe. God does not want people to be foolish or immoral, to not fear Him, or to be without spiritual gifts, nor does God want people to focus on philosophy, morality, religion, or spiritual gifts. Christ is the central purpose of God and the ultimate meaning of the universe. Christ is God’s desire, and Christ is also the central meaning of the universe. God’s purpose for man and the meaning of the universe are nothing other than Christ.
There are four books in the Bible that deal specifically with the four problems of philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts. Colossians deals with philosophy, Galatians deals with morality and keeping the law, Hebrews deals with religion, and 1 Corinthians deals with spiritual gifts. If we see light in the Word of God, we will realize that philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts are versus Christ. Philosophy is versus Christ, morality is versus Christ, religion is versus Christ, and spiritual gifts are versus Christ. Most believers know that the flesh, the world, sin, and the self are versus Christ. However, we must see that not only these negative things are versus Christ; even the positive things in human society and culture—philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts—are versus Christ. Just as the negative things are versus Christ, so also the positive things are versus Christ. Satan’s stratagem is to prevent people from paying attention to Christ. Regardless of whether something is positive or negative, as long as we focus on it instead of Christ, Satan has attained his goal.
Concerning society, it is commonly believed that people in the East are different from people in the West. People believe that the Japanese are different from the Germans and that the British, the Americans, and the French are different from one another. However, if we travel, we will discover that no matter where people are from, all persons bear the same likeness, the likeness of Adam. All people have the same ancestor—Adam; they are descendants of Adam. We can say that we all have the same last name, Adam, because we are all out of Adam. People in the United States often like to say which country their ancestors came from; however, all our ancestors came out of Adam.
People from different places in the world may act differently—the Chinese eat with chopsticks, and the Westerners eat with knives and forks—but all people have the same lust. Many different things happen in society in the East and in the West, but these things are all according to the same principle of Satan using many things to replace Christ. On the negative side, some people like to sin and to love the world, and others indulge themselves and live in the flesh. On the positive side, some people endeavor to do good and are zealous concerning religion, and others pursue spirituality and seek gifts. If we would carefully consider these matters, we will realize that the evildoers do not give ground to Christ, and those who promote philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts also do not give ground to Christ.
When I was in New York, I visited an elderly American woman who said that she was a Christian and who had also grown up in a Christian family. While discussing spiritual matters with her, I gradually realized that she had not believed in the Lord. She had many religious regulations but very little knowledge of Christ. Later, she told me that a certain chapel served as the center for the social life of the local residents. People in that area went to the Sunday service every week because it was the best social activity. The pastor exhorted them to be good people and to be kind to their neighbors. It is sad to see people keeping religion but not giving Christ any ground in their being. Some people in society commit crimes, and others follow religion, but Satan is doing the same thing with both types of people: he is preventing them from giving Christ the ground in them. Philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts are not the central purpose of God. As those who pursue the Lord, we must ask Him to visit us and show us a vision so that we may see that Christ is God’s central purpose and the central meaning of the universe. God wants Christ to be the center of all things and to have the first place in all things.
Even today the universe is still a mystery to mankind. Why does the universe exist? Nearly no one can answer this question. The Bible, however, reveals that Christ is the only answer to the existence of the universe and of mankind. God wants Christ to be expressed. Therefore, Christ has entered into a group of created and redeemed people to be expressed through them. This is the mystery of mysteries. Colossians reveals that Christ is the meaning of the entire universe. God created the universe and mankind for Christ, and God is gaining the saints and the church for Christ. If it were not for the revelation in the Bible concerning Christ as the centrality of God, the human mind would have no way to comprehend this matter. Hence, we need to be delivered from our natural concepts and receive the revelation in the Bible in order to know Christ.
Many people admit that there is a God in the universe. But a person who is not in Christ cannot touch God. A person who is not in Christ can neither understand, know, comprehend, nor experience God. The reality of God is in Christ. We can say that Christ is God, but Christ involves more. Christ is the definition, the reality, and the mystery of God. It is hard to convey this matter adequately with human language. Everything concerning God is in Christ. God is manifested in Christ. Therefore, when Christ was on the earth among men, He was the expression of God.
Christ is the mystery of God and also the meaning of man. There are billions of people on the earth, but the meaning of human existence is Christ. Christ is the only genuine man. Therefore, a person who does not have Christ cannot fulfill the meaning of his existence. Many people are mentioned in the sixty-six books of the Bible, many people are recorded in human history, and many people live on the earth, but which of these people is a genuine man? Without a doubt, Jesus Christ is the only genuine, perfect, and meaningful man. Apart from Christ, we cannot see God, nor can we see a genuine, proper man. Christ is God, and Christ is also a man. This One is the Christ of God. Therefore, God is working so that such a Christ can enter into us. When Christ enters into us, God enters into us. When Christ enters into us and lives in us, we know the meaning of our human life.
Many people do not have a proper humanity, because they are short of Christ. The more Christ a person has, the more proper his humanity will be. The more of the element of Christ a person has, the more genuine his humanity will be. We should consider how proper our humanity was before we received Christ. We had the appearance of a man, but we did not express a proper humanity, because we were short of Christ. After our salvation we allowed the Lord to gain ground in our being; hence, the element of Christ increased within us, and our humanity became more proper. Were our young people proper before they were saved and allowed the Lord to gain ground in them? If we would tell the truth, we would say no. Their humanity was not proper. However, this is not because they were short of morality, knowledge, or religion but because they were short of Christ. Only when Christ enters into our being can we have the reality of God, receive the element of Christ’s proper humanity, and become a genuine man. This is what God desires to do in us. God desires Christ to be our life so that Christ may be expressed through us.
