We need to seriously and thoroughly reflect on the deity of Jesus Christ and on his pre-eminence over all things. That can be done by objectively and honestly studying the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit: “For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10 NKJV). Paul made a great revelation of Jesus Christ when he said: “He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself – by him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:15-20 NKJV). In this section, seven unique characteristics pertaining to the creative work, pre-eminence and supremacy of Christ are mentioned. He is:
1. The image of God. He revealed God to humanity, as all who have seen Him have seen the Father (Jn. 14:9). When we hear the glorious gospel of the saving grace of the Lord Jesus the image of God shines on us (2 Cor. 4:4).
2. The first-born over all creation. The term “first-born” does not suggest that the pre-incarnate Jesus was born but that He existed before anything else was created. He is the first-born “over all creation” not “in creation.” Walvoord & Zuck (1983:672) say: “The whole point of the passage (and the book) is to show Christ’s superiority over all things. Other statements about Christ in this passage (such as Creator of all [1:16], upholder of Creation [1:17], etc.) clearly indicate His priority and superiority over Creation. The ‘First-born’ cannot be part of Creation if He created ‘all things’. One cannot create himself.”
3. The creator of the universe. All things were created through Him and for Him, and in Him they consist (1:16-17). He is the instrumental Cause, the final Cause and also the conserving Cause of all creation (Walvoord & Zuck (1983:673). John confirms this profound statement about the creative work of the Word, Jesus Christ: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made… He was in the world, and the world was made by him” (Jn. 1:3,10).
4. The head of the church. Walvoord & Zuck (1983:673) say: “Besides being the Lord of the universe He is also the church’s Head (cf. Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23). The reference here is to the invisible or universal church into which all believers are baptised by the Holy Spirit the moment they believe in Christ (1 Cor. 12:13)… It is a special body in which there is ‘neither Jew nor Gentile’ (Gal. 3:28) but a whole new creation of God (Eph. 2:15). The church is a ‘mystery… which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men’ (Eph. 3:4-5; cf. Rom. 16:25-26; Col. 1:26).”
5. The first-born from the dead. Christ was the first to rise from the dead in an immortal body (1 Cor. 15:20), and as such He heads a whole new order of people who all obtain the resurrection to a new life from Him. They will all be raised in new bodies at the coming of Christ for His saints (1 Cor. 15:22-23; Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Thes. 4:16-17).
6. The fullness of God. Colossians 1:19 is a powerful description of Christ’s deity. Later in the same letter Paul says: “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:9-10). John says that the Lord Jesus is “full of grace and truth… and of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace” (Jn. 1:14,16 NKJV).
7. The one who reconciles everything with God. The “all things” reconciled to God are limited to good angels and redeemed people since only the things in heaven and on earth are mentioned. The things “under the earth” (Phil. 2:10) are not reconciled. An important statement is made that people are reconciled to God – it is not God that is reconciled to people. Mankind has left God: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Is. 53:6). We now need to be led back to the Lord. The statement that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them” (2 Cor. 5:19), points to the fact that all people on earth can potentially be saved because Jesus has “made peace through the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:20). But all of us have to take a decision on this critically important matter, hence the earnest appeal by Paul: “We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor. 5:20 NKJV).
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