THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST - COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

Paul wrote Colossians to combat a heresy attacking the church. The book does not spell out the details of the heresy, but it seemed to involve the idea that Christ was not God and that he was not enough for salvation, and something else should be added. Christ, to the false teachers, was not sufficient. Dr. Curtis Vaughan said it cast a cloud over the glory of Christ.

Paul wrote to give the Colossians an adequate view, a correct view, of Jesus, showing them he is all we need for salvation and worship. He proclaimed the absolute and unqualified supremacy of Christ. He is preeminent in creation and in salvation.

And I want you to today to see the same thing. Jesus Christ is above all things, capable of saving you, and worthy of your worship. So, let’s look at who Christ is: in relation to God the Father, in relation to creation, and in relation to redemption.

Paul makes several statements about Christ in this passage, each starting with the words “he is”. He described Christ in relation to God the Father, to creation, and to the church.

First, in relation to God the Father, Christ is the image of the invisible God. In the New Testament generally, and in this passage specifically, the word “God” refers to the Father. Jesus, the Son, is the image of the Father, who is the invisible God.

The Bible tells us that God is invisible to our sight. God himself reminded the Israelites that they did not see any form when he spoke to them on the mountain to give them the covenant law. (Deuteronomy 4:15) He told them they could not make an image of him or of anything to worship as God. (Exodus 20:4)

Jesus told us that God is spirit (John 4:24). John told us that no one has ever seen God. (John 1:18) Paul told us God dwells in unapproachable light. (1 Timothy 6:16)

All of this being true, we see that we cannot know God by sight. So, how do we know him? We know him by knowing Jesus, who revealed him to us. As the image of God the Father, Jesus perfectly reveals the nature and being of God. He said “whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Hebrews 1:3 says Jesus is the exact representation of the Father.

Jesus has always been, is, and always will be the image of God. Therefore, we do not seek to know God in any way other than through Jesus, his actions and his words. John 1:18 says “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known”.

In relation to creation, Christ Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation”. “Firstborn” does not mean he was the first creation. Some have cited this verse to mean that. Rather it means he is before all creation in time and in his rank or position over it.

Verse 16 makes it clear: all things were created by him. He made them, he rules them, and they owe their existence to him. They were also created for him, to serve him, willingly or unwillingly, and to bring him glory.

This includes everything you can see and everything you cannot see. (16) It includes angels, even the evil ones we call demons. Paul named 4 classes of them: thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. Jesus created them and he rules them as a firstborn son of a king rules the kingdom. He will dispose of them eventually according to his will at the final judgment. We need not fear them, for Jesus rules them.

Not only did Jesus create all things, he holds all things together. (17)  He will hold creation together until the time comes for the heavens and earth to be made new. Hebrews 1:3 says Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power. What holds the Sun at exactly the right distance to warm the earth but not burn it up? Jesus does. What keeps the universe in order? Jesus does.

In relation to the church, the new creation, Jesus is the head of the body. (18) Your head, containing your brain, rules your body. It tells your heart to pump blood through your body. It tells your feet to move one at a time when you need to walk somewhere. It even works while you sleep, directing the functions of your body.

Similarly, Christ is the ruler and director of the church. He leads and directs. He is the only head of the church.

The use of the metaphor of the body for the church implies that the church is an organism and that the members, the redeemed, are parts of the body working together in unity of purpose to obey the commands of its head, Jesus Christ. Christ works out his purpose and will through the church. Christ and the church are in union with each other, just as the human head and body are.

Why is Jesus the head of the church? Because he is the beginning of it. he is the firstborn of the dead. (18) That is, he is the first who died and was resurrected, beginning the church. He is the source of the church’s life.

Because he is the first to be resurrected, he will have preeminence in everything. (18) God has declared him to be first above all things by having all his fullness to dwell in Jesus. All that God the Father is and has he has conferred on his Son. In Colossians 2:9, Paul further wrote: “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.”  He is sufficient to redeem you, because God caused all of his redemptive power to dwell in Christ.

In fact, God was pleased to reconcile all things to himself through Jesus. (20) At the end of this age, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Phil. 2:10) All intelligent beings, on earth and in heaven, will acknowledge the sovereignty of God, willingly or unwillingly.

If you are a believer, I hope you will see and rejoice in the Preeminent Christ, who rules over all things, including death and the grave. You need nothing else for salvation and spiritual life but Him.

If you have not committed your life to Christ, I pray that you will come to him today. He who is before all things, created all things, and rules all things died on the cross to reconcile you to the Father.

Your sins have separated you from God. You were bound for Hell. But, by placing your faith in Jesus, you will be declared blameless and at peace with God, bound for heaven.