Creation is for His glory
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 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.
(Colossians 1:15-20)
Jesus is the author of all creation. When we behold the wonder and the glory of the world Jesus created, we worship and honor Him more. Jesus is both the unifying principle and the personal sustainer of all creation. Jesus is also the head and source of the church. In all things Jesus has the pre-eminence. He is God.
Christ is the victor over death and sin. And He is coming soon to fulfil the resurrection of all those who have died in Him. He will give us who remain faithful -- immortal incorruptible bodies in a twinkling of an eye. And bring us with Him to glory.
Our Salvation is for His glory
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:21-23
As sons and daughters of Adam, we are born alienated from God. Then as individuals, we each chose to accept and embrace that alienation with our wicked works. Yet God’s answer to the problem of alienation is reconciliation, initiated by His work on the cross - reconciled in the body of His flesh through death. In the work of reconciliation, God didn’t meet us halfway. God meets us all the way and invites us to accept it.
This amazing fact gives us great hope and motivation that despite the trials and sufferings that come our way we can persevere. It is also important for Christians to continue in godly conduct based on the truth of the gospel because we are saved by grace through faith. Continuing in faith is the test of the reality of Christ in our lives. It is also the motivation to serve even in suffering helping others to know and have an abiding faith in Christ.
Our suffering is for His glory
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church
(Colossians 1:24)
Paul wrote this from a Roman jail. His focus was on Christ and in His wonderful example of being the suffering servant. He was able to see that his sufferings worked something good for others, so he could say that his sufferings were for the Colossians and other Christians.
Paul followed in the footsteps of Jesus as an other-centered person. Paul found holiness, spiritual growth, and maturity when he pursued Christlikeness for others.
Our Sanctification is for His glory
Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
(Colossians 1:25-26)
The mystery revealed through Christ is that God had designed to grant the Gentiles the same privileges with the Jews and, make them His people who were not his people. Christ died for both Jew and Gentile which is the great amazing hope of glory.
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Colossians 1:27)
This is the wonder and glory of the abiding, indwelling Jesus in us who by His grace through faith received Him and are given the power and authority to become children of God.
Thus, we serve others that they may see the Christ through our love and good works that benefit them.
Christ in you, the hope of glory: This is the Christian’s hope of glory. It isn’t our own hard work or devotion to God, or the power of our own spirituality. Instead, it is the abiding presence of Jesus: Christ in you.
We can be the living vessels and channels of the wonderful presence of Christ in our lives that gives the world a sense of hope not only in this crisis but also beyond this crisis
To Him be Glory!
Jonathan Cortes