Day 5 - By Him, Through Him, For Him (Col 1:15-16)

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. Colossians 1:15-16

This passage picks up from Paul giving thanks to the Father who qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints…He delivered us from darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His Son…in whom we have redemption, forgiveness.

This passage continues with more information about the Son, Jesus, whose kingdom we’ve been transferred to.

What we believe about Jesus matters a lot. Paul wants to be sure we know exactly who this person is that came to earth and saves us. Part of the reason for Paul’s letter was to clear up false teachings. When our understanding of who Jesus is shifts, it changes everything.

Jesus is one of the persons of the trinity. There is only one God who exists as three persons…the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit.  These three persons are not just a part of God, but they are fully and equally God. They are not three different roles played by God at different points in time. There has always been and will always be three distinct persons existing in the one God. They are in full cooperation with one another, testify to each other, and function in different roles, relating to us in different ways. All while still being fully God themselves. None were created. They were all there from the beginning.

Mind blown? Mine too. It is hard to wrap my head around, but it matters because any lesser understanding of who Jesus is changes everything. He can’t just be a good person or good representative and representation of God, He must BE GOD. And Paul wants to make sure the Colossians – and us – know this.

Verse 15 – “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” as a stand  alone passage might lead us to believe Jesus was created by God, but Paul is quick to follow it with the assertion that ALL things were created BY HIM, THROUGH HIM, and FOR HIM.

Jesus’ role in the trinity is that of redeemer. To be the one God in the flesh. To carry out the plan of salvation that was created and set in place from the beginning of time.

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. In the image, He is the real embodiment…not just mere likeness. God reveals to us who God is in Jesus.

God took on flesh so we could behold Him.

When the angles visits Joseph to tell him what is to take place, the angel says,

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23

Jesus…GOD WITH US…the fulfillment of prophesies set in motion by God the Father.

John tells us,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:1-5,14

Jesus was there in the beginning. He was with God. He was God. God became flesh and dwelt among us. 

I never stop being amazed at how cool it is that we can see God in the person of Jesus. A human person we can relate to and watch how He teaches, prays, interacts with others. Amazing.

Joby Martin tells a story of a neighbor boy who would go full speed with his big wheel into piles of ants. He would spread jelly around to entice the ants and then plow them over. Joby says that he wanted to tell the ants to run, to not be tempted by the jelly that would soon lead to their death. But of course the ants wouldn’t understand him. He thought, what if I could become an ant and live among them and gain their trust…then maybe they would listen to my warnings to run and not go for the jelly.

Of course that is a simplistic example, but I get it. We are tempted by the jelly the devil leaves all over for us. We have the benefit of someone who knows the truth coming into our flesh world and warning us to avoid the jelly. But the jelly is just so darn tempting, and tastes so good, and satisfies us in the moment.

Paul says Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. And not that He was born first, but instead a common visual among the Jewish people that signifies being an heir and getting a bigger share of the inheritance.

God the Son came to earth, dressed like us, and not only warns us of what to avoid, but teaches us – shows us – how to live. And He didn’t stop there. He took our sins upon His perfect, sinless flesh and died for us so that we could live forever. So we could be children, heirs, saints delivered from darkness and transferred into a new kingdom of light.

By him [Jesus] 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 [Jesus] and for him [Jesus]. Colossians 1:16

Jesus wasn’t created. He was the creator.

ALL THINGS were created by Him, through Him, and for Him.