Christ: the Invisible Made Visible; Creator of All (Colossians 1:15-20).Thursday September 24, 2026
Intro:
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.
Philosophy: [love of wisdom] Deep thinking about the meaning of things.
Empty deception - reasonings that on the surface seem right, provide comfort to nagging questions.
Tradition: religion, ritual, culture and the inevitable belief that yours is better than others.
Elementary principles of the world: man centered thinking.
The versions of these that hit the Colossian church and the other church were powerful enough to shake the church’s foundation. They survived to this day.
Col 1:15-20 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. He is the image of the invisible God.
Eikon: (in the strict sense) an “artistic representation,” painting, statue or impress on a coin.
In this sense: Christ is the visible exact image of God by which we may know what God wills and does.
2Co 4:4 the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God
All emphasis is on the equality of the eikon with the original.
Thus eikon does not imply a weakening or a feeble copy of something. It implies the illumination of its inner core and essence.
Another way of putting it: Phi 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of God,
Joh 14:9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father.
Joh 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
“Christ is the perfect manifestation of the image of God.” Maclaren.
“In Christ we have the revelation of a God who can be known, and loved, and trusted, with a knowledge which, though it be not complete, is real.” Maclaren.
In Christ the thick darkness, cloud and fire of God on Sinai comes very near to us and we see not doom and horror, but sure love, ready help and comfort to cleanse and to save.
Psa 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
No more reign of law that is cold, condemning, and death to us.
II. Christ’s relation to creation: the firstborn.
Col 1:15 the firstborn of all creation.
At first sight it seems to include Christ in the family of creatures as the eldest. But the next verse shows that this is not the intention.
Col 1:16-17 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.
In Him: from within the Person of Christ all creation came.
Joh 1:4 In Him was life…
But this does not stand alone. It takes two more prepositions to complete the picture.
Through Him: (dia) the agency of Christ in creation. The agent in the Trinity who creates.
For Him: (eis) can mean for Him (for His benefit or glory) or to Him (with Him as the ultimate goal).
The true conclusion is that He is the firstborn in reference to being preeminent over all creation (priority, supremacy).
“In Him all things hold together (consist, endure).” There is one creation and it is held together by Him.
“The helm of the universe is held by the hands which were pierced for us.” Maclaren.
III. Christ’s relation to the church.
Col 1:18 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.
The parallel is obvious in the use of the “firstborn” again. But the change is from the material creation to the spiritual creation.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God
So the Word (preeminent over creation) became the beginning (same supremacy) of the church. The two halves of His work unite His people with His creation. Subjects, kingdom, and King as one.
Head: the mysterious life that flows from the brain … motor and personality – drive, motivate, will.
The Head lead to another effect - unity. There is one Head, one vine. The Head is authority over all, the seat of life, the center of unity.
Col 1:18 He is the beginning,
Christ is the beginning, not in the sense of the first member in a series, but the power that causes the series to begin. As He is the source of all things.
Col 1:18 the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
The spiritual life given to the church which creates her through regeneration came through His own death and resurrection.
To create the world in the first stanza, He spoke a word and from within Him and through Him it issued forth. To create the church, He died and rose again. And that made Him the first-fruits of the dead and the seed that went into the ground and died, but bore much fruit.
IV. Conclusion.
He is first in all things. Whether nature or new life by grace, He is preeminent, supreme, and absolute. He is the solitary figure over all: the universe and the church of saved sinners.
What do you think of Christ? What do you think of Him every day, every morning and evening?
What is Christ to you? Is He more than just a name? Is He all-in-all in your own life?
Is your daily life created in Him, through Him, and for Him? [theme of Paul’s letter]
Is He the Head of all that you do, drawing life from Him and purpose, will, and motive from Him? |