Anglican Morning Devotion for 30 June 2021 Anno Domini
A ministry of the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:12-18)
Having been created in the very image and likeness of God in the beginning, that image was soon marred and disfigured when sin entered in through the Fall of Adam. At that point, disease, and atrophy began to take place. Wild animals were turned against each other – not by the decree of God but by the effects of sin. Sin brought death and sorrow, and the image in which God had made man was corrupted. The will of man came into the bondage of sin and Satan, thus, man no longer had a will that reflected the Mind of God. Man lost his free will in the Garden for only the mind that has taken upon itself the Mind and Will of God is free.
Adam was an anti-type of Christ for by the first man, Adam, came death and sin; but by the second Man, Christ, came life eternal. “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)
As we see from an abundant number of biblical references, Christ is the “express image of the Father.” (see Hebrews 1:3) How is it possible that Christ, as our Bibles tell us, was the firstborn of every creature? (see Colossians 1:15) It is because the Son was with the Father before the worlds were ever made, and He was the executive power at that Creation! In that sense, He is the Firstborn of all living. In another sense, He is the firstborn of all who are born into everlasting life by grace through faith. Adam is the federal head of all living born of woman; but Christ is the Firstborn of all who are born of the Spirit!
The Lord Jesus Christ owns the preeminence in all things. He was BEFORE all things, and in Him do all things consist! Without the Lord Jesus Christ, there would be no living thing either physical or spiritual since all things were made by Him: (see John 1:1-4) He is (in micro-physics) the bond that holds the sub-atomic particles together in the atom; and (in macro-physics), He is the force that holds the intergalactic constellations in place. He is also the Author and Preserver of Life itself for without His constant care and Providence, we would not enjoy our next breath or heartbeat. But more than even this, He is the Firstborn from the Dead that we, too, might be made new in the rebirth assured through His grace and mercy to those whom He has chosen from the multitudes.
The marred image of Eden is reformed in the image of those to whom has been imputed the righteousness of Christ by grace through faith. “26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Colossians 1:26-28) This mortal shall put on immortality – in fact, we shall be like Him at that great awakening as if by the twinkling of an eye: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2; all scripture quoted is from the King James Version)
If these things are too hard to grasp, it is because the world has long taught us to have no faith in the greater realm of the Spiritual Power of God. Wake up, Sleeper, and turn to the Almighty God who is able to save to the uttermost.
