He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) 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. (17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (18) 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 preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things in earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul. In our verses today Paul underlines most of the distinctions of Christian faith; he instructs us of the unique Jesus. We live in a world of diversity and with this comes a variety of religious beliefs. Many respond to diversity by watering down the truth of the gospel, trying to become more inclusive minimizing areas of disagreement and emphasizing things held in common. This is actually a denial of the truth of Scripture.

In Colosse the church was being infiltrated by those who taught a distorted message – they focused on angels and gaining a special knowledge and blessing; they focused on man’s efforts and denied the full glory of Christ Jesus and even denied His absolute deity. Paul, in our verses, does not attack the heresy but emphasizes the truth – he instructs us of the unique Jesus. Christ is the first born – before all creation in time and over all creation in authority. He existed before all things and is the creator Himself – the first born cannot be part of creation if He created all things. The incarnate Jesus is the image of God in the sense that He possesses the nature and character of God. He is uniquely God in human form. By His resurrection He broke death’s hold on humanity. Without his resurrection there could be no resurrection for others. Christ is supreme in two realms; creation and salvation. Everything necessary for our redemption is accomplished through Christ’s work on our behalf.

Christ is the head of the church. Through the blood of the cross He fulfilled the design of ceremonial law thereby abolishing the obligations of the law. The walls between Jewish and Gentile were broken down. The sins of believing men were expiated and peace was made between God and man. These mysteries of a character are beyond the ability of the human mind to grasp. The truth of the gospel is to stir the soul to worship and thanksgiving, not for the exercise of the intellect in theological speculation.