"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." - Colossians 1:17
How doth the apostle mean that Jesus is before all things? Not as God
only, for then the observation would have been needless; and not as man
only, for then how could all things consist by him? What is it then, my
soul? Is it not as Mediator, both God and man? And was not Christ thus
set up from everlasting? Not openly revealed indeed, neither openly
manifested in a body of flesh, until the fullness of time; but
secretly, and in the divine counsels. What a blessed thought for the
redeemed to exercise their rapturous meditations upon! And is it not
this which the apostle hath said;" He is the image of the invisible
God?" The image! Yes, that representation of what is in itself
invisible; that identical image concerning which Jehovah when calling
Adam into existence, said, "Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness." So then Adam was the first man indeed openly, but not so
secretly; for it is plain that Adam was made after this likeness which
was set up from everlasting. Hence this union of natures, subsisting in
one person, formed the one glorious Mediator, who is, and was, before
all things, and by whom all things consist. Here is the foundation then
of the church, and that from everlasting: without this, the church, and
indeed all things beside, had wanted foundation. For there is nothing
created that can stand out of God; and there was nothing created that
could stand in God, by a personal union, but him. What a glorious
thought! Cherish it, my soul! Never lose sight of it. In Christ the
Mediator, all things consist. The church is preserved, redeemed,
sanctified, glorified: and how are all his redeemed ones personally and
individually secured, but by the same? By him all things consist. Hence
their consisting is in him; they are living in him, feeding on him,
made righteous in his righteousness, and hereafter will be glorified in
his glory. My soul, think what a world of mysteries thou art in; think
what an unspeakable life, is a life of grace here; think what a world
of glory in Jesus hereafter. Now see if thou canst better enter into an
apprehension of those divine words of Jesus: "Because I live, ye shall
live also." And again: "At that day ye shall know that I am in my
Father, and you in me, and I in you."
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