Week 4 - 1:15-23Who is Jesus?

1. He is the visible _________ of the invisible God (v.15)

2. He is the _____________ of all creation (v. 15)

3. He __________ all things in heaven and on earth; all things were created ___________ Him and ______ Him (v.16)

4. He is __________ all things (v.17)

5. In Him ______ things hold ___________ (v.17)

6. He is the head of the _______, which is His ________ (v.18)

7. He is the ___________, firstborn from the _______, He is first in _______________ (v.18)

8. In Him, all the ___________ of God dwells (v.19)

9. Through Him, all things in heaven and earth are __________ and __________ is made by His blood on the cross. (v.20)

10. He is the _________ Savior, He did it for me & for you. (v.21-23)

DAY 1: What We Do with Jesus means EverythingPlease read Colossians 1:1-23, and handwrite verse 15-16.

Nearly 75% of the world's population practices one of the 5 most influential religions of the world: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. Christianity and Islam are the two religions most widely spread across the world. We are going to take a look at these religions plus what several other religions do with Jesus. Then, let’s compare that to what He said about Himself and what the Bible says about Him, focusing also on what we’ve learned thus far in Colossians 1.As you read, please underline where you certainly differ in your relationship to and knowledge of Who Jesus is, and how a person is to be saved.Buddhism: Traditionally, Buddhists as a group take no particular view on Jesus. For the Buddhist there is only ethical living and meditative appeals to exalted beings for the hope of perhaps achieving enlightenment and ultimate Nirvana. The Buddha taught that people do not have individual souls, for the individual self or ego is an illusion. (gotquestions.org/Buddhism)

Hinduism: Hindus say the teenage Jesus traveled across Southeast Asia, learning yogic traditions and returning home to be a guru to the Jews. To Hindus, everyone, through rigorous spiritual practice, can realize his own universal "god-consciousness." Hindus believe that, upon Jesus’ death, he became enlightened and merged with the Godhead, which is the Hindu idea of the force from which all creation springs. They do not believe in finality of death, but of a series of reincarnations making it from lower forms of life up to human life.

Islam: In Islam, Jesus is considered to be a messenger of God (Allah) and the Messiah who was sent to guide the Children of Israel

with a new scripture, the Gospel. Most Muslims believe that he was neither killed nor crucified, but that God made it appear so to his enemies. Regardless, Muslims believe that Jesus is alive in heaven and will return to the world in the flesh to defeat the Antichrist, once the world has become filled with sin, deception and injustice, and then live out the rest of his natural life. The Quran says that Jesus himself never claimed to be the Son of God, and it furthermore indicates that Jesus will deny having ever claimed divinity at the Last Judgment, and God will vindicate him. (Wikipedia: Religious perspectives on Jesus)

Judaism: Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah and are still waiting for the 1st coming of the Messiah about whom the Old Testament prophesies. (However, there are some in Judaism called “Messianic Jews” who are true Believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.)Jehovah’s Witness: JW’s believe that Jesus was a perfect man, and that He is a person distinct from God the Father. However, they also teach that before His earthly life, Jesus was a spirit creature, Michael the archangel, who was created by God and became the Messiah at His baptism. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is a mighty one, although not almighty as Jehovah God is. According to John 1:1 in their Bible, The New World Translation, Christ is “a god,” but not “the God.” They teach that Jesus “was and is and always will be beneath Jehovah” and that “Christ and God are not coequal”. (christiananswers.net)

Mormonism: An insufficient Savior: “Man may commit certain grievous sins-according to his light and knowledge-that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved, he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone-so far as in his power lies-for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail.” Jesus is the spirit-brother of Lucifer. By obedience and devotion to the truth, Jesus attained that pinnacle of intelligence which ranked him as a God, as the Lord Omnipotent, while yet in his pre-existent state. (exmormonsforJesus.org)

