WHO IS JESUS?

Tonight, I want to focus on one question, and one question only: who is Jesus to you? The answer to this question is the most important one you’ll ever answer in your life.

About 3 years ago, I got invited to a Bible study, really similar to this one. I definitely didn’t want to go, but my best friend wanted to go so he could talk to one of the girls in the group, so I came along for the ride. That night, I got confronted with that same question, and it drove me to my knees. I begged for forgiveness of my sinful ways and the Lord saved me that very night.

When I look back on that night, I think about what exactly was the breaking point for me. What led me to repent and believe that night? The answer? Jesus did.

But, in order to understand that, I had to learn who Jesus was, and I want you all to learn who He is as well. So tonight, it’s my privilege to walk us through one of the clearest passages in Scripture on these matters, from Paul’s letter to the Colossians. In , Paul provides two facts about who Jesus is: He is firstborn of all creation and firstborn of the dead.

CONTEXT

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Now, Paul wrote this letter to the church in Colossae around 60-62 AD. He was on house arrest in Rome, awaiting a decision in his trial that would lead to either death or freedom. During this waiting period, Paul sent a few letters to other churches as well that became books in our Bible - Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon.

Paul wrote Colossians to teach these believers 3 things: the wisdom of the gospel, the folly of any fake gospel, and the fruit of the true gospel. Just like us today, these people were getting told a lot of different things about who Jesus really is. Paul’s main point in , though, is simply this: This is who Jesus really is.

So, with all that in mind, let’s take a look at our passage. Follow along as I read, starting in verse 15.

Colossians 1:15–20 NASB95

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION ()

The first fact about Jesus is that He is the firstborn of all creation… the firstborn of all creation. Look at verse 15.

Colossians 1:15 NASB95

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

What does it mean to be “the image of the invisible God?” In one sense, all humans are made in the image of God. tells us so. But is that what Paul had in mind here? Hardly.

Understand this word “image” as “a visual representation”… “a visual representation.” Essentially, Jesus Christ Himself is the visual representation of God.

1 Timothy 1:17 NASB95

17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Exodus 24:10 NASB95

10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.

Ezekiel 1:16–28 NASB95

16 The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship was like sparkling beryl, and all four of them had the same form, their appearance and workmanship being as if one wheel were within another. 17 Whenever they moved, they moved in any of their four directions without turning as they moved. 18 As for their rims they were lofty and awesome, and the rims of all four of them were full of eyes round about. 19 Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved with them. And whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 20 Wherever the spirit was about to go, they would go in that direction. And the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 21 Whenever those went, these went; and whenever those stood still, these stood still. And whenever those rose from the earth, the wheels rose close beside them; for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels. 22 Now over the heads of the living beings there was something like an expanse, like the awesome gleam of crystal, spread out over their heads. 23 Under the expanse their wings were stretched out straight, one toward the other; each one also had two wings covering its body on the one side and on the other. 24 I also heard the sound of their wings like the sound of abundant waters as they went, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army camp; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 25 And there came a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads; whenever they stood still, they dropped their wings. 26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. 27 Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. 28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

Ezekiel 1:26–28 NASB95

26 Now above the expanse that was over their heads there was something resembling a throne, like lapis lazuli in appearance; and on that which resembled a throne, high up, was a figure with the appearance of a man. 27 Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him. 28 As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face and heard a voice speaking.

John 1:18 NASB95

18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Ezek.

John 14:9 NASB95

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

2 Corinthians 4:4 NASB95

4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 15:24 NASB95

24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NASB95

6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

The single most-important fact about Jesus is that He is God. What does mean for you and me though? Simply put, if this is true, then that means we are accountable for every single word that He has said. On what authority? Because He’s God! He is our Creator!

Genesis 1:26–27 NASB95

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Gen. 1:26-27

But not only is Jesus the visual representation of God, He is King of all creation! Look at again.

“firstborn of all creation...”

Normally, when we think of “firstborn”, we’re thinking about the oldest kid in the family, right? I’m a middle child, so I always wished I was the firstborn, but at the end of day, I’m always second in line, ya know?

But God doesn’t define things the way we do. In fact, His definitions are 10x better! “Firstborn” here isn’t implying that Jesus is the first created being, but rather that He is before all created things. Creation is His inheritance. How do I know? Because this idea isn’t anything new! Listen to .

Psalm 89:27 NASB95

27 “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.

Whoa! “Make him firstborn...”? How in the world does that work? Simply put, it’s because in ancient times, the “firstborn” was chosen by assignment, not by alignment. What do I mean by that? God the Father has the right to designate whomever He wants over all that is His. His choice was to set God the Son over all things. Creation is His inheritance.

John 1:14 NASB95

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John

But why, though? Why is Christ set over all creation? God doesn’t owe us an explanation, but in His grace, He gives one anyway in verse 16:

Colossians 1:16 NASB95

16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD ()

WHO ARE YOU?