Oct 28, 2018
Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:15-17
It is highly significant that, from the very beginning, the Holy Spirit inspired passages like today's passage. This section reveals, in glorious description, the nature of the Son. For two thousand years there have been false ideas about who Jesus is. In a recent Ligonier Ministries survey of evangelicals, 95% of church-going people said there is one true God in three persons. However, 78% of those same people said that Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God. These people affirm the Trinity, but they don't understand the Trinity.
Passages like Colossians 1:15-20 help us to clearly understand who Jesus is. He is God the Son, which means He was not created. Here the Son is "the image of the invisible God" (Col 1:15). This means that Jesus is the perfect manifestation of God to a world which could not otherwise see Him.
Jesus is the "firstborn of all creation" (Col 1:15), which means that He is supreme over all creation … not a part of creation. The word 'firstborn' can mean 'first son in a family.' But it can also mean 'first in position.' Israel is called God's 'firstborn' (Exod 4:22) and David is called God's 'firstborn', meaning the highest of kings (Psa 89:27). Colossians 1:16 makes it clear that Christ is outside of created things because "by him all things were created."
Further, "in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell" (Col 1:19) and "in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Col 2:9).
We do not honor Christ properly or worship Him properly if we do not come to Him as He is … God the Son, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and with God the Holy Spirit. Such a sacrifice was necessary for our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.