The Fingerprint of Christ in Colossians (Colossians 1:15-20).Wednesday September 23, 2026
Intro:
The first problem – not reading an epistle as a letter.
The second problem – not seeing how the parts of the letter relate to the whole.
Because of these problems many Christians have an incomplete knowledge of the revelation of the Scriptures.
Our next section is beautiful and poetic presentation of Christ’s nature and purpose. It is timeless but it is also in this letter for a reason.
I. The Epistles are letters.
A letter would be read in one sitting.
They address issues that have occurred among the readers.
They contain timeless theology that addresses the solutions to problems and also leads the readers to higher victories in the spiritual life. These are given with apostolic authority.
II. The letters address problems.
In Colossians there is a clear problem: false teachers of false doctrines.
Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
Col 2:16-23 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — 17 things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Paul’s solution is to remind them of what they have been taught and ground them in it. The gospel, the natural results of the gospel, and the heart of the gospel.
The natural results of the gospel become Paul’s theme:
Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects
Col 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him …
The false doctrines are attempting to send these believers on another path and Paul will not have that.
Act 20:29 savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Mat 7:15 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
We cannot remain focused on the right path without a consistent reminder.
So then, Paul’s solution is to reestablish the foundation of the gospel, its natural results in the believer, and the heart of the gospel who is Jesus Christ.
The theme is walking worthy of the Lord. That “Lord” is Christ Jesus whom you have received. Well, who is Christ and what do you think of Him?
2Co 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
III. Christ’s person in Colossians.
He is the object of all faith.
Col 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
He is the goal of all faith.
Col 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
He is the King of the Mediatorial kingdom:
Col 1:13-14 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the redeemer.
He is the only God, Creator, eternal, omnipotent, the only Head of the church, preeminent resurrected man, first in rank, and reconciler at ultimate cost. (Col 1:15-20).
He is the sole treasure of all knowledge and wisdom:
Col 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
In Him is all the fullness of deity:
Col 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form
He is seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:1 where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God
He is the sole giver of peace.
Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
He is the source of all gratitude.
Col 3:17 giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
He is the standard for every role a human can take on earth.
Col 3:18-25 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.
22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
He is the sole source of fellowship among workers for the gospel.
Col 4:7 As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.
Remove Christ from any of these roles and a life of eternal meaning becomes aimless wandering.
IV. Outline of Col 1:15-20.
This is a sublime poetic creed about the person, nature, and work of Christ.
In light of the problems in Colossae – the idea that Christ is not enough, we can see why Paul includes this poem in this letter.
Invariably, this section is referred to as a hymn, but not in our modern sense.
The poem easily divides into two sections.
Stanza 1 — Christ and creation (vv. 15-17).
Who He is: image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation
Why: in Him all things were created… through Him and for Him He is before all things; in Him all things hold together
Stanza 2 — Christ and reconciliation / new creation (vv. 18-20)
Who He is: head of the body, the church; beginning; firstborn from the dead — so that He might be preeminent.
Why: in Him all the fullness dwells … reconciler of all things … making peace by the blood of His cross.
The parallel: firstborn of all creation … firstborn from the dead.
V. How does Col 1:15-20 fit in the entire letter?
The Colossians are being tempted to move away from the faith that Christ is over all things and the only God and reconciler.
Moving away from faith, trust, confidence in the gospel for all sufficiency, leads away from the narrow road.
The world tells all the travelers of its roads that happiness and meaning are right around the next corner.
“There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never keep their promise.” C.S. Lewis in a radio talk on “hope.”
Everything we see in this letter, indeed in the entire Scripture, has its foundation in the Person of Christ and what He accomplished in His first advent.
He is the source of all our good, all our desires fulfilled, and all our needs. |