The Bible is centered on Christ. A person who has Christ will certainly be moral and God-fearing, and he will possess spiritual gifts. However, Christ is absolutely different from philosophy, morality, religion, and spiritual gifts. God wants Christ to be our life, and He wants Christ to have the full ground in our being. In order for Christ to gain ground within us, we need to consecrate ourselves to Christ. We do not consecrate ourselves to do something for Christ but to allow Christ to gain ground in us. Because Christ wants to be our life, we should hand ourselves over to Him so that He can live in us. This is the true meaning of consecration. As believers, we should not ask Christ to help us live; rather, we should hand ourselves over to Him so that He may live in us. It is one thing for us to live and expect help from Christ, but it is another thing to hand ourselves over to Christ and allow Him to live in us.
The true meaning of the cross is to put ourselves into the death of Christ. When we accept the cross, we acknowledge that we have already died so that Christ may live in us. To fellowship with the Lord or to draw near to the Lord is to allow the Lord to live in us. Being a Christian is a matter of being able to say, “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). This is marvelous. God created us, but He does not want us to live by our self. He wants Christ to live in us. Worldly people and sinners do not allow Christ to live in them, and most Christians and religionists also do not allow Christ to live in them. Hence, we are not talking about being a Christian but of allowing Christ to live in us. A Christian should be a person who allows Christ to live in him. God wants us to stop our living and to allow Christ to live in us. God does not want us to replace Christ with anything. He only wants us to take Christ as our goal.
May God open our eyes to see that the universe and mankind are for Christ and to see that Christ wants to be our life, to live in us, and to live out from us. For this reason we need to consecrate ourselves, read the Bible, pray, fellowship with the Lord, accept the cross, and allow Christ to live in us. Christ is the center of God’s desire. He must have the first place in the universe and also the first place in our being. He is all and in all. In Him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, and when He lives in us and out from us, God is expressed. This is the Christ revealed in Colossians.
In the universe there is the first creation, the old creation, and there is the second creation, the new creation (6:15). The first creation does not have Christ, but the second creation, the new creation, has Christ. In fact, the new creation is Christ. The new creation is the new man, which is the church. Colossians 3:10-11 says that in the new man there cannot be Greek and Jew but only Christ. Therefore, Christ is all and in all in the church, the new man. In order for Christ to be all and in all when we gather together as the church, we must experience being crucified with Christ so that it would no longer be we who live but Christ who lives in us. In our daily life we need to fellowship with the Lord, read the Bible, pray, accept the cross by the Spirit, consecrate ourselves to the Lord, and allow Him to gain ground in our being and live in us. We should not try to please or glorify the Lord by our own strength. We only need to allow Him to gain ground in our being and live in us. We do not want to initiate anything. If we would live Christ in such a way, allowing Him to gain ground in our being, when we gather together, we will be able to say that we are not expressing our preferences or intentions. Instead, we only have Christ. In our meetings there will not be sin or the world, but Christ will be all and in all.
Being a Christian is not a matter of being spiritual but of Christ having ground in our being. True spiritual weight cannot be measured by anything other than Christ. The ground that Christ has in our being determines how much weight His element has in our living and walk. It is not a matter of doing things correctly or of appearing to be spiritual or gifted but of how much ground Christ has in our being, that is, how much of the element of Christ is in our being. Hence, we need a strong consecration. If we see that Christ is the centrality of God and the meaning of God, we would consecrate ourselves fully to Him. If we see that God wants Christ to be our life, we would be willing to stop living by our life and would allow the Lord to live in us. We would love to read the Bible, to pray, and to fellowship with the Lord. If we would thus allow the Lord to gain more ground in our being, we would spontaneously become persons to whom to live is Christ and in whom Christ is magnified.
The Lord desires to gain a group of people on the earth as His witnesses (Acts 1:8). A witness testifies the Lord by living Him out. May the Lord have mercy on us and show us this vision. Then we would say, “Lord, I consecrate myself to You, and I allow You to gain all the ground in my being. You are my life, and You are living in me. I no longer desire to be the one living; I want You to live in me. I desire that You would become all in all with me and in me.”
Prayer: Lord, may we see a vision in these days. Visit each brother and sister personally so that we would meet You in a definite way. Appear to us in the meetings and in our personal time, just as You appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus. On that day he fell down because he saw Your light and came to know You. In these days may we be those who meet You and see the vision of Christ. We want to know that Christ is the mystery of God, that He wants to have the first place and to be everything in us, and that He wants to be our life and to live out of us. Lord, may we fall down and place ourselves on the altar so that You may gain the ground in our being and be our all. May the words it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me no longer be merely a sentence or doctrine but a spiritual reality. May the Spirit work in us until we can say, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me as my everything.” Lord, fulfill this prayer. We believe that Your word will not return to You vainly. Stretch forth Your arm to work alongside Your word. Anoint Your word to shine in us and to enlighten us. Amen.
