He existed before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

 

He existed before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

 

Colossians 1:16–17: "For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

It states that Christ created all things (the world). Everything in heaven and on earth was made by Christ. Everything on earth—thrones, sovereignties, rulers, and authorities—was created by Christ, and it is He who grants them their authority. This explains the principle by which God grants dominion over the world to Satan. However, the word translated as "heaven"—*tois ouranois* (τοῖς οὐρανοῖς)—is in the plural form ("heavens"). The plural "heavens" with the definite article signifies the Kingdom of God dwelling within the hearts of the saints.

This demonstrates that all things move in an orderly fashion according to Christ’s predestination. In the Kingdom of God, Christ was predestined first; He created the world and also came into the world as the first man, Adam; consequently, all humanity entered the world through that first man, Adam.

Colossians 1:18–19: "He is the head (*kephalē*) of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus."

*Kephalē* (κεφαλὴ) means the chief or the ruler. In the temple formed within the heart of the saint, *ho Logos* (the Word) rules over the saint. He is the One who rose first; because He, having resurrected, enters the hearts of the saints, the saints too are brought to resurrection. Being the foremost means He is the "firstfruits" of resurrection. Thus, fullness is realized in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:20: "But now Christ has been raised from the dead (*nekron*) and has become the firstfruits (*aparchē*) of those who have fallen asleep."

Jesus Christ was the first among those who had fallen asleep to have His relationship with God spiritually restored.

1 Corinthians 15:21–22: "For since death came through a man (the first man, Adam), the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man (the last Adam). For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

The first man, Adam, symbolizes one who is spiritually severed from God. The last Adam (Christ) signifies one whose relationship with God has been spiritually restored. This implies that everyone in this world has inherited death (the fleshly body) from Adam.

However, those who are in Christ have inherited life (the spiritual body) from Christ. Just as the seed coat must die for the root to take hold and the sprout to emerge from the embryo, the fleshly body must die together with Christ. Galatians 2:20 states, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

When a farmer sows a seed, he is sowing a future form; he sows with the expectation that the seed will eventually become fruit. The seed transforms into a new form. Whether it is an earthly form or a heavenly form, at a certain point, it changes into a glorious state.

In 1 Corinthians 15:44, the Apostle Paul writes, "It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." The spiritual body is not born of bloodline. Because it cannot be seen with physical eyes, people do not believe in it, yet the spiritual body truly exists.

The spirit lies dead within the flesh inherited from one's parents, but it comes alive when one is reborn with a spiritual body. A spirit dwelling within the flesh is like a spirit trapped in a net; it must be clothed in a spiritual body. This rebirth occurs through water and the Holy Spirit, where "water" signifies the death of the natural body.

The visible flesh is like a branch that has undergone grafting; the original branch remains attached, yet it is dead. Why does God command us to be reborn, even though we already possess a physical body in this world? It is to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth. It is to overthrow the power of Satan through those who have been reborn on this earth. Although countless memories from the old self remain present within the flesh, we are called to deny them before the Word of God.

Therefore, we must fight and overcome every day. As Paul said, we must remember the words "I die daily" and remain vigilant to achieve victory. Will my consciousness dwell in the memories of the physical body inherited from my parents, or in the spiritual body given by God? Unless we cling to the Cross each day, we will stumble.

Because the reborn spiritual body is governed by the Holy Spirit, Satan cannot approach it—as stated in 1 John 3:9 and 5:18—for it resides at the right hand of God, in Christ. The reborn must remember that they are always in Christ; therefore, they must not live for the "flesh"—that tangible self crucified with Jesus on the Cross.

Colossians 1:20 reads: "Making peace through the blood of His cross, He was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself through Him—whether things on earth or things in heaven."

Making peace through the blood of His cross and being reconciled to Him through Him are one and the same. The Greek word *dia* (διὰ) signifies "through," not merely "by reason of" or "on account of." While "by reason of" implies a basis in a past event, "through" indicates that the peace is being established *by means of* that blood of the cross in the present.