“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever Amen" (Romans 11:36).

Modern Christians, being mostly self-centered rather than God-centered in their thinking, usually emphasize only the blessings of the Christian life. While it is surely true that all good things come through Christ, it is just as true and just as important that all things were created by Him and for Him. The beautiful doxology in our text thus presents, in outline form, the tremendous scope of His work. “Of Him” speaks of His past work—creating all things. “Through Him” speaks of His present work—preserving all things and mediating to us our great salvation. “To Him” speaks of His future work—consummating all things in His own eternal reign.

The threefold aspect of the person and work of Jesus Christ is also presented in the magnificent testimony of Colossians 1:16–20: Past work: “By Him were all things created” (Colossians 1:16). Present work: “By Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). Future work: “By Him to reconcile all things unto Himself” (Colossians 1:20). That all of this is comprehended within the “gospel” is evident, in that Colossians 1:5, introducing this passage and its claims, speaks of “the word of the truth of the gospel,” and Colossians 1:23, following it, calls it all “the hope of the gospel.”

This tremendous panorama is also stressed in Hebrews: “His Son . . . made the worlds . . . upholding all things by the word of His power, . . . He . . . by Himself purged our sins. . . . Whom He hath appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2,3).

Finally, there is the witness of the apostle Peter, in his last chapter: “By the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth . . .” (II Peter 3:5). Then, “. . . The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store” (II Peter 3:7). Finally, “. . . we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth” (II Peter 3:13). HMM