He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15 (NIV)
I have to admit that the second half of verse 15 threw me for a loop. The first half is quite clear - when we look at Jesus, we see God who cannot be seen. This is a beautiful testimony to whom God is. He made Himself visible in the only manner He could without His glory destroying man. His holiness alone is enough to us.
Up until Christ, God had only let Moses see His back and only that in fear of killing him. When I read this I get a better understanding of the next part of the verse. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. While Adam was created, the Holy Spirit places Christ into the womb of Mary. So when we read, "the firstborn over all creation," we could read it - the firstborn of God who is over all creation. God planned the rescue of mankind before creation began.
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. Colossians 1:16 (NIV)
God is first - the Godhead - and because of Him there is creation. Anything we see came about because first there is God. All things are created by Him and for Him; God holds it all together. Matter exist and makes sense because God is!
In verse 18, we get a even clearer understanding of Jesus as "firstborn." He was the first to raise from the dead and enter into glory. Other accounts of people being raised from the dead have been recorded but they all died again. Jesus rises from the dead to pave the way into the new life for us. Christ is supreme: He was before creation and He is the first to rise among the dead.
God was pleased with creation but received great pleasure in allowing His fullness to exist on earth through Christ as a means to reconcile man to Him. God's design for reconciliation was to take death and subdue it with the blood of Christ. Death once ruled as punishment but now submits as an entrance into eternal glory for those who receive Christ's offering of salvation. Death was once unsettling but now brought peace for those who choose the supreme act of Christ - to make available God's fullness to each of us.
Without Christ, behavior rules our thoughts and lives, With Christ, we can rule our behaviors as we submit our lives to Him. Unrighteous behavior (doing the wrong things) alienates us from God and the things of God. Heaven is a foreign concept to those who do not know God. Ignorance is so prevalent in our society, and it comes from man's need of God. This is why so many act as enemies of God in their thinking. They lack the presence of the Holy Spirit who brings understanding. Reconciling mankind, bringing peace to our lives, is the only way Jesus could make us holy in His sight. Death demands our life due to sin. Death had to be subdued - Jesus is supreme. He sees us through His blood without blemish and free of accusations!
All of this is ours if we remain established and firm in our faith. Established means we understand and are seeking more understanding about our faith. Firm means we stick to our convictions and don't get side-tracked by "new" theology. But here, Paul doesn't want Christians to fall away from hope. Jesus is who He is and more! This is why Paul is so convinced.
- How convinced are you that Jesus is who He says He is?
- What comes to mind when you hear Jesus is supreme?
- How does this section affect your thoughts about death and eternity?
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