Description

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Appreciate the fact that Christ is Lord on not just a local or global level, but on a cosmic level! Listen to Ephesians & Colossians: The Cosmic Christ (11 minutes).

Scriptures in this lesson:

• Eph 1:22-23
• Eph 3:8-11
• Col 1:15-20
• Col 2:9-10
• Recommended: Steve Kinnard, Jesus Unequaled: An Exposition of Colossians (IPI, 2013).

Cosmic Christ manifest in 5 areas:

• Creator: not just involved as the means or as an assistant, but as the agent.
• Sustainer
• Redeemer: reconciliation earth / heaven
• Full deity: not just an enlightened human, mystical guru, or wise rabbi. God in nature (lesson 1)
• All authority: hence Lord

Application:

1. Created the world, will preside over the new creation, makes us new creations.
   1. When we are flat
   2. When we need a spark of inspiration
   3. When we doubt we can change
2. Can sustain us when we are tiring
   1. Isaiah 40.
   2. Need to schedule the Lord or the world will press in
3. Redeemer
   1. Ongoing cleansing (1 Jn 1)
   2. Confidence that comes with cleansing
4. Deity should affect us in many areas:
   1. Appreciate Jesus Christ as our Savior
   2. Conviction about the uniqueness of Christianity on the spectrum of world religions
   3. Extra alert while we sing hymns to Christ
5. All authority
   1. We won't challenge his authority over our lives: allow him to sit on the throne of my heart-- but first self must get out of the way
   2. Won't doubt his power
   3. Will obey his commissions:
      1. To share the good news
      2. To bless the poor
      3. To live fruitful lives, ready at his service

Next: Philippians: To Live is Christ