Scientology: In the Scientology view the teachings of Jesus are included among belief systems comprising those "earlier forms". Jesus is classified as below the level of Operating Thetan, but as a "shade above" the Scientology state of "Clear", and in general is one

of many “good teachers”. (Wikipedia: Religious perspectives on Jesus)

Catholocism: Catholics, believe that Christ’s righteousness is imparted to the believer by “grace through faith,” but in itself is not sufficient to justify the believer. The believer must supplement the righteousness of Christ imparted to him with meritorious works. Catholics and Protestants also disagree on what it means to be justified before God. To the Catholic, justification involves being made righteous and holy. He believes that faith in Christ is only the beginning of salvation and that the individual must build upon that with good works because God’s grace of eternal salvation must be merited. (gotquestions.org)

Please take time now to thank Jesus for the simplicity of The True Gospel (You can refer back to Day 5 homework of Week 3). It’s Jesus, nothing added to, nothing taken away, Who saves us. It’s Him, in His infinite grace that saves. There are no levels, there is no secret knowledge, He was very clear as to Who He Is. What do you do with Jesus?

Recommended Resource if you really want to dig into how we differ as followers of Christ in our view of Jesus: Jesus Among Other Gods By: Ravi Zacharias

DAY 2: He Holds It All TogetherPlease handwrite Colossians 1:17

I learned about the most fascinating thing several years ago when I heard a man named Louie Giglio teach about a protein molecule called “Laminin.” Now, before you check-out completely with talk of such scientific loftiness…Louie Giglio is not a scientist, he’s an evangelist. That’s right, he’s a preacher of the Word of God! And I’m about to share with you exactly what he shared on the video I watched, because it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Colossians 1:17 is absolutely true…scientifically. I cannot help but laugh when over and over and over, as time moves along, God is always right! Science always ends up having to agree with God’s Word eventually, because God is the author and creator of it all from the very beginning! Here we go:

Laminin: A cell adhesion molecule that holds all cells in human body together; they influence cell differentiation, migration, and adhesion, as well as phenotype and survival.

Diagram of Laminin Actual Electron Microscopic Image

of a Laminin protein

molecule.

What are your initial thoughts as you see what Laminin’s structure looks like?

Please read Romans 11:36. What are all things in relation to Christ Jesus?

Please read Ephesians 1:10. What do all things to in Him?

Please read Hebrews 1:3. How does Jesus sustain the universe?

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-NPPIeeRk

DAY 3: The Visible Image of the Invisible GodPlease handwrite Colossians 1:18-19

It can be so difficult for our human minds to wrap around Jesus, Who He is (fully God and fully man). But, as humans with finite minds, we really can know what God is really like when we see Jesus. He really is Emanuel, God with us. Please read each of the following passages of Scripture, and note what you learn about Jesus and the Father.

John 1:18

John 14:9

2 Cor. 4:4

Hebrews 1:3 (it may seem familiar, you saw this one on Day 2 also)

DAY 4: Preeminence & Power of Jesus Christ Please handwrite Colossians 1:20-22

Now, take a look at Colossians 1:15-23 as a whole. Please read it through. Then, write down everything Paul teaches us about Who Jesus is, what He has done and will continue to do. Use the space below to express what we learn when we read this passage:

DAY 5: In Him, Through Him, For HimPlease handwrite Colossians 1:23

Please read 1 Corinthians 8:6. How many Gods are there?

What did He do?

What do we do in relation to Him?

How many Jesus Christs are there?

What did God do through Him?

What have we been given through Him?

Please read Romans 11:36. Where does everything come from?

How does everything exist?

What is everything intended for?

Whom does all glory go to?

Please read Ephesians 1:10. At the right time, what will be brought under the authority of Christ?

Please read Hebrews 1:3. Who Radiates God’s own glory?

Who expresses the very character of God?

Who sustains everything by the mighty power of His command?

Who sat down at the right hand of God?

What did He accomplish before He sat down?