The Ruler You’ve Always Been Looking For (Colossians 1:15-20).
length: 83:03 - taught on Sep, 27 2026
Class Outline:
Sunday September 27, 2026
Open: COL 1:15-20 could be the greatest composition about the glory of Jesus Christ in the NT, and therefore, some of the greatest, if not the greatest, lines of text in the history of the world.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 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. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
I. Exegesis
Supremacy of Christ, paralleled first creation and new creation.
“He Himself is …” (use of pronoun - emphasis)
Eikon: Christ is an illumination of the essence of God. In Him, the nature and character of invisible God are revealed.
“Firstborn” - Prototokos: supremacy or superiority of rank.
“I also shall make him My firstborn,
The highest of the kings of the earth.”
Were created: aorist passive - used to draw attention to historical fact. Reiterated at the end of the verse (inclusio) perfect passive of same verb: creation continues.
In Him: He is the sphere of creation. GEN 1:1.
The universe, the earth, you are not cosmic accidents.
Heaven (invisible); earth (visible).
Cosmic powers: thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities
“Worship of angels” was a portion of the Colossian heresy.
Through Him - instrument.
To Him - the goal is for Him (for His glory)
we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
All of history moves towards Him as its goal (modern, post-modern, whatever is next). Do not fret.
Vs. 17
He Himself is before all things: primacy over the cosmos.
Arius “There was once when He was not.” Cannot be said if this vs. taken literally.
In Him alone all things created and all hold together in Him.
Hold together (sunestekenai): He is the one sustainer and unifying principle.
Stanza II (vv. 18-20): Jump from cosmological to soteriological
He is the Head of the body the church.
Head - Christ is the organic, real control over the church. He is the provider of all direction, power, providence. He is in living relationship with the body and the members depend upon Him.
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
He is the beginning: (arche) has primacy whether it is in reference to time or authority.
Firstborn from the dead: founder of a new humanity.
1CO 15:20, 23
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep … Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming.
That He might have first place in everything = preeminence, primacy.
All the fullness - (fullness of deity; 2:9) - in whom God in all His fulness was pleased to dwell.
Vs. 20 - the height of the poem is reached - reconciliation.
The universe has been reconciled in heaven and earth and have been brought back into their divinely created eternal order … under its Head.
For believers this is freely accepted (COL 1:22).
For the cosmos it is compulsorily imposed (COL 2:15).
II. Christ is preeminent (primacy, ruler, Creator) of:
Cosmos: rebel angelic orders (devil and principalities and powers of the air).
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Why do you even possess His armor?
Preeminent of the resurrected dead - first fruits.
This is every person whose name is in the Book of Life. They all belong to Him.
“I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world…”
He is ruler and preeminent over the cosmos, over you, and over the body (church).
III. You and the body are as yet unfit to rule.
And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.
You (the church) cannot rule the cosmos. You are not yet fit to.
You can’t rule yourself. Sin, evil, ignorance, pursuits of idols.
You cannot rule your community (marriage, family, church, locality).
There is disunity, infighting, jealousy and strife (1Co 1-3); or the potential for them.
IV. Christ rules the cosmos, you, and the church.
He has primacy.
Cosmos: COL 1:20
reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace
He rules you: He is Lord, creator, redeemer, reconciler, ruler of all the raised dead.
He rules the church: He is the Head - provider, sustainer, unifier.
V. Application to you today: Behold the eikon.
Christ is the real, visible illumination to you of both creator and savior; both ruler of the cosmos and ruler of you and the church.
When you look upon tyranny and injustice: behold the image of God.
"But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain."
[Psa 110; Psa 89]
When you see sin in your life, evil thoughts, feel the fear and anxiety that comes with the pursuit of idols: behold the image of God.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
You behold the eikon who died on the cross and rose from the dead. You behold Him at the right hand of God praying with scared hands.
When you see division in your relationships, marriage, family, church, community: behold the image of God.
we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together.
How can you see Him who is at the right hand of God as real, visible, audible, touchable: faith.
The doctrine is meant to change us so that we live day by day, hour by hour seeing Christ’s primacy in your world, yourself, and your community.
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