Colossians 1:15
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
It is quite often difficult for us to wrap our mind around many aspects of God’s word. Paul is sharing what God laid on his heart for the people of Colossae.
A few weeks ago, a friend and I traveled 8 days and 4850 miles to visit a former prayer partner who had a career in Georgia then retired to Montana. My friend recently lost his wife, and needed some “guy time“ to reflect and marvel at God’s love, mercy and grace in spite of personal earthly losses. God showed up daily as we prayed across 14 states and we experienced God’s awesome supremacy in majestic views, loving people, physical health and protection, and a renewed peace that regardless of the election outcome, Jesus was here first and will be here last having paid the price with his blood to be our leader forever.
The Lord Jesus in His humanity is the visible revelation of the invisible God. The only way to know our Creator intimately is through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the firstborn over all creation.
The word firstborn does not refer to time, for the uncreated Son is from everlasting to everlasting. The word firstborn refers to His preemptive position in God’s creation – His superior standing; His predominant place; His supreme status. Christ is the firstborn over all creation because as the eternal Son of God, He was born into our race as the perfect Son of Man. The incarnate Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us making Him first in significance and first in status. Jesus Christ is first in importance over all His creation, and at the name of Jesus every knee will bow for all creation is subject to His authority – and He died so that we might live.
John 1:1-5 also speaks to the preeminent position of Christ.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
While using the HEAR method, dig into the meaning of each of Jesus’ titles given in this verse.
Answer in the comments below.
- Do you take time to reflect on Jesus preemptive position in this crazy world?
HIGHLIGHT: What words or phrases jump out at you? “How was Christ here before creation? “
EXPLAIN: What does the passage mean? Use your Study Bible or online tools to understand the passage further.
APPLY: How does the passage intersect with your life today? What is your “take away” from this passage? Are you struggling with the status of politics in our country?
RESPOND: What is God prompting you to do today based on this truth?
Hall Rogers
Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash