Jesus the Firstborn

Introduction

Well, good afternoon, and Merry Christmas!

If you have a Bible—and I hope that you do—go ahead and open it with me to Colossians chapter 1. We’re gonna read verses 15 through 17 together, but today we’re gonna focus on verse 15.

As a ministerium, we gather every year to walk through Advent with one unified question in mind: Who exactly is this Jesus that we celebrate? Last year we examined John’s Gospel and we listened to John tell us that the baby in the manger, He is the eternal Word—God Himself.

This year, we’re turning to Paul… and Paul takes us even deeper.

Because here’s the thing: Every December, our world gets very sentimental about Jesus. We see the nativity sets, the shepherds, the star, the songs—we celebrate a birth. But advent forces us to stop and ask the bigger question: Who was this Child before the manger? Why did His arrival matter? What made His coming not just beautiful, but absolutely necessary?

For centuries people, they’ve tried to answer those questions.

Some say Jesus was a good teacher. Some say He was a prophet. Some say He was a moral example. Others say He was revolutionary.

But Paul, in one of the clearest and most exalted passages in the whole New Testament, he gives us the answer without hesitation or apology. Before he talks about shepherds or angels or wise men or even the cross, Paul begins with the supremacy of Christ—who Jesus is in His eternal identity.

And so, this Advent, our theme together is simply this: “He Is.” Not “He was.” Not “He became.” He Is. Eternal. Supreme. Preeminent…The One whose story didn’t start in Bethlehem.

And Paul shows us this in three titles that’ll guide our entire Advent series over the next couple weeks: Jesus the Firstborn, Jesus the Creator, and Jesus the Sustainer.

This afternoon, we begin where Paul begins—with the title that sets the stage for everything else: Jesus the Firstborn.

And so with that, let’s just read the passage together—Colossians chapter 1, verses 15 through 17—and then we’ll focus in on verse 15 this afternoon.

If you would, let’s stand for the reading of God’s Word. It says this:

Colossians 1:15–17 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Thank you, you can be seated.

[Prayer]

If you’re taking notes, as we look at verse 15 this afternoon…there’s three things I want you to see here about Jesus being the firstborn…1.) Jesus is the Firstborn who reveals God…2.) Jesus is the Firstborn who rules creation…and 3.) Jesus is the Firstborn who calls us to worship.

And so again, verse 15:

Colossians 1:15 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Let’s look at this first thing together.

I. Jesus is the Firstborn Who Reveals God

Jesus is the Firstborn who reveals God.

Listen, Paul begins here by declaring that Jesus “is the image”—the eikōn—“of the invisible God.” That word eikōn, it doesn’t mean a vague reflection. It doesn’t mean a resemblance. It doesn’t even mean a strong likeness.

Eikōn means the exact imprint, the precise representation, the perfect manifestation. It’s the same idea Hebrews 1:3 uses when it says Jesus is “the exact imprint of His nature.”

Paul is saying: If you wanna see God, look at Jesus. If you wanna know what God’s like, look at Jesus. If God’s invisible—and He is—Jesus makes Him visible.

We might look like our parents—same eyes, same smile, same mannerisms—but we’re not the exact imprint of them. We inherit pieces of them, parts of their nature, parts of their personality. But there’s always a separation; there’s always a difference.

But with Jesus? There’s no difference between the nature of the Son and the nature of the Father. He’s not similar to God. He’s not merely reflecting God like we do. He IS God made visible—God in flesh, God revealed, God unveiled to us.

And notice Paul’s grammar here: He doesn’t say Jesus was the image, or Jesus became the image. He says Jesus is—present tense, ongoing reality. He’s always been the perfect revelation of the Father.

An so before Paul ever speaks of creation or authority or supremacy… he starts right here. He calls us to see Jesus rightly — as the visible, perfect, exact manifestation of the invisible God.

…

Just imagine showing someone a photo of someone they’ve never met. A picture can really help them guess: “Oh, he looks kind,” “She looks athletic,” “He seems serious.”

But a picture always has limits, right? A picture can capture a moment, or a feature, an expression—but it can’t capture the essence of a person. It’s a representation, not the real thing.

Now imagine someone saying, “I don't need a photo. I can show you the living, breathing person.” Suddenly the guesses end. The speculating, it stops. The person becomes known.

