Colossians 1:15-16
15 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.
Much can be said about these two verses. They are one of those passages that should make you say, "Whoa, I need to let that sink in!" Indeed, we should. The first time I stepped to the edge of the Grand Canyon, I was speechless. I took a couple of deep breaths and tried to comprehend what I was seeing. It was unexpected and a bit awe-inspiring. Today's text is similar to that.
Verse 15 alone places Christ in the highest context. Paul earlier stated (Col 1:13-14) that we have been redeemed and forgiven through Christ and brought into His kingdom. But now Christ is identified as the image of the invisible God. This is where we need to ask questions rather than assume we understand what is being said. How can you have an image of the invisible? How can Jesus, who was born, lived, suffered, and died, be the image of the invisible God? Because He is God.
He is the image, a perfect representation of Father God, who is a spirit. Verse 15 does not say he was made in the image; he was not made. He is the image of God. The Son of God embodies everything the Father is. A perfect image who is also human. This is a strong testament to the divinity of Christ. It is a profound statement that we must allow to saturate our hearts and minds. Jesus is not only our Savior; he is our Creator, our God, and eternal King.
If he embodies all these things, how can he be the firstborn of all creation? This is another profound truth. Our next verse explains that Christ could not have been born in the sense of being created. Thankfully, the following verse clearly shows that Christ is outside of creation, "for by Him all things were created," so in this context, "firstborn" means Christ is the Sovereign Authority over all creation. Homer Kent is helpful here.
An Old Testament illustration is found in the case of Jacob (Israel), the younger of Isaac's two sons, who was nevertheless elevated by God to a higher position than his older brother: "Israel is my son, even my first born" (Exodus 4:22). Eventually, this term came to be used as a description of the Messiah, "I will make him my first born" (Psalm 89:27), depicting his sovereignty over all creation.[1]
Paul continues to deepen our understanding and remove all doubt of his divinity by including everything Christ has created and rules over. "both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities." Whoa, we need to let that sink in! Why? Because we are fearful, anxious individuals who worry about jobs, finances, health, politics, loved ones, the future, the past, and much more happening in our lives right now.
Since all things have been created through Him and for Him, He will care for you; it is what He does best. The Lord pays attention to your needs and is concerned about your fears. Meditating on these verses can put our worries to rest. Seek contentment and joy by trusting the Creator in all things.
Audio version of today’s article
[1] Kent Jr., Homer A. Treasures of Wisdom-Studies in Colossians & Philemon, BMH Books, Winona Lake, IN. 1978. pg. 47.
Thank you for sharing this powerful devotional, sir🙏Colossians 1:15-16 reminds us that Jesus is not just a historical figure but the image of the invisible God, the eternal Son through whom all things were created As it says in John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made This shows us that our Creator is intimately involved in everything around us, both seen and unseen. Meditating on this truth can bring such peace because if Christ, who holds all authority over heaven and earth, cares for creation, then He certainly cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). We can rest in His sovereignty and trust Him with our fears, our jobs, our families, and our futures. When we see Jesus as fully God and fully man, we understand that His sacrifice, guidance, and love are perfect and eternal (Hebrews 1:3). Truly, letting this truth sink in changes how we live daily. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight By keeping our eyes on Christ, the invisible yet ever-present King, we gain peace, strength, and clarity for every challenge we face.