If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
We can be so caught up with Jesus as our saviour that we can miss some of His very important attributes, leaving Him looking quite one dimensional. Jesus is far more than just a man who lived in the 1st century AD. He claimed Himself to be unique in His relationship to the Father.
Bible Zone
In this zone we look at various passages that illuminate Jesus’ standing in the universe.To help explore His divine nature and the position that He holds before God, and that one day all will recognise.
- Jesus’ view of Himself - Jesus appeals for people to put their trust in Him.
- Jesus’ place in creation - The whole universe was created through Him..
- Jesus over the Church - He is head over God’s people, His Church.
- Jesus Reconciles - Through the cross Jesus has reconciled us to the Father.
- Jesus, God revealed - Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory
Jesus was very clear about His distinctive place in the universe. In John 12:44-46 we see Him declare His identity.
- How does Jesus describe the relationship between Him and the Father?
- What attitude towards Himself does Jesus expect of others?
John 12:44-46 44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, "If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me.45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me.46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
Jesus comes across with such meekness that we can be disarmed by his humility. There are many who fail to take him seriously. Here in the first part of the passage we see his standing in all of creation. Colossians 1:15-17
- What is the basis of Jesus’ position in creation?
- What is Jesus’ standing before the Father?
- How could that influence the way you relate to Him?
Colossians 1:15-17 15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
The next section explores another dimension that touches not just on Jesus’ identity, but also His purpose. The last part begged questions - Why would He not act against those who stand against Him when He has such power and authority? Next we see the beginnings of an answer. Colossians 1:18
- What is Jesus’ place among those who are God’s people, the church?
- What is Jesus’ place with the Father?
- What relationship do we have with other believers and with Jesus?
Colossians 1:18 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
Jesus has this amazing place with God’s people, and it has come at a cost. He is not the kind of leader who stands above us barking out impossible orders, He comes to make it possible for us to be with Him, to join Him as His people. Colossians 1:20-22
- What has happened as a result of Jesus’ death on the cross?
- Why was this reconciliation necessary?
Colossians 1:20-22 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
Hebrews 1:1-4 tells us about the way Jesus has revealed the Father.
- What characteristics of the Father make it hard for us to know about Him?
- How has Jesus revealed God to us?
- What position does Jesus hold with the Father?
Hebrews 1:1-4 1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.3 The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
JESUS’ PLACE WITH GOD
