Scripture References – Colossians 1:13-20
Christ Is the Creator
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. – Colossians 1:15-17.
The false teachers were very confused about Creation. They taught that matter was evil, including the human body. They also taught that Jesus Christ did not have a real body since this would have put Him in contact with evil matter. The results of these false teachings were tragic, including extreme asceticism on the one hand and unbridled sin on the other. After all, if your body is sinful, you either try to enslave it or you enjoy it.
In this section, Paul explained the fourfold relationship of Jesus Christ to Creation.
He existed before Creation (verse 15). The term “firstborn” does not refer to time, but to place or status. Jesus Christ was not the first being created, since He Himself is the Creator of all things. “Firstborn” simply means “of first importance, of first rank.” Solomon was certainly not born first of all of David’s sons, yet he was named the firstborn (Psalm 89:27). “Firstborn over all Creation” means “prior to all Creation.” Jesus Christ is not a created being; He is eternal God.
Paul used the word “image” to make this fact clear. It means “an exact representation and revelation.” The writer to the Hebrews affirms that Jesus Christ is “the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus was able to say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). In His essence, God is invisible; but Jesus Christ has revealed Him to us (John 1:18). Nature reveals the existence, power, and wisdom of God; but nature cannot reveal the very essence of God to us. It is only in Jesus Christ that the invisible God is revealed perfectly. Since no mere creature can perfectly reveal God, Jesus Christ must be God.
He created all things (verse 16a). Since Christ created all things, He Himself is uncreated. The word “for” that introduces this verse could be translated “because.” Jesus Christ is the Firstborn of all because He created all things. It is no wonder that the winds and waves obeyed Him, and diseases and death fled from Him, for He is Master over all. “All things were made through Him” (John 1:3). This includes all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible. All things are under His command.
All things exist for Him (verse 16b). Everything exists in Him, for Him, and through Him. Jesus Christ is the Sphere in which they exist, the Agent through which they came into being, and the One for whom they were made.
Paul’s use of three different prepositions is one way of refuting the philosophy of the false teachers. For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause. The primary cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, and the final cause the purpose. When it comes to Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He planned it), the instrumental cause (He produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure).
If everything in creation exists for Him, then nothing can be evil of itself (except for Satan and fallen angels, even those God uses to accomplish His will). Gnostic regulations about using God’s creation are all foolish (Colossians 2:20–23). It also means that God’s creation, even though under bondage to sin (Romans 8:22), can be used for God’s glory and enjoyed by God’s people (1 Timothy 6:17).
He holds all things together (verse 17). The NIV states it this way, “In Him all things hold together.” A guide took a group of people through an atomic laboratory and explained how all matter was composed of rapidly moving electric particles. The tourists studied models of molecules and were amazed to learn that matter is made up primarily of space. During the question period, one visitor asked, “If this is the way matter works, what holds it all together?” For that, the guide had no answer.
But the Christian has an answer: Jesus Christ! Because “He is before all things,” He can hold all things together. Again, this is another affirmation that Jesus Christ is God. Only God exists before all of Creation, and only God can make Creation hold together. To make Jesus Christ less than God is to dethrone Him.
When I was younger I always thought Satan and sin were in control of this world. I have since changed my mind, especially as I have grown in the whole Word of God. Jesus Christ made all things, He controls all things, and by Him all things hold together. Indeed, this is my God’s world!
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 