Themes from Colossians
Welcome back to Great Bible Truths with (me), Dr David Petts.
Today we’re starting a new series with the overall title of Themes from Colossians. We’ll be considering four major themes from this wonderful letter which Paul wrote to the church at Colossae.
Outline
The Supremacy of Christ – who he is
Talk 1: Colossians 1:15-20
Freedom in Christ – what he has done for us
Talk 2: Colossians 1:12-14
Talk 3: Colossians 2:9-15
Living for Christ – what we should do for him
Talk 4: Colossians 3:1-17
Talk 5: Colossians 3:18-4:1
Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ – what, why, where, and how
Talk 6: Colossians 1:6, 21-29
Talk 7: Colossians 4
Today our subject is:
The supremacy of Christ – who he is
We’ll begin by reading Colossians 1:15-20.
15.He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
- He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
- And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
- For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
- and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
He is God
- He is the image (eikon) of the invisible God, the firstborn (prototokos) over all creation.
Cf. Heb. 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation (charakter) of his being
What do these words mean?
Eikon (image) and charakter (exact representation)
These mean more or less the same thing
That which identifies someone as who they are
Illustration: the other Dr David Petts!
Prototokos is a bit more complicated
It means more than ‘born first’.
It does NOT mean that he is a created being (as the JWs suggest)
Quite the opposite!
The idea connected to supremacy, springing from the rights and privileges of a firstborn son
firstborn = prototokos prototokia = birthright
Cf. 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy
He is God – two more verses
1:19
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.
2:9
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form
He is eternal
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Not ‘he was‘. He IS.
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Two more verses:
John 8:58
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Revelation 1:8, 17-18
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!
He is Creator
- For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
John 1:2-3
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Hebrews 1:2
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
He is Sustainer
- He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
He is head over all things
- For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
- And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
2:10
and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
Cf.
Revelation 1:5
Jesus Christ… is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
He is Saviour
1:20 through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.