The Real Thing

Introduction

Raise your hand if you love Coca-Cola?

Back in the 1970’s, Coke put out the slogan: “Coke, its the real thing”

They did this to communicate how Coke was authentic, it was natural, it was genuine, and Pepsi, RC Cola, and others were knock-off brands.

But you can only know that Coke was the real thing and better than the knock offs by tasting it.

Just as we saw ___________ only knew for sure which cup was coke after tasting it.

You see, if all you drank was Pepsi or RC Cola, you would not know the difference and you would not realize what you were missing out on. . . but once you tasted Coke, you would realize how much better it is than any other soda. . . and would not want anything else but the real thing.

In a similar way, this is what Paul was trying to help the Colossians see in Colossians 1:15-20.

They were being sold a “gospel” that was false. . . they were being given RC Cola that was disguised as Coke.

But Paul is telling them, “no, don’t be deceived. Jesus is the real thing, He is supreme. . . he is sovereign. . . taste and see for yourselves!

For some of us in this room tonight, we have tasted and seen that Jesus is good and he is enough. . . but maybe, we have started to drink from the knock-offs of pleasure, fame, power, and possessions, and can’t tell the difference anymore.

For others, you have never tasted the real thing. . . you don’t believe Jesus is the real thing because all you’ve had are knock-off versions.

Yet, tonight I want us all to see in Colossians 1:15-20 that Jesus is the real thing.

Key Point: Jesus is the “Real Thing,” so let us taste and see that he is enough.

As we read our text, I want you to underline or highlight some repeated phrases. . .

“In, by, and through him”

“all” or “all things”

“firstborn”

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

1. Jesus is the Lord Over Creation and Firstborn of the Original Creation (v. 15-17).

Paul begins by proclaiming Jesus’ cosmic reign and supremacy over all things demonstrating his equality with the Father as his image, the creator, and sustainer of the universe.

Jesus is the Image of the Invisible God (v. 15a)

“He is the Image of the Invisible God”

There is no article, such as “in” or “according to” but Jesus is exact expression and imprint of God’s nature (Hebrews 1:2-3).

We are copies. . . but Jesus is the real thing.

God is invisible, He is Spirit, but through the Son taking on a human nature, Jesus reveals the Father to us. When we see Jesus, we see the Father (John 14:9-10).

John 1:18 ESV

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

The only way we know God is through Christ. . . the only way we can see the Father is through the Son.

Therefore, we must not seek God by looking to anyone or anything else other than Jesus.

Being the image of God also points back to Genesis 1:27 and shows Jesus has all authority as God’s perfect representative and is the true archetype in which Adam was made as the prototype.

Thus, by being the image of God, Jesus is both God’s ultimate revelation, showing his deity, and God’s personal representation, showing his humanity.

Scott Pace says. . . “In other words, Jesus is the divine authority over all creation as the epitome of the earthly image and embodiment of the heavenly image of God.”

Jesus is the Firstborn of all Creation (v. 15b).

“the first born of all creation”

By calling Jesus the “firstborn” this does not mean he was born in time, but rather Paul is referring to Psalm 89:27-29 in how the David is called God’s “firstborn”. . . but David was the youngest in his family and thus firstborn cannot refer to time but rather rank or supremecy. . .

So, God says David is his firstborn because he and his offspring will rule and his reign will be “higher than the kings of the earth” and will be “established forever.”

Psalm 89:27–29 ESV

27 And I will make him [David] the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. 28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him. 29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

We also know Jesus is not the first created being because Paul says Jesus is the firstborn “of all creation,” which communicates “before all” in the Greek.

Therefore, by saying Jesus is the firstborn before and over all creation, he holds all of the blessings and inheritance of the firstborn and is placed in the highest place of honor.

Jesus is the Creator and Ruler of All Things (v. 16).

“For by him all things were created”

“By him” or “in him” The Son, along with the Father and the Spirit created all things that have ever existed.

Both creation and redemption are “in Christ” and cannot exist apart from him.

Heaven and earth, visible and invisible. . . cover everything in creation.

So, contrary to Jehovah’s Witnesses and LDS, Jesus is not the first created being (firstborn of all creation) because it is impossible to be the creator of all things and also be created.

John 1:3 ESV

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Ancient Faith Study Bible: Notes Chapter 1

If all things are through him, and all things are from nothing, and nothing is except through him, I ask in what way does he lack the true nature of God, since he is not lacking either in the nature or the power of God?

“Thrones, Dominions, Rulers, and Authorities” can refer to earthly kings and rulers, but also to heavenly rulers, such as angels, satan, and the demons (Eph. 1:19-23).

Paul specifically highlights that Jesus created “thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities” to remind the Colossians that Jesus created the angels.

Therefore, they don’t need the help of angels to have a deeper and more spiritual relationship with God as was taught by the false teachers.