In the ancient world, people speculated about God. What is He like? Is He near or far? Is He compassionate or cruel? Is He powerful or indifferent?

But in Jesus, speculation stops. In Jesus, the invisible becomes visible. Jesus doesn’t show us a picture. Jesus shows us the Person of God.

Since Jesus is the eikōn, the exact imprint of God’s nature, then our calling is very simple but its profound:

We’re called to stop guessing and we’re called to start looking. Stop forming our own ideas about who God is and start submitting those ideas to the revelation of Jesus Christ.

If you wonder what God thinks about sinners?Look at Jesus eating with them.

If you wonder what God thinks about the broken?Look at Jesus touching lepers and healing the outcast.

If you wonder what God thinks about justice and righteousness?Look at Jesus cleansing the temple.

If you wonder what God thinks about forgiveness?Look at Jesus on the cross saying, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Your calling is to see Jesus clearly—not the cultural Jesus, not the political Jesus, not the sentimental Jesus… but the biblical Jesus: the exact imprint of the Father.

And when you see Him, everything else in this passage begins to make sense.

He can’t just be firstborn. He can’t just be creator. He can’t just be sustainer.

Not unless He’s also the exact imprint of the invisible God. And He is.

So the first call of this Advent season is simply this:

Look at Jesus until you see God. See Jesus until your heart bows to Him in worship.

Which moves us to our second point.

II. Jesus is the Firstborn Who Rules Creation

Kevin’s gonna talk about Jesus as Creator next week, but as Firstborn, as the firstborn BEING in existence, it also means that Jesus rules over all creation.

And so, after Paul establishes that Jesus is the exact image of the invisible God, he immediately highlights His cosmic authority: “He is the firstborn of all creation.”

“Firstborn” here, its about rank and authority, not a temporal order. Paul’s not suggesting that Jesus was created first. Instead, he uses a term from Jewish understanding that conveys preeminence, and inheritance, and rulership. The firstborn son in ancient culture had a special status: he was the heir, the representative of the father, the one who carried the family name, the property, the authority.

In Jesus, this idea reaches its cosmic fulfillment. He is preeminent over all creation, which Paul makes explicit in the verses that follow:

“For by him all things were created…” (v. 16a) — everything, visible and invisible, exists through Him. The sun, moon, stars, and galaxies; the nations, rulers, and authorities; even spiritual powers are under His rule. Nothing exists apart from His will.

“…all things hold together.” (v. 17b) — He doesn’t just create; He sustains. Gravity, time, life, all natural laws are continuously maintained by His power. Without Him, the universe would unravel.

Now I don’t wanna ruin the next two weeks for us, but this means that the Firstborn isn’t a distant figure of authority. He’s actively governing, and sustaining, and directing creation. His reign is comprehensive and ongoing. Nothing escapes His notice, nothing lies outside His power, nothing in heaven or earth can oppose Him.

And yet, the wonder of Christmas is that this sovereign ruler of the universe chose to enter His own creation as a baby. He didn’t display His power from a throne in heaven first; He entered humanity in humility, drawing creation and humanity into worship by His presence, not by intimidation.

Christmas isn’t merely a story of a baby; it’s the story of the King of the cosmos becoming one with His people, inviting all creation to recognize and submit to His authority.

I mean just imagine for a second a king who rules a vast and powerful kingdom. He owns the land, controls the armies, decides the laws, directs every city. Imagine that king stepping down from his throne, entering one of his villages—not to assert dominance or demand obedience, but to walk among his people, to serve, to be present.

That’s the image of Jesus at Christmas: the sovereign Lord who could command legions of angels and galaxies alike, yet comes as a baby in a manger to dwell among us. His power is real, yet His presence is personal. His rule is absolute, yet it invites our worship freely.

Or consider this: think about the hands that hold the universe. They hold the planets in orbit, the oceans in their boundaries, the stars in their courses. The same hands that hold galaxies folded down to touch Mary’s womb, to rock a child in Bethlehem, to comfort the weary, to heal the broken. That’s the paradox of Christmas: the Firstborn reigns, yet comes near.

