"The Supremacy of Jesus the Christ" (Colossians 1:15-20)

The breakdown of our passage is as follows: Verses 15-17 describes Christ as superior over His physical creation (universe) and Verses 18-20 describes Christ as superior over His spiritual creation (the church). Let's examine the passage. Paul says, "He is the image of the invisible God" (v 15). The Greek word translated "image" means, "Likeness, copy, or representation." Paul is telling us that Jesus is the exact image, likeness and representation of God! In other words, Jesus is the visible manifestation of God, which means He's fully and totally God! This speaks to the fact that there's no way of knowing God except through Christ. Paul's statement is about the deity (essence or nature of God) of Christ. In Colossians 2:9, we have these words, "For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form." It just doesn't get any clearer than those words! Next, Paul says, "the firstborn of all creation" (v 15). What does the term, "firstborn" mean? The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that "firstborn" means Christ was the first of all created beings. However, the term "firstborn" means, "In biblical culture, the firstborn had higher status and received a greater share of the inheritance." Firstborn means an heir, first in rank! Paul is teaching that Christ, as the firstborn of God, is of supreme status and inherits all things! Jesus is first in rank above all creation. He is not a created being! This false teaching attacks the deity of Christ. The Jesus of the Jehovah's Witnesses is not the Jesus of the Bible! They have another Jesus, which means they have another gospel, which means they have another salvation! What does Peter say about this? He says, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Paul says, "For by Him all things were created.." (v 16). It's just not possible for Jesus to be both created and the Creator of all things! Because Jesus existed before creation, He is supreme in rank above it! Verse 17 says, "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together." Christ began the beginning! Christ existed before the universe had its beginning! Not only is Christ the Creator, but He's sustaining the universe! This is the Christ of the Bible! Is your faith in Him? Your move. Be encouraged!