The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Col. 1:15, 16).
Verse 15 causes us to ask two fundamental questions: 1. Is Jesus Christ only an image of God, or what does this image mean? 2. Was Jesus Christ born at a point before creation, indicating then that He has not always existed? An image is not the real thing, and it does not have the life of what it represents. Genesis 1:2 tells us that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3 confirm that Jesus is the Creator. Since there is only one Creator, then Jesus and God, though two, must be one and of the same essence. Image in this context will then refer to the very God who appeared to us in human form. Jesus Christ was not created. The reference to Him being firstborn over all creation means that He was in existence before creation. Jesus Christ is the very God. His creation must worship Him.
Author: Rev. Sunday Bwanhot
Rev. Sunday Bwanhot is a missionary with EMS/SIM. He pastor’s ECWA Chicago, serves as ECWA USA DCC Chairman and Team leader of SIM Culture Connexions.
