The Source of Life
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Key Verse: “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Selected Scripture: |
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS Jesus was the only direct creation of God. While he was the firstborn of every creature, Paul tells us he was also the image of the invisible God and that all things in heaven and earth were created by him, both visible and invisible. That our Lord existed with the Father in an exalted nature and condition before the beginning of Creation is clearly stated in the Scriptures. (Prov. 8:22) After God created this first being of his direct creation, they worked together in creating all things in heaven and earth. After man’s creation, God rested.
In Psalm 89:27, the psalmist refers to Jesus as Jehovah’s “firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.” We learn that Jesus was destined to have all preeminence, and after fulfilling God’s will in becoming a ransom for all mankind he was rewarded as written: God “hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body.” (Eph. 1:22,23) God has entrusted all his Divine plan to Christ for bringing peace and order throughout his domain.
The apostle tells us we have been redeemed through the blood of Christ and “delivered … from the power of [Satan’s dominion of] darkness … into the kingdom of his [God’s] dear Son.” (Col. 1:13) It was by the shedding of his precious blood on the cross as the ransom sacrifice to atone for father Adam’s transgression that our Lord made atonement for the sins of the world. First, however, Jesus, as the High Priest, entered the true tabernacle in heaven to present the ransom price to God, making satisfaction for all who would follow in his steps.—Heb. 9:24
‘For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.’ Here, we learn that Jesus should have complete authority over all things, both in heaven and earth. The Scriptures frequently speak of the church as being ‘in Christ,’ giving the thought of membership in his body. The word Christ signifies ‘anointed,’ and all who will be of the Royal Priesthood will be anointed with the Holy Spirit. As the anointing of the kings and priests in Israel was the Divine evidence that they were accepted to office, so it was with our Lord Jesus. The Apostle Peter, delivering a sermon in the house of Cornelius, said, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost [Spirit] and with power.” (Acts 10:38) He was set apart to be the great antitypical King and Priest “after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps. 110:4), in the thousand-year kingdom of Christ. He was not to be in the Levitical priesthood after the order of Aaron.—Heb. 7:11
The holy oil poured upon Aaron’s head illustrates the anointing of our Lord at the time of his consecration. (Ps. 133:2) The oil ran down to the very skirts of Aaron’s garments, thus typifying the anointing of the body of Christ, which is the church. This descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church was manifested at Pentecost. Paul said this was “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27) Since the word Christ means anointed, I John 2:27 reveals that “the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you.”