The Sufficiency of Christ

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Jesus the Perfect Savior

Suppose that we have before us a person who is anxious to wait upon the sick. She is a woman of the most excellent character, in all respects faultless, but not yet fit to be a nurse until she shall have walked the hospitals. To do this she must give up the comforts of home, undertake a world of drudgery, and see much that will cause her pain, for she must herself see and understand what sickness means, or she will be of no use. Now, if this person is willing, for the sake of becoming a nurse, to undergo personal discomfort and physical weariness, to put herself to much self-denial, and to exercise much anxious thought, and if, indeed, all the preparatory process has been already undergone, who doubts her willingness afterward to exercise the office of a nurse, for which she has taken so much pains to fit herself? Does not the case speak for itself?

Then transfer it to the Lord Jesus. He has undergone all that was necessary to make him a complete Savior, in all points qualified for his work; and none may dare insult him by saying that he is unwilling to exercise his office and save the sons of men.

Charles Spurgeon, 300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Lynnea Smoyer (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017).

Background Info

Author: Paul

Date: ca. AD 60

Provenance: Imprisonment in Rome

Destination: Colossae

Occasion: False teaching

Purpose: Combat false teaching with the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ

Theme: Christ is the complete in every way; thus, believers are complete in Christ

Historical Info

In the time of ca. AD 60, Paul has been imprisoned in Rome after being on trial in Caesarea under the governor of Judea, Festus. Many books of the NT are staring to either compiled or written. Also, during this time there is a devastating earthquake that hits Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colossae. However, Paul makes no mention, so it must be after his letter to the church.

I. Paul proves that Jesus Christ is all Sufficient in His Nature

A. He is the “Image” (v. 15a)

"Image" was one of the first words that jumped out to me in observation. upon further analysis,the Greek root word translate to a likeness or reality. Also, it is a transliteration from the Hebrew word for "image" used in Gen. 1:26.

NAC - there are two ideas concerning "image," representation and manifestation.

Representation, the image symbolizes the object,

Manifestation, the symbol brings with it the actual presence of the object.

B. He is the “Firstborn” (v. 15b)

TNTC - the implication seems to be that Christ's resurrection will be the first of others.

C. He is the “Creator” (v. 16a, 17)

D. He is the “King” (v. 16b)

E. He is the “Head” (v. 18a)

F. He is the “Beginning” (v. 18b)

II. Paul proves that Jesus Christ is all Sufficient in His Resurrection Power

A. He led the ultimate exodus from Darkness into Light (v. 13-14)

TNTC- he alludes to the exodus....God delivered his people from the dark power of Egypt (see Exod. 6:6; 12:27; 14:30), transferring them into a new land: for he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

TNTC- Paul shares with other New Testament writers, and with Jesus himself, the belief in the existence of a dark power to whom the human race, and the world, is subject because of sin—and the belief that, in Jesus Christ, God has defeated this power and is establishing his own kingdom in its place.

NAC- Paul contrasted “the dominion of darkness” with “the kingdom of the Son he loves.” In this context, they parallel the ideas of darkness and light of the previous verse.

NAC- The terminology parallels the Jewish concepts of the world as the rule of Satan, which is often described as darkness in contrast to light. Paul also consistently used the word for the supernatural powers in Ephesians and Colossians. It occurs eight times in these two books, and it is the exclusive meaning in them.

NAC- Obviously the “kingdom” is not a geographical place since these believers did not change location when they changed kingdoms. In Christ, God invaded Satan’s territory and delivered people.

B. He circumcised and baptized the spiritually Dead (2:11-12)

III. Paul proves that Jesus Christ is all Sufficient in His Saving Grace

A. He forgave the unforgivable (2:13)

B. He applied the remission of our sin (2:14a)

C. He became the “propitiation” of our sin (2:14b)

Jesus Christ, as the incarnate Deity and propitiation of our sins, is all sufficient in all His ways. Christ is the ultimate "image" of the Divine Father and the "firstborn," the all sufficient head of the church.

Application:

Live in and for Christ Alone. Let the completed work of His salvation sweep over you. Christ is more than sufficient to meet all our needs.