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Paul has called Christ: the ‘firstborn’ of all that God created (verse 15). The ‘firstborn’ means the first son in a family, and therefore its head (or ruler). Now Paul explains how we should understand that description.
Christ has always been God the Son. With God the Father and the Holy Spirit, Christ created all things. John also insists that this is so in John 1:1-3. It is not correct to imagine that God created his Son. God has always been Father, Son and Spirit.
So, everything that God created has its beginning in Christ. In him (Christ) was the wisdom by which God created all things (Proverbs 8:22-31). The heavens, the earth and everything in them are the design of Christ. They exist because of him and they operate by his rules (see Job 38:8-12).
Christ also created those things that we cannot see, for example our spirits. He created the sources of authority and government both in this world and the spirit world. When those with power use their authority wrongly, he will be their judge (Matthew 25:31-32; Revelation 20:11-15). In that day, everyone will see that all power and authority belong to Christ (Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 19:16).
It was through Christ that God created all things. Christ is that word of life (1 John 1:1) that God spoke in Genesis chapter 1 (see John 1:1-3). So, it is for Christ that all things exist. In the future age, his rule over everything will be complete. At that time, the power and authority that people and devils use wrongly will return to him. He will rule all things, and his government will be good and right in every way (Isaiah 11:1-9).
Next part: All things depend on Christ (Colossians 1:17)
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© 2019, Keith Simons.