Useful Bible Studies > Colossians Commentary > chapter 1

Christ is the ruler of all that God created

Colossians 1:15

We can only know God when God shows himself to us. We need his help to understand his wonderful nature and his perfect character. We cannot see God (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18), but God himself has come to us in his Son, Christ (Hebrews 1:2).

The Bible teaches that the one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4) is Father, Son and Holy Spirit (John 10:30; John 15:23-26; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Such statements astonish us; they seem too hard for our minds to understand. However, perhaps that fact should not surprise us. He is the great God, the ruler of all things, who created everything. We are only the products of his great work.

We deserve nothing from God, but God’s love for us is very great. That is why Christ came into this world. He came so that we could know God (John 1:18). In the life of Christ, we see God the Fathers perfect character. In his actions, he did only what God the Father does (John 10:37-38). He spoke the Father’s words; he carried out the Father’s desires. He achieved all that the Father sent him to do (John 17:4).

The ‘firstborn’ son means the first son of a father. In ancient Israel, the firstborn son usually became the head of the family, with great authority. A king’s firstborn son became the king after him. The Bible uses that as a word-picture for the relationship between God the Father and the Son. God has appointed Christ to be king over every king and ruler (Psalm 2; Revelation 19:16). Everyone and everything must give him (Christ) honour (Philippians 2:9-11). He is the Son in whom the Father is greatly pleased (Mark 1:11). However, Christ existed before all things and, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, he created all things (John 1:1-3). It is therefore wrong to think that God created his Son, at some time in the past. Rather, Paul’s words in Colossians 1:15 describe Christ as the head (ruler) of all that God created. As Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday (in the past), today and always. Christ has always been God, and he always will be God.

Next part: Christ created all things (Colossians 1:16)

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© 2019, Keith Simons.