The Firstborn of Creation

[The “Colossian Heresies”]

Gentiles were used to worshipping multiple gods to hedge their bets.

Jews were used to encountering God through the Temple—and the Law of Moses.

Paul’s goal is to encourage the Colossians to invest their lives in Jesus alone.

[The Hymn to Jesus]

Colossians 1:15–17 CSB

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

Jesus has always ruled over all of creation.

There are no other powers that can add anything to Jesus.

Colossians 1:18–20 CSB

He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Jesus has the full power and authority to reconcile the world to God.

There are no substitutes for giving your allegiance to Jesus.

Colossians 1:21–23 CSB

Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.

Jesus will reconcile you to God—if you commit to him alone.

From Colossae to Turner

1. How are you hedging your bets?

2. How are you trying to substitute gestures for loyalty?

3. What does it look like to commit your life to Jesus alone?