Colossians 1:13-20

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  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.  And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

It is important for us to understand both who Jesus is and what He has done for us.   Jesus saved us, created us, and leads us.  He is God and has revealed the very nature of God to us.  Since we have been corrupted by sin, it is easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking that life is all about us.  This is a sure path to misery.  This world and our lives are all about God and His glory as revealed in the Lord Jesus.  His person and work is on full display in this passage.    

 

JESUS IS SOURCE OF OUR SALVATION: We were born imprisoned in the domain of darkness under the power of Satan and condemned in our sin.  By the work of Christ on the cross, we were set free from sin and transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of the light of Christ.  Jesus paid the price of our sin thereby redeeming us from our slavery to sin with His blood and giving us forgiveness.  Salvation is from the Lord Jesus, and it is the greatest gift imaginable that we can have our greatest need, which is forgiveness, met through the work of Christ on our behalf.

 

JESUS IS AUTHOR OF ALL CREATION: All that has been created was created by Jesus.  He was the active agent in creating the world.  Jesus is called the first-born of all creation, not because Jesus was born or in some way created.  The Son of God is eternal and has always existed co-equal with the Father and Spirit.  The meaning of the term first born is that Jesus is the rightful heir of all creation.  Basically, the passage states the same truths twice, namely, that creation was through Christ and for Christ.  He is the preeminent One of all that exists.  Not only did He create the world, but He is actively sustaining creation.

 

JESUS IS HEAD OF HIS CONGREGATION: Jesus is the Head of the Church.  He is the leader of the church.  We are His body and as such are expected to be submissive to Him.  We live to serve and obey the Lord.  He is over us and is our ultimate example.  He is the first to raise from the dead.  The glorious thing about that truth is that a first born implies more births.  Since our Head was raised from the dead, it is only logical that that the body will raise as well.  God has accepted His sacrifice on our behalf and thereby given us eternal hope because of God’s grace and Christ’s work.

 

APPLICATION: Thank the Lord for our salvation and the forgiveness and freedom we have from sin.  Obey Jesus as our Creator and good stewards of His creation and inheritance.  Rejoice in our hope of the resurrection because of Christs crucifixion and resurrection.  Follow the leading of Jesus our leader and Lord.

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