The Firstborn and the First Born Again

Exposition

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.

Author: Paul

Audience: The Church (At Colossae; under legalistic teaching and encouraged by Paul to focus on Heavenly things rather than earthly things)

Content: Jesus is the first born of all creation and the first to resurrect from the dead.

Context: Making the argument that Christ’s sacrifice is enough for the reconciliation of sin.

Comparison: Luke 24:1-7 - Jesus’s resurrection and fulfilment of Luke 9:22

Explanation

v 15-17 Firstborn of all creation & the creator of all things

Genesis 1:26 ESV

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

v 18 Jesus is given supreme authority

Over the Church

Over the Resurrection

v 19-20 Jesus is the fullness of God, and there is peace made between man and God only by His blood spilled on the cross

Application

Honor the Creation of Jesus

He taught the literal Adam and Eve in Matt 19:4-6. (Teaching about divorce and contrasting Roman & Jewish practices.)

Honor the Authority of Jesus

Think of Mark 4:35-41 when Jesus calms the storm. He has authority over the natural forces of the world.

Think of Jesus’s trial in John 19:10-11 'Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”’

Think of the appearance of Jesus as the Rider on a White Horse in Revelation 19, in verse 16 it says, “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Honor the Resurrection of Jesus

Today is a first step, but we join together on the first day of every week to honor Jesus raising from the dead.

If we say we believe in the resurrection, we also believe He’s coming again.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Call to Action

First Application Point Action: God created you and knows you intimately. (Psalm 139) Know Him better in your reading.

Second Application Point Action: As you read, take seriously the conviction of sin and repent.

Third Application Point Action: Tell someone else. While you still can.

Response: Salvation/Baptism/Recommit/New Ministry