The book of Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul to combat a heretical teaching that taught that Jesus was a created being, less than God and one among many lesser spirits. Paul condemns this heresy by exalting the person of Jesus Christ and urges the Colossians to do away with any belief that denies Jesus’ supreme position as Lord.
Colossians 1:15-18 is the key passage in this letter. What Paul does in this passage is unveil the true identity of Christ focusing primarily on His deity because His divine nature is what is being called into question. Below is a brief outline of this text of scripture and an explination of why it is important to think rightly about Christ.
1. Christ is the perfectly revealed image of God.
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
Paul refutes this heresy by affirming that Christ is the perfect image of the invisible God. He also tells us in Philippians 2:6 that “(Christ) is in the very form of God. Jesus also says of Himself, “Whoever has seen me has seen the father” (Jn. 14:9).
It is important to understand that Jesus is distinct from us. I am afraid that we often think of Christ as too much like us and fail to exalt Him in a manner that is worthy of Him. Christ is God. He not only walked the earth, but created the earth and He alone is worthy of our worship. Thinking rightly about Christ will also correct the way we worship because God is to be worshipped as the God who has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
2. He is the head of all creation.
The firstborn of all creation.
This phrase is often misunderstood. Many have taken this to mean that Jesus was a created being. What they fail to understand is that the word translated firstborn primarily refers to position or rank. Paul is not saying Jesus is the first created being, but is saying that He is the head of all created things. Therefore, it is essential that we elevate Him above all else and understand that no other position is worthy of Him.
Colossians 1:15-18 is the key passage in this letter. What Paul does in this passage is unveil the true identity of Christ focusing primarily on His deity because His divine nature is what is being called into question. Below is a brief outline of this text of scripture and an explination of why it is important to think rightly about Christ.
1. Christ is the perfectly revealed image of God.
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
Paul refutes this heresy by affirming that Christ is the perfect image of the invisible God. He also tells us in Philippians 2:6 that “(Christ) is in the very form of God. Jesus also says of Himself, “Whoever has seen me has seen the father” (Jn. 14:9).
It is important to understand that Jesus is distinct from us. I am afraid that we often think of Christ as too much like us and fail to exalt Him in a manner that is worthy of Him. Christ is God. He not only walked the earth, but created the earth and He alone is worthy of our worship. Thinking rightly about Christ will also correct the way we worship because God is to be worshipped as the God who has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ.
2. He is the head of all creation.
The firstborn of all creation.
This phrase is often misunderstood. Many have taken this to mean that Jesus was a created being. What they fail to understand is that the word translated firstborn primarily refers to position or rank. Paul is not saying Jesus is the first created being, but is saying that He is the head of all created things. Therefore, it is essential that we elevate Him above all else and understand that no other position is worthy of Him.
3. He is the creator and sustainer of all things
16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Paul has just affirmed that Jesus is exalted in rank above all things. In this passage he gives the reasons why.
#1 He is creator
By simply studying creation, one can get a glimpse of the greatness of Christ. For example, simply thinking about the countless number of stars and planets can be overwhelming, but what is even more amazing is the fact that Christ has created them and knows them by name and number according to Psalm 147:4
Paul also reminds his readers that Jesus is the author of the invisible world as well. He created the heavenly creatures as well as earthly ones. Scripture is clear that He is not an angel but the creator of the angels and they rightfully worship Him and are under His authority.
#2 He is sustainer
Paul also reminds his readers that Jesus is the author of the invisible world as well. He created the heavenly creatures as well as earthly ones. Scripture is clear that He is not an angel but the creator of the angels and they rightfully worship Him and are under His authority.
#2 He is sustainer
We learn that “in him all things hold together.” John MacArthur says, “(He) is the power behind every consistency in the universe.”
Christ not only created us, He is keeping us alive moment by precious moment and wants us to respond by worshipping Him as creator, by seeing our need for Him daily and by loving Him and doing what He commands.
4. He is the head of the Church
18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
As the head gives life and direction to the body, so Christ gives life and direction to believers as He rules over them. The reason He has this kind of authority is because Paul tells us, "He is the beginning." In other words, He is the cause and reason for the existence of the church.
Christ not only created us, He is keeping us alive moment by precious moment and wants us to respond by worshipping Him as creator, by seeing our need for Him daily and by loving Him and doing what He commands.
4. He is the head of the Church
18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
As the head gives life and direction to the body, so Christ gives life and direction to believers as He rules over them. The reason He has this kind of authority is because Paul tells us, "He is the beginning." In other words, He is the cause and reason for the existence of the church.
Paul also says, "He is...the firstborn from the dead," meaning Christ is first person to be resurrected from the dead with a glorified body. Being in right standing with God is contingent upon Christ’s resurrection. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
Because of Christ’s resurrection we are able to experience what Scripture calls the new birth. Peter says,“We have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
Paul ends this familiar passage of Scriputre by affirming that Christ has come "to have first place in everything." Basically he is saying, "Because God is perfectly revealed in Christ, because Christ is the creator and sustainer of all things, because He is the head of all creation and the church and especially because through His death and resurrection salvation is made available--as a result of all these things, Christ has been exalted by the Father to the highest position in existence--to have first place in everything."
To what extent does your life reflect that Christ has first place in everything? May you resist the temptation to restrict the preeminence of Christ in your life. He is to be honored as preeminent over all things, at all times, in every context, and in every circumstance.
