Jump Start # 125
Colossians 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”
We have used a few more verses than we normally do, but it is necessary to carry the thought and to see what Paul is saying about Jesus. There are 10 references to Jesus in these three verses. There is also a very strong “He is” theme here.
- He is the image of the invisible God
- He is before all things
- He is head of the body
- He is the beginning
This passage also has a time reference. The past: He is the image of the invisible God; all things were created by Him. The present: He is before all things; He is holding all things together. The future: He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
Paul always seems to bring us back to Christ. This is the foundation of our faith and all things spiritual. It’s not the church, but the Christ that needs to be emphasized. In these verses, Paul is revealing the nature of Jesus. In many ways this reads like a short bio or an introduction. Jesus is God. Jesus is the creator of all things. Jesus holds everything together. Jesus is the head of the church. Jesus is the first raised to never die again. Jesus is first.
The credentials of Jesus warrant our attention and following. Many in the world do not see Jesus as Paul has just defined Him. For some, Jesus is a teacher. Others paint Him as a revolutionary radical. Prophet some say. It was Peter who declared, “you are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Thomas said, “My Lord, and my God.”
If this verse is true, and I believe it is, it alone destroys evolution. Natural processes, though time and chance, without aid of intelligent life and design could not have made this world, if Jesus is the creator of all things. These verses tell us that the dead shall live. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead—implying there will be others. This verse gives us the proof that there is a God. How do we know for sure? Jesus. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. How can you have an image of the invisible? It is not the physical form of Jesus, but the compassion, the love, the dedication, the holiness, the power, the wisdom—that is what Jesus showed.
So many important doctrinal themes can be found right here in these verses. Paul wants us to get this. The power and position of Jesus are the underlining themes. Jesus is Lord. Jesus is the one we need to follow. Jesus makes all the difference in the world.
Roger