Colossians 1:15-20
Paul has spoken at length about what God has done for our salvation and
eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. He now shares a portrait of the nature and
work of the eternal Christ. Jesus came
as a man but is so much more.
The incarnate Jesus is a limited
manifestation of Son of God.
The Eternal Christ
Jesus chose to “reduce”
Himself to secure the salvation of man. Philippians 2:5-8
John
identifies Jesus as the Word (Logos) -
the full revelation of God because He was of the eternal nature
of God.
The Preeminent
Christ
·
Jesus is… the image of the invisible God. - v.15a
Jesus
is not just a symbol of God; He is God Himself.
·
Jesus is…SUPREME - v.15b
This
does NOT mean Jesus was the first “creation” of God but that He is
foremost over all creation.
“Firstborn”
therefore is a title of honor or position, not chronological order.
·
Jesus is…Creator - v.16
This
is a CHRISTOCENTRIC universe.
·
It stands created "by Him" -
·
It was created "through Him
·
It is created “unto Him” -
“As all
creation passed out from Him, so does it all converge again towards
Him.”
·
Jesus is…the Universal Bond - v.17
Jesus
makes the universe a cosmos
instead of a chaos.
·
Jesus is…Head of the Church - v.18
What lordship is to the individual, headship is to
the church.
·
Jesus is…the All in All - v.19-20
In
Jesus was all of God and all of man in order for reconciliation
to occur.
