SOME ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF JESUS When John was on the Isle of Patmos, Jesus revealed Himself to him (Rev 1:10- 17). John saw the glorified Christ. The very first thing He told John was "Fear not; I am the First and the Last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death"(Rev 1:17-18). In confirmation of the ongoing work of salvation, He then gave John a message to deliver to His churches in Asia (1:19-3:22). That message included an assessment of each church, exhortations, and promises. All but two of the churches received reprimands and a warning to repent. In the Revelation there is no word for sinners, and no correction for social or governmental leaders. It is exclusively a word to the churches – to those who have been given "ears to hear." Tomorrow:
"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.21And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." (Colossians 1:20-22)
Devotion 3 of 31
If we knew nothing more than this, we should be able to readily conclude there is still a work going on in the churches – a work that is within the circumference of salvation. The work in them upon the earth is not yet completed.
This is precisely why Paul now affirms what the Lord has done. It all relates to salvation. You might call it the salvation of the saved, for all who are in Christ Jesus are in the process of being saved. The power that accomplishes that salvation comes through the Gospel, which is still God's "power unto salvation" – every aspect of it (Rom 1:16).
Therefore, the good news about Jesus will now be declared. That Gospel must be proclaimed.
PEACE MADE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
"And, having made peace . . . " Other versions read, "by making peace" (NIV), and "through peace made by" (GENEVA).
To clarify the identity of the Savior through whom salvation comes, the Spirit has affirmed the following. "And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell" (Col 1:18-19). This, then, is how we are to think of the Savior. He is the Head of the church – the One through whom it is sustained and directed, and to whom it is devoted. He is the One who has conquered death, which is the "last enemy" (1 Cor 15:26), being the "Firstborn from the dead." This was done in order that He might have the preeminence in all things. Further, all of the fulness of Deity dwells in him. There is no trait of God essential to salvation that is not in Him. This is how we are to think of the One through whom salvation is realized. Further, He is the "Captain" of the salvation, bringing it to its intended culmination (Heb 2:10).
Having declared who the Lord Jesus Christ is, the Spirit now unfolds what God the Father has accomplished through Him – for Jesus came to do God's will (Heb 10:9). The Father is the One who sent the Son into the world (1 John 4:14), and it is His will that the Son has accomplished. It was, after all, "the pleasure of the Lord" that would prosper "in His hand" (I53:10).
We should not expect the One who is "the Image of the invisible God," to accomplish small and eternally inconsequential things. You may rest assured that the one who created all things, and who is the One for whom they were all created, will not engage in menial tasks, or devote Himself to works that have nothing to do with God's eternal purpose. The One who is "before all things," and by whom all things are sustained will not be devoted to mere temporal matters. We should not look for small and unimpressive things from the One who is the "Head of the body, the Beginning," and "the Firstborn from the dead," or expect Him to give Himself to trivia. The One who has preeminence in all things will not be associated with passing fads. The One in whom the Father is pleased to have "all fulness dwell," will surely devote Himself to some grand enterprise that will bring great glory to God, and be impressive to the vast array of heavenly hosts that surround the throne.
Some versions place this clause (v 20) after the statement concerning reconciliation: i.e., "and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (NKJV/NASB/NIV). These versions state the effect first (reconciliation), and the cause second (having made peace through the blood of His cross). The KJV merely states it chronologically, confirming that the reconciliation resulted from the peace that was made through the blood of Christ's cross.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a salvation that meets all of Your requirements.