Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. Colossians 1:15
The use of this phrase helps us to understand a part of Jesus' mission, which is, to reveal to us what God is like. There was no other way that God could show Himself to mankind apart from the incarnation of His Son.
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18
The words, "declared Him", does not mean that He told us about the Father, but rather that He made Him known by showing us, through His own life, who God is. This is the fulfillment of the words of the angel, spoken to Joseph in Matthew 1:23, "...and they shall call His name Immanuel', which translated means 'God with us". God was in Christ making Himself known to the world. But sadly, the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers so that they cannot behold the majesty and glory of God revealed in Christ.
However, those who believe in Him will behold His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth". John 1:14. Colossians 1:19 makes a remarkable conclusion regarding the person of Jesus Christ when Paul wrote, "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him". In other words, everything that can be found in God or known of God were resident in Christ. Simply said, Jesus was deity in human flesh. In Him Isaiah's prophecy of Emmanuel was perfectly fulfilled. No wonder Jesus said to Philip, "...if you have seen Me, you have seen My Father".
Toni
The use of this phrase helps us to understand a part of Jesus' mission, which is, to reveal to us what God is like. There was no other way that God could show Himself to mankind apart from the incarnation of His Son.
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." John 1:18
The words, "declared Him", does not mean that He told us about the Father, but rather that He made Him known by showing us, through His own life, who God is. This is the fulfillment of the words of the angel, spoken to Joseph in Matthew 1:23, "...and they shall call His name Immanuel', which translated means 'God with us". God was in Christ making Himself known to the world. But sadly, the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers so that they cannot behold the majesty and glory of God revealed in Christ.
However, those who believe in Him will behold His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth". John 1:14. Colossians 1:19 makes a remarkable conclusion regarding the person of Jesus Christ when Paul wrote, "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him". In other words, everything that can be found in God or known of God were resident in Christ. Simply said, Jesus was deity in human flesh. In Him Isaiah's prophecy of Emmanuel was perfectly fulfilled. No wonder Jesus said to Philip, "...if you have seen Me, you have seen My Father".
Toni
