is tho Deginning, the Firstborn from the dee.<l; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence," I. CoNBIDER WHAT 1B INVOLVED IN THIS HEADSfllP OF THE CHURmf. There is a real essential union of the Hend nncl the members. 1. (Jhrist is the Centre of the Church'., life. Ho is its Life. "Because I live ye shall live also" (John xiv. 19). The union is strictly vital. "The second Adam is a quickening spirit" (1 Cor. xv. 45). 2. He is the Centre of its unity. Ilclievere are all one in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. xii. 12). We are haptized by the Spirit into one body (1 Cor. xii. 13). 3. He is the Source of all its blessings and comforts. (1) He loves it (Eph. v. 27). (2) lie sympathizes with its distresses (Matt. xviii. 5). (3) He supplies it with abundant grace. "Of his fulncss have we all received, even grace for grace" (John i. 16). 3. He is the Mainspring of all its holy activity. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. iv. 13); "Without me ye can do nothing" (John xv. 5). I!. CONSIDER WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THE SUBJECTION OF THE BODY TO THE HEAD. 1. The (Jhurch must own no other Head than (Jhrist. There are under-currents of priestly domination in our day subversive of this headship. The Pope is not and cannot be the head of the Church in any sense. We can be in subjection to no other than Christ. 2. We must do nothing to dishonour our Head either in flesh or spirit. (2 Cor. vi. 15--18.) 3. We must use a-ll means to grow up into our He.ad in all things, that "there may bo increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love" (Eph. iv. 16). 4. We must dwell with our fellow-members in love and humility. "Keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Eph. iv. 3). The members must sympathize with one another (1 Cor. x. 24). III. 'l'm:: ORIGIN OF THE HEADSilIP OF CHRIST. " Who is the Beginning, the First• born from the dead." 1. Chi·ist is the Beginning of the new creation. Two ideas are implied in the expression. (1) Priority in time. He is "the Firstfruits of them that have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. xv. 20). (2) The origination of spiritual life. As be is "the Beginning of the creation of God" (Rev. iii. 14), he is the Beginning of the new creation. He is the "Prince of life" (A.cts iii. 14), the "Author of salvation" (Heb. ii. 10). 2. Christ is Head tlirough his resurrection. He is" the First-begotten from the dead." Consider: (1) That he was among the dead. Thus he made expia.tion for our sins. (2) That he was begotten from among the dead, because he was raised from death to life "for our justification" (Rom. iv. 23, 24). (3) That he was the first so begotten. (a) Others were translated or died again. (b) He rose to die no more (Rom. vi. 9). (c) His resurrection involves the resurrection of all his saints. (·l) His resur- rection is his tHle to headship (Eph. i. 20-23). (5) Let us realize " the power of his resurrection" (Phil. iii. 10) in a holy life. IV. THE DESIGN OF THE FATilER WAS THAT ALIKE IN THE SPIRITUAL il'D THE NATURAL ORDER CHRIST MIGIIT HA VE THE PRE-EMINENCE. "That in all things he might have the pre-eminence." Both in nature and in the Church he is pre-eminent; aod the Father's d83ign will be yet more fully accomplished when all things are put under his feet and "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ" (Rev. xi. 15). Thus our Divine Redeemer is "Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last" (Rev. i. 8, 11, 17, 18).-T. C.
Ver. 19.-The fulness of the Godhead in Jems Christ. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." The apostle thus explains the headship alike of the Church nod of the universe, for he says the indwelling of Deity was the ground of both. I. THE NATURE OF TRIB FULNEss. 1. It is not the mere manifestation of Godhead. 2. It is Godhead itself in the totality of its powtTl"s and attrib1ttes. It is "the complete fnlnoss and oxhnustless perfection of the Divine essence." It is elsewhere described: "In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (eh. ii. 9). Christ is indeed "God manifest in the flesh" (l Tim. iii. 16). 'l'be Judmo-Gnostics taught that tho fulness of the Godhead was distribnt~d or dispensed among several spiritual. agencies- " thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers "-so as to introduce grades of angelic mediators between God and man. 'l'he apostle declares that. the fulness of the Gouhead rests, not in them, but in Christ as th~ Word of God. Thus he is no mere emanation from the Divine Dein~. 36 'l'HE EPISTLE 'l'O 'l'HE COLOSSI.ANS.
II. THERR rs A PERMA'KE1'TLT INDWELLING FULNESS IN nm. "That in him nil the fulness should have its permanent abode." This is the force of the ori"inal word which is very suggestive in the light of later Gnosti<l heresies. The false t~chers hoid that the ful~ess of the Godhead as dispel'8Cd among spiritual agencieR waa partial like a blurred image, an<l also temporary. The apostle teaches: 1. T/1.0,t the totality of Divine po~ abi.des i~ Ch~ 2. Th~t itabiius in him permanently and remains forever, not (mning and going lil.·e a tra,1sumt phenomenon. Therefore we have an inexhaustible supply for all the needs of the Church. 111. 'l'HE PRECIOUSSESS OF THIS INDWELLING FULNESS TO us. 1. Il was of tlu, Father's "good ple,wure " that it should abule in ht'$ ,:ncarnate Son for the welfare of the Church. 2. We are to receive "of his fulness and ,qrace Jor graC6." (John i. 16.) We arc to grow "unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. iv. 13). 'l'be st.andard is nothing short of the fulness of Christ. 3. The Church is his very ful- 11ess-" the fulness of him who filleth all in all," because his fulness is communiroted to her (Eph. i. 23). IV. LESSO!':S TO BE DRAWN FROM Tms TRUTH, 1. Great is the mystery of godliness. (1 Tim. iii. 16.) 2. Great is the comfort of the believer in virtue of this infinite fulness. There is fulness of wisdom to keep us from error, fulncss of grace to subdue our sin, fulncss of joy to keep us from despair, fulncss of mercy and pity to succour us in our distresses. "Therefore let no man take thy crown" (Rev. iii. 11); "Cast not away your confidence" (Heb. L 35). 3. Great is the security of the believer. It is a perma- nent fulncss.-T. C.