And this has profound implications for our worship this Advent:

Trust His Authority. The same One who created the universe is in control of your life. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing overwhelms Him. Your fears, your doubts, your struggles, they’re all held within His sovereign hands.

Surrender to His Reign. Worship flows naturally from recognition of authority. When we see Jesus as Firstborn, ruling over all creation, we realize there’s nothing to cling to but Him. Our plans, our ambitions, even our comfort, they’re secondary to His eternal purposes.

Listen, the Firstborn’s not just supreme in title; He’s active in creation. He’s the ruler and sustainer of everything, and His authority invites every heart to worship Him…which leads us into our last point.

III. Jesus is the Firstborn Who Calls Us to Worship

Jesus is the Firstborn who calls us to worship.

After Paul establishes that Jesus reveals God and rules over all creation, he now brings the truth close to home: Jesus is the One who calls us into worship.

Notice the verbs in verses 16–17:

“All things were created through him and for him.” Creation exists for His glory. The universe, life itself, has its purpose in Him. Worship’s built into the very fabric of reality.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” The One who sustains the cosmos also sustains you, me, our communities, our families. Worship isn’t abstract—it’s relational. The Firstborn invites us to join in His sustaining work by responding in adoration.

Again we’re gonna talk about those two things in more detail over the next couple weeks, but Christmas reminds us that worship isn’t optional. It’s a response to the reality of who Jesus is. The Firstborn doesn’t simply command creation from afar—He draws us near, inviting us into relationship, into praise, into awe.

The Greek words “through him” (di’ autou) and “for him” (eis auton), they emphasize that creation’s both dependent on Him and oriented toward Him. We were made to worship. Our very lives, our gifts, our breath—everything exists for the glory of Christ.

That means worship is both our duty and our delight. It’s a response to the visible God and to the sovereign Lord who sustains the universe. Worship isn’t just something we do on Sunday mornings; it’s the natural rhythm of our lives in response to the Firstborn.

Think about an orchestra. Every instrument, every note, every pause exists to create one beautiful performance. If the violin plays offbeat, or the flute misses a note, the beauty diminishes. But when each musician recognizes the conductor, when they follow his lead, when they play in harmony, something transcendent happens—music that moves hearts, music that inspires awe, that stirs joy.

That’s the picture Paul paints for us: the universe is the orchestra, Jesus is the conductor, and we are called to join in the harmony of worship.

Christmas is like the overture to the orchestra. The baby in the manger isn’t just a sentimental figure. He is the conductor who draws us into the song of heaven. Angels, shepherds, and wise men respond. And listen, we’re invited to respond as well—not out of fear or obligation, but in joyful alignment with the One who made us, who rules us, who holds us together.

And so, what’s it look like for us to respond to the Firstborn’s call to worship this Advent?

Recognize Who He Is. Worship begins with seeing Jesus clearly: the exact imprint of God, the ruler of creation. Take time this Christmas to step away from the distractions, the shopping lists, the busyness, and fix your eyes on Him.

Let Worship Shape Your Life. Worship isn’t only singing songs or lighting candles. It’s giving your thoughts, your words, your actions, your relationships, even your time and resources back to Jesus. He’s Lord over all, and everything we do finds its meaning in Him.

And listen, Respond Joyfully. Worship is meant to overflow. Just like John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:41) and the angels praised God in the fields (Luke 2:13–14), our response to the Firstborn’s arrival should be joy that moves us outward. Invite others into that worship. Share the good news. Live in the reality that Jesus reigns and calls us to align with Him.

The Firstborn doesn’t just reveal God and rule creation—He actively calls us into worship. Christmas is the invitation to join in that worship, to live in recognition of His authority, and to celebrate His glory in our hearts, and homes, and communities.

Closing

And so this Christmas season, remember the three things Paul wants us to see about Jesus the Firstborn:

He reveals God. Look at Him and see the invisible Father.

He rules creation. Trust Him and submit to His authority.

He calls us to worship. Respond with your life, your heart, and your joy.

Worship is our response to the reality of who Jesus is. And the beauty of Christmas is that the One who sustains the universe, He’s come near, calling us to join the song of heaven and the celebration of His glory.

This Advent, let us be united in worship around the Firstborn, the exact image of God, the Lord of all creation, and the One who calls us to praise.

Let’s pray!