General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1
THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS — NO. 5
J. H. DURLAND
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7.
CREATION AND REDEMPTION
“WHO is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature.” Colossians 1:15. I will call your attention particularly to the last part of the verse, “The firstborn of every creature.” This passage is rendered in the Revised Version, as you will remember, “The firstborn of all creation.” Referring to these renderings, one critic offers the following comment and rendering: “But how will these fit in with the next verse (16) which immediately follows — ‘for by him were all things created.’ See John 1:3; Revelation 3:14; Hebrews 1:2. There is however another interpretation, to which there is no theological objection, protokos pases ktiseos, the primeval creator of every created thing.” — Greek Lexicon by Wescott. GCB February 11, 1895, page 87.10
Now I do not say that this is the best rendering, but only give it to you to think about. I have found in my experience that there are two ways of studying Scripture. One is to eagerly catch up every new rendering of a text because it is something you never thought of before, and go to every extreme that it may lead to. another way is to never read but one version. That, of course, gives us a somewhat narrow view of the Word. But both methods are bad. I simply speak of the matter that I shall not be misunderstood in giving you different versions of the text from time to time. It is not because they are necessarily better than the Authorized Version, but they bring out additional thoughts and thus give us a broader view. but when some of these things are presented in somewhat different language, don’t consider it as new light and wonderful. At least, if it strikes you that way, keep it a year before you give it to anybody else. New light is not what we need so much as to know what the Scripture says with all its force. Don’t try to take the text and turn it upside down in order to get something new out of it. We don’t need a new Bible, but we want to understand the Bible we have. If you can get any thought on a text that will strengthen it, and give it a more powerful effect upon you, take it, and thank God that you have found out that his Word has a clearer meaning than you ever understood before. GCB February 11, 1895, page 87.11
I remember in a Conference I once attended, one of the teachers expressed the idea that the time had come when we should not have any more church trials. I was a member of the Conference Committee at that time, and heard the statement. In a very short time it was being taught in every part of the Conference that we should never turn anybody out of the church. They could be as mean as Satan wanted them to be, but they must remain in the church. The teacher who first made the statement did not mean that. but those who heard him got one little thought, and considered it advanced light, and thus they developed it. GCB February 11, 1895, page 88.1
Pardon my digression. We will return to the text: “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.” Verse 16. We will read other scriptures bearing on the same point. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3. “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:3. Again, let us read the eighth verse, which brings out another thought. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O god, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.” What does he call the Son? “God.” Then has the Son a right to be called God? To be sure he has. Then when we read in Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” does that contradict the statement of John which we have just read, that Christ created all things? No. The two texts are in perfect harmony with each other. GCB February 11, 1895, page 88.2
Christ, then, is the Creator. Is he also the Redeemer? Please read Isaiah 43:1: “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” From this we see that the one that created is the one that redeems. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Here we see creating again. The ideas of creation and redemption are closely associated in the Bible, and we cannot distinguish between them, and say that one is greater than the other. Really, redemption is creation; if people would realize this fact, they would never make the comparison between Sunday and the true Sabbath, that the former commemorates redemption, the latter, creation. GCB February 11, 1895, page 88.3
When the subject is taken up from this stand-point, there can be no objections raised. In holding a course of lectures on present truth, it is always well to so present things that every objection will be removed even before it is raised. That is much better than mentioning the objections, and showing how we can tear them all to pieces. GCB February 11, 1895, page 88.4
“Whoever, therefore, is in the Messiah, is a new creation: old things are passed away; all things are made new by God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Syriac Version). Here we see creative power manifested as clearly as in the creation of the world. Again, we read in Galatians 6:15: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” We have about the same thought brought out in the fifth chapter and sixth verse. Now how much can the thing created do toward helping on its own creation? Take the first man, Adam; what did he accomplish toward his own creation? Remember that the same principle holds good in the work of redemption. “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Jesus Christ unto good works, which god hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10. How much good have we in ourselves? Paul says, “I know that in me dwelleth no good thing.” GCB February 11, 1895, page 88.5
Let us now turn to the 33rd psalm, and see how creation takes place: “For he spake, and it was done: he commanded and it stood fast.” Verse 9. GCB February 11, 1895, page 88.6
Notice that it was immediate. He spake, and it was. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” How soon? Immediately. Brethren, let us always remember that God’s word acts, and it acts thoroughly and completely. It is power in action, in regeneration as well as in the first creation. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.1
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23. That is how the second creation takes place. The living word of God, when it speaks, imparts what it contains, and that is life. Just as God spoke to Adam, and brought him into being by his word, so he speaks to the man dead in trespasses and sins, and puts life in him. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.2
“And having made peace through the blood of his cross,” Christ has given life to the world, and that life has brought peace. The same thought is expressed in Ephesians 2:14: “For he is our peace.” In Psalm 85 we read, “He will speak peace to his people.” And we have found that when he speaks, there is life and power in his word. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” Isaiah 26:3. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.3
What does Christ say of his words? “They are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.” In the Syriac the words are, “Every one that taketh hold of the Son, taketh hold of life.” Brethren, that is our work now, to take hold of the Son. We don’t want simply to study about him, and stand up, and look at him. Let us take hold of him, and in doing so take hold of life. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.4
Turn to Colossians again. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Verse 17. “Upholding all things by the word of his power.” Hebrews 1:3. Notice that his word is a sustaining as well as a creating power. People realize it is a wonderful thing to be made a child of God, but I want to impress on your minds this morning that the power of God which is manifested in keeping his children from sinning is, if possible, even more wonderful. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.5
“And he is the head of the body, the church. Verse 18. What governs our bodies? The head. And the body of Christ, what is it? His church. yes, and we are members of that body. But can you and I be members of that body. and be fighting each other? No, not very well. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.6
“Who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Verse 18 (last part). The Syriac reads: “Who is the head and first born from among the dead that he might be the first in all things.” Then if he is to be the first in all things, should he not be the first in everything that we have to do? Whatever position we hold in the cause of truth, let us remember that Christ is our head, and he is the one for whom we are working. GCB February 11, 1895, page 89.7