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

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 first born 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 on 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 when he was under arrest in Rome for preaching theegospel. The faith of the new converts was being distorted by Greek mystery, religions and mysticism as well assthreatened by some Jewish laws and customs. Paul wrote these verses regarding the sufficiency and supremacy offJesus Christ over all. Paul disputed Colossians heresy by claiming Christ is God Himself – because of this all creation is under His power and He is pre-eminent. Today’s verses give us one of the clearest revelation of Christ’s deity in the New Testament. The Son of God was sovereign over the universe before He came in flesh. In Christ God will reconcile Himself to all things – not universalism whereby all people will be saved but teaching a cosmic restoration. Our Lord’s work on the cross redeems His people from sin and death.

In Colosse Paul is combating a teaching there that questions the suffering of Christ and that therefore the implication of Christ being supreme for everything we need for salvation. Christ is the image of the invisible God, and the manifestation of God. He said He is the exclusive way to God. First born does not mean there was a time when Jesus Christ was not. He is not one of creation because of all creatures were created by Him. In Him the whole created universe came into existence. He is the eternal Son meaning He is sovereign. He is Lord of the first creation and also Lord of the new creation – ownership and controlling authority over all.

We were not redeemed by any mere man but by Jesus Christ. He became the first born of the dead because He is the only one of Himself to break the power of death – He is the only one who has a resurrected body. He is supreme, ptreminent, sovereign and should be in all our lives. Christ reconciled all things to Himself by making peace with God through the blood of the cross. There is no hierarchy of mediation between God and man. He is the one and saving mediator between God and man.