They also don’t need to call on angels for help and protection over demonic spirits. . . all they need for growth in the Christian life and protection from spiritual attacks is Jesus.

Notice at the end of verse 16 that Paul says that not only all things were made by Jesus. . . but they were made for Jesus.

All things, including our lives, were made to glorify and enjoy Jesus. . . this is our purpose and why he made us. . . to glorify him and enjoy him forever!

Jesus is the Sustainer of All Things (v. 17).

“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Jesus is before all things. . . meaning he is eternal. Nothing existed before he did, nor will anything surpass his existence (John 1:1).

Jesus “holds all things together” in that he sovereignly governs all things. No bird falls from the sky without his knowledge, no rain storm forms without his permission, we do not take one more breath without his sustaining power.

This speaks against the idea of a deistic view of God that is distant and not involved or concerned with us or our universe. Our God is a personal God who is intricately involved in ever facet of our lives and sustains our every breath by his sovereign power.

2. Jesus is the Head of the Church and the Firstborn of the New Creation (v. 18-20)

Jesus is the Head of the Church (v. 18a).

“And he is the head of the body, the church”

Jesus not only created everything in the universe, he specifically created his special people, the church and is ruling over it as Lord.

“head” refers to the sole place of authority. Jesus is the head and authority of every church, not a pope, not a pastor, but only Jesus.

As his body, we as the church are connected to Christ and find our life and strength in Christ alone (1 Cor. 12:12-27; Rom. 12:4-5; Eph. 4:16-17).

Jesus is the Beginning and Firstborn of the New Creation (v. 18b)

“He is the beginning. . .”

“beginning” refers back to Genesis 1:1, where Jesus, as mentioned in verse 15, was the beginning of the original creation, since he is the firstborn and it was made by him and for him.

“the firstborn from the dead,”

Now, Paul says that Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, which refers to him being the firstfruits of the resurrection and new creation.

Jesus’s resurrection ensures the resurrection of all other believers who are “in him” by faith.

“that in everything” Paul gives the reason for calling Jesus the firstborn from the dead. . . so that from the beginning of the original creation, to the beginning of the new creation, Jesus has first place (preeminence) in everything!

The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon and to the Ephesians 3. Hymn in Honor of Christ (1:15–20)

Here, then, Christ is presented as the agent of God in the whole range of his gracious purpose toward the human race, from the primeval work of creation, through the redemption accomplished at history’s midpoint, on to the new creation in which the divine purpose will be consummated

AKA. . . is is the GOAT. . . No one can match him. . . He is supreme and sufficient.

Jesus is the Fullness of God and the True Temple (v. 19).

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell”

Paul gives another reason why Jesus has first place in all things. . . he is equal with God the Father because all the fullness of God. . . not only dwells in him. . . but was pleased to dwell in him!

“fullness” is a key word in this letter as Paul uses the word 10 times. Specifically, he also uses it in Colossians 2:9 to contrast how the fullness of God is in Jesus and not in this empty philosophy that was taught by false teachers.

Paul alludes to Psalm 68:16 when he says that it pleased God for his fullness to dwell in Christ.

David says that God desired to dwell with his people in the temple in Jerusalem.

Using the same verbs (pleased and dwell), God now says he desires all his fullness to dwell in Jesus, who is the true temple and what the temple pointed to (see John 1:14).

This means that God’s glory and presence are no longer restricted to a place but found in a person, Jesus Christ. Which also means that by faith in Jesus, we now have his Spirit, and thus our bodies are now a temple where the fullness of God dwells!

Jesus is the Savior and Reconciler of All Things (v. 20).

“and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven”

Reconcile means to bring to unity or peace.

The world that has been cursed and affected by sin will one day be redeemed and reconciled back to God through Christ (Rom. 8:19-23).

This means that the original creation will not be rejected by God but be renewed and restored. . . the physical creation and earth matter to God and should matter to us.

All things will be at peace with God through Christ.

Believers will be reconciled to God as friends.

Christ’s universal peace will be enforced upon Non-believers and demonic powers as their rebellion will be defeated by Jesus, the conquering king.

Paul does not teach universal salvation from this text as he says later in the next chapter that his enemies will be vanquished and triumphed over (Colossians 2:15).

Ephesians–Philemon Response

Paul’s reference to “all things” being reconciled to God would seem to indicate that God brings ultimate peace, even among those who reject him. This does not mean that all are saved. Rather, “reconciliation” should be understood to include two aspects: restoration of relationship with God for those who have faith in Jesus Christ; and pacification of the rebellion of those who do not.

“making peace by the blood of his cross”. . . Paul says this peace comes by the sacrifice Jesus gave through his life by shedding his blood on the cross to pay for the sins of the world.

Do We Believe This?

Do we believe that Jesus is Lord?

Jesus should be first in our worship.

Do we believe that Jesus is head of the Church?

Jesus should be first in our work.

Do we believe that Jesus is enough?

Do we believe he is the real thing?