Creator, Ruler, & Redeemer? (Colossians 1:15-23)

I remember the class in Seminary that completely rocked my world.  Everyone had told me about a class, "Doctrine of Grace," that they thought would impact my life.  While that class was excellent, it didn't live up to its hype for me because my local pastor had already been teaching the concepts consistently and well.  In other words, I had already heard it before.

No, the class that rocked my world did so because there wasn't any hype.  No one warned me about its content or instructor.  No one let me know the depth of the teaching or the intensity of the study.  All I knew was that the class was required for my concentration in Theology and that it was entitled "Doctrine of God."

The class outline followed a 3-volume set of books written by the instructor himself.  The books were entitled simply "God the Creator," "God the Ruler," and "God the Redeemer."  The instructor explained that the books began as a cover to cover Bible study of God.  He noted Scriptures he found about God on yellow pads of paper, cut them into strips, then began placing them in piles.  He originally intended to write only one book on the subject, but there was so much information that the final work became three volumes.  There's a lot we can learn from Scripture about God.

The Apostle Paul was a great theologian and clearly had studies his Scriptures (our Old Testament) as well.  When Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, he followed the same outline my theology professor followed.  He spoke of God as Creator, Ruler, and Redeemer.  Here's the catch: Paul's outline was describing Jesus.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 NIV)

When you think of God creating the heavens and the earth in the beginning, think of Jesus.  When you remember God's Spirit hovering over the depths of the sea, speaking light into existence, separating water below from above, separating water from land, creating plants, animals, the sun, moon and stars, think of Jesus.  When you think about atoms and angels being spoken into existence, think of Jesus.  Jesus is the Creator of the heavens and the earth - of all that is seen and unseen.

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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  (Colossians 1:17-18 NIV)

Often times when I'm teaching, I'll pull out a game and point out the rules to the game.  Then I point out that the maker of the game gets to make the rules.  God created the heavens and the earth - all that is seen and unseen.  So, God gets to make the rules.  Paul says, is that Ruler is Jesus.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. (Colossians 1:19-22 NIV) 

The same God who created all things and is in charge of all things, provided a way to reconcile with all of His creation.  In other words, God provides a way for us to get back together with Him even if we set ourselves up as His enemies.  God is our Redeemer.  That Redeemer, Paul says, is Jesus.

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Colossians 1:23 NIV)

I think this is why the class rocked my world so much.  The bigger our picture of God gets, the smaller we get in comparison - yet He cares about us.  The more powerful our Ruler gets, the easier it is for Him to just squash us - yet He lifts us up, holds us, and protects us from our enemy.  The more unfathomable God becomes in our minds, the more unfathomable His mercy and grace becomes.  The God of the Universe loves...me.  Paul says we encountered this God face to face.  He is Jesus.

How about you?  How big is your picture of God?  Is God the ruler of your life?  Do you want to be redeemed, reconciled, and get back together with God?  Does it help to think of the God of the Universe as Jesus?