Advent Day 2 Colossians 1:15-22

The Preeminence of Christ

^“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” (Colossians 1:15-22 ESV)

In these verses from Colossians 1, Paul speaks of the supremacy and authority of Christ Jesus. He reminds us of Jesus, the “Creator,” through whom all things were made (John 1:3). Christ is the center of all things. He binds creation together. He is the head of every church body, and the Savior of the world.

In his resurrection from death, He is the firstborn of the dead, He is the resurrection, and in him is life for all of humanity (John 11:25). All are dead. Their bodies will die at some point, but only those, the elect, who have placed their faith in Christ, find everlasting life through His finished work on the cross. This promise of eternal life brings comfort and reassurance to all believers.

In our birth, we are all separated from God by our sinful nature. David recognized this in Psalm 51, where he wrote in verse 5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This alienation, described by Paul, is overcome, reconciling the believer to God, and made blameless by the shed blood of Christ. It is the cross that provides the means of salvation. This personal sacrifice of Christ's love for each of us makes us feel loved and cherished.

On this second day of Advent, a season of preparation and anticipation for the celebration of Christ's birth, let us remember the weight of that cross, and the undefeatable strength and power of the Lord our God.

A prayer for this second day of Advent

God, our Heavenly Father,

In this world that commercializes the birth of our Savior,

Help us to remember the purpose of His birth.

Remind us that He is the Son of God,

full of grace and mercy. Remind us that he holds the power

over life and death, and that in Him is the hope of the resurrection.

Please help us to freely spread the gospel with earnestness this Advent so that

the seeds of the gospel may continue to be spread, bringing

a mighty harvest of souls who are rejoined to God through the

finished work of Christ on the cross.

In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.