The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
7 sermons cite this verse
… one of the most Christ-exalting books in the entire Bible. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Through him, for him, by him, all things exist and were created. He will lift up this doxological praise, opening back to heavenly places for them to see who Jesus is. Because guess what? You can't be filled with all wisdom and spiritual understanding if you don't know Jesus and walk with him in intimacy. For as Paul will tell us in Colossians 2, verse 3, in whom, Jesus, are hidden all. Someone say all. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge. It is wisdom personified. That's what we find in the person of Jesus Christ. That means then the closer you walk with Jesus, the more you're going to understand God's will for your life. If you're not doing that today, you are out of God's will. So to ask the question, what school should I go to? Should I start this career, launch this business, marry this person? …
… And so also this verse, a few of them leading up to what we're going to be talking about tonight. Colossians chapter 1 verse 15. This is awesome. Colossians chapter 1 verse 15. He, that's Jesus Christ, is the image of the invisible God. The firstborn over all creation. The word firstborn doesn't mean that Jesus was born and then he came into existence. It means that he was the one and only son of God begotten. That means the eternal son of God came into a world of material existence. Isn't that cool? I love that. Are you guys awake? Yeah, I thought you'd be, ooh, and ah. That's so cool. Are you guys having heat stroke? Is that what it is? Yeah, for good reason. Verse 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. Yikes, here's where we're going tonight. Jesus Christ is the one who created invisible spiritual entities. …
… the argument that Paul was making as he's talking to the Colossians. So in Colossians chapter 1 verse 15, it says he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. And then in chapter 2 verses 9 and 10, for in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him who is the head of all rule and authority. So what he's letting them know is everything that you need to live and for victory and to combat the enemy and anything that you may be facing, you have the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. He is enough. So you don't need the crystals. You don't need certain sheets. You don't need the rabbit's foot. You don't need your horoscope. all the things that we lean into besides God, that Christ is enough. And so that's the point that Paul is making that simple, but we make it so complex with our lives because we just seem to assume it's too easy. …
… This is an anchor text in our house. The son, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. That's who Jesus is. and in him, in Jesus, all things were created. Things in heaven, things on earth, things that are visible, things that are invisible, whether they're thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things, all things. You have been created through or by him and there it is, for him. In other words, you were made... for God. And so God is recommending today he's recommending to you. God, I recommend me. I recommend that you get back to me. I recommend that you just give me one hour of the seven. Just give me a look, a want, a desire. Just include me. because I made you, and when I made you, I made you for me. I love the way Jesus said this at the end of the age. he says, go and make disciples of all nations. Now that's work, people. …
… you see the glory of God face to face. This is what Colossians 1.15 makes crystal clear. Jesus is not made in the image of God. He is the image of the invisible God. Jesus is the epitome of humanity, God in the flesh, Hebrews 1.3. He is the radiance of the glory of God, the exact imprint of his nature, and he's the one who upholds the universe by the word of his power. He is Emmanuel, God with us. And so he's not just a tabernacle. So we're not going to have time to look to all these places in the book of John, but Jesus is John chapter two, the temple. He's the place where you encounter the glory of God. Remember the rivers flowing in Eden? Jesus is the spring of water welling up to eternal life. John chapter 4. Anyone who's thirsty, come to him and drink. John chapter 7. He's the manna in the tabernacle. John 6, I am the bread of life. He's the lampstand in the tabernacle. John 8, I am the light of the world. Thinking about the tree of life in Eden, Jesus says in John 11, I am the resurrection and the life. I came to conquer the curse of death. So I could keep going all throughout John all the way. His high priestly prayer in John 17, and then you get to John 18. …
… Scriptures. It's the Jehovah's Witnesses Bible. Listen in Colossians chapter 1, beginning of verse 15. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible. No matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities, all other things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist. notice a word there that's not in your bible other all other things why do they need that word other and by the way i will give them this they're honest because they put it in brackets and when you see something in brackets that means it's not in the original but you need it in order to understand what's being said there and so they realize that the bible if left by itself teaches that jesus is god the creator so they have to put that in brackets because you can't be left by yourself to read that part of the Bible, because you'll never get to Arianism that way. So they add the word other. Not only that, but perhaps the most famous thing that the Jehovah's Witnesses do in their Bible is in John 1. In the beginning, the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a God. …
… reach their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, Christ. Over in Colossians, listen, it says, he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body. He is the beginning and the firstborn, that in all things, he might have the supremacy. And through him, God is going to reconcile to himself all things, whether in earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross. In Colossians, we're told that because Jesus is king, God has a plan to bring all things back together under the lordship of Christ. In Ephesians, the great plan is he's going to reunite all things under the lordship of Christ. What does this mean? it means this. Number one, you need a king. Without a king, your lives fall apart. Now, before I go on to number two, let's explain that a little bit. …