The Image Of The Invisible God Series

Introduction

The Bible is about how God saves sinners.

Central to that story is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The entire Old Testament looks forward to the coming—or advent—of Christ.

The Gospels present Christ as God in human flesh, who came into the world to save sinners.

Acts presents the good news about Christ spreading throughout the world.

The Epistles give instructions about Christ’s person and work and how they impact his people—the church.

Finally, Revelation presents Christ on the throne at the right hand of his Father, reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Every part of Scripture testifies to Jesus Christ.

When the two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus came alongside them, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

In John 5:39b, Jesus said of the Scriptures, “It is they that bear witness about me.”

Pastor John MacArthur writes:

“But of all the Bible’s teaching about Jesus Christ, none is more significant than Colossians 1:15–19. This dramatic and powerful passage removes any needless doubt or confusion over Jesus’ true identity. It is vital to a proper understanding of the Christian faith” (John F. MacArthur Jr., Colossians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary [Chicago: Moody Press, 1992], 44).

So, let us give attention to this most important part of God’s word, as we examine Christ, the image of the invisible God.

Scripture

Let’s read Colossians 1:15-20:

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.

Lesson

Colossians 1:15-20 teaches us that the peerless Christ is supreme over all things.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Christ Is Supreme Over Creation (1:15-17)

2. Christ Is Supreme Over the Church (1:18)

3. Christ Is Supreme Over Salvation (1:19-20)

I. Christ Is Supreme Over Creation (1:15-17)

First, Christ is supreme over creation.

Paul begins by asserting Christ’s supremacy over creation.

In doing so, we learn three truths about Christ’s supremacy over creation.

A. He Is the Authority over Creation (1:15)

First, he is the authority over creation.

Verse 15 states, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

Paul has concluded his prayer and thanksgiving for the Colossians.

Now, he begins a magnificent passage in praise of Christ as the Lord in creation and reconciliation.

Some scholars say that verses 15-20 are a hymn of praise.

In verse 15, Paul identifies Christ with two parallel assertions: “the image of the invisible God” and “the firstborn of all creation.”

The term “image” (eikon) in the first assertion is a translation of the Greek word from which we get the English word icon.

But it is not to be used in the sense of a mere replica of God.

The term “image” refers to the living manifestation of God with a precise and exact correspondence.

Jesus is the revelation of God, exclusively and entirely.

He is the embodiment of God’s nature and makes what is otherwise “invisible” visible.

Paul was combating the false teaching that Christ was some lower god, with many deities between the Father and the Christ.

Paul was insisting that Christ was very God of very God.

In the second assertion, Paul said that Christ was “the firstborn of all creation.”

Clearly, this does not refer to temporal sequence.

Instead, it refers to preeminence and supremacy.

For example, David was the youngest of seven sons, but he was granted the title of being “firstborn” (see Psalm 89:27).

These two phrases distinguish Christ as the unique revelation and representative of God.

God sent Christ into the world, and he has authority over all creation.

Christ’s miracles demonstrate that.

The best example is when Jesus calmed the ferocious storm on the Sea of Galilee (see Luke 8:22-25).

Some of the disciples were experienced sailors, and so they were used to storms.

But this particular storm was so vicious that they feared for their lives.

They eventually woke the sleeping Jesus and said to him, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind and the waves so that there was suddenly a perfect calm on the Sea of Galilee.