Colossians 1:15-16 / By Him, Through Him, & For Him

Intro

Looking at Jesus; IDENTITY & ACTIVITY

Jesus’ Identity

Colossians 1:15 ESV

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

“He is”

tells us Paul is talking about Christ’s Identity

What does he say of Jesus’ identity?

The image of the invisible God

God is spirit

Think about Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. (John 4:1-43)

She thought worship was about a place

Jesus said it isn’t about a place. (and do you remember why?)

Because God is spirit

God transcends time, space, and matter (where we dwell)

That’s why (as Jesus said) we must worship God in spirit

Jesus became a manifestation of what (to us) is invisible

Jesus was telling his disciples of his departure, Thomas ask him for the way…

Jesus says famous answer, “I am the way, the truth , and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

To which Philip replies, “Show us the Father.”

Jesus give the most profound answer.

“Whoever has seen me has seen the father,”

Jesus is God with us “Immanuel”

IMPORTANT to comprehend the Trinity here:

We honor Jesus as God because He is God the Son

The firstborn son of all creation

“So, Jesus was created by God?”

No consider the story recorded by John (John 8:57-59)

Jesus was being challenged (again) by Jewish religious leaders.

Jesus: “Abraham saw my day and was glad.”

Jewish leaders, “You are not yet 50 years old, Abraham is dead and gone. Are you saying you have seen Abraham?”

Jesus, “Before Abraham was, I AM”

Paul was not talking Jesus’ sovereignty over creation.

First born over ALL creation

would require Him to PRECEED all of creation

Jesus’ Activity

Colossians 1:16 ESV

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.

“All things were created”

Clarifying the relationship of the created to the creator.

All things – as God (see above) this doesn’t include Him.

Then he goes on to categorize what is included in the “all things” category.

heven & earth

visible & invisible

thrones or dominions or rulers authoirites

Anything that has been created anywhere, at any time, for any purpose.

What is the relationship of CREATED THINGS to the CREATOR?

All Things Were Created By Him

Jesus is the First Cause

He initiated, by His own will and reason, all of creation to come into existence.

Triune God was in a perfect relationship

It was by God’s will that we came into existence

God caused us to be

That first cause was BY Him (Jesus)

This tell us of His LOVE for us.

He didn’t NEED creation He DESIRED it.

All Things Were Created Through Him

Jesus is the Effective Cause

He took the initiative to bring His will into existence

Example: Which realtor worked harder, which had more effective cause.

This shows HIS POWER (Omnipotence)

HE had the power to create!

All Things Were Created For Him.

Jesus is the Final Cause

His creation ultimately is for His own glory.

All of creation revolves around and point to Jesus.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

This shows His sovereignty.

Do you want to know what sin is?

Man was supposed to live to glorify his creator.

When man started living for his own glory,

that is when sin came into the world.

And we have never recovered.