[Read Colossians 1:15-23]
Whenever I get a Sunday off and am out of town, I typically like to check out a different church—not a CRC church but something a little different. It helps get me out of my bubble and experience the broader Body of Christ. A few years ago we did that in a town that will remain unnamed. We picked a small church in the area. As we drove to the church we joked about a bunch of the other churches we passed with names like Adventure Church or other names like it. However, when we showed up at the small church we chose for that Sunday we walked in and there was a canoe on the stage and things were set up to somewhat mimic what we expected to see at an Adventure Church.
Now, I don’t want to be overly critical of the church because there were some good things there. However, there was a clear attempt being made to make the church “fun” and “exciting” and they were not doing a good job. In their attempts it just felt awkward. It felt like a bunch of people who hadn’t graduated from youth group—trying to make Sunday worship feel more like a typical youth group. I spent much of the service asking myself, “Why are they doing this? Why do they feel the need to do all of these things?” There are a whole host of answers to those questions, but one underlying answer is that they were doing these things because they believed they needed something more.
I’ve not only seen this in this church but in a whole host of churches. You don’t have to look far to find videos of pastors riding roller coasters across the stage or coming up with a variety of shock and awe gimmicks to get the attention of people. Why? It’s because they don’t believe the basic things are enough. They don’t believe that singing faithful songs is enough. They don’t believe that faithful preaching from the Bible is enough. They don’t believe that faithfully participating in the sacraments is enough. They need something more. They need more excitement and energy.
What typically ends up happening is that they don’t end up adding anything—they simply replace it. They replace faithful singing with rock concerts and smoke and lights. They replace faithful preaching with gimmicks and motivational speeches. All in the name of needing something MORE. As a result, they lose the core of who they are and what God has called them to be…and the church dies. Why is the church dying throughout the western world? I think a major reason is because they got bored with the things God had told them to be doing and thought they needed more.
Although it’s different to some degree, this is what Paul is dealing with throughout the book of Colossians. Most commentators believe that Paul is writing this letter to the Colossian church to address a heresy that had infiltrated the church—a heresy that basically said Christ wasn’t enough and the things he said and did weren’t enough and the way he told the church to function wasn’t enough. They needed something more. They needed special knowledge. They needed special interactions with angels and spirits. What’s powerful is that Paul doesn’t go piece by piece through their argument, tearing it apart. Instead, he paints a glorious picture of Jesus Christ—probably the most magnificent in all of scripture—to show them how ridiculous it is for them to think Christ and what he commands is not enough.
He begins with a powerful line, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15, ESV). There’s so much to unpack in that verse. What does it mean that he is the image of the invisible God? I think you naturally have to think back to Genesis 1, don’t you? God says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, ESV). God created humanity in his image, but in the fall and because of sin they messed that image up. The image didn’t disappear, but it’s been beaten and bruised. Yet, Colossians tells us that Jesus IS the image of God, which points to the reality that Jesus is the one who fully lived out the life God created us to live. He is the one who is truly human.
Yet, there’s also a sense where this is saying even more. There are various places in scripture that talk about the fact that nobody has ever seen God. But look at John 1, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” (John 1:18, ESV). You could say that nobody has ever seen God, but Jesus has made the invisible God visible. He is the image of the invisible God. Jesus himself said that if you’ve seen him, you’ve seen the Father. This is saying more than simply that Jesus lived so in line with God’s character that if you saw him, you saw God. Rather, this passage adds, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,” (Colossians 1:19, ESV). That’s not the description of someone who is just a human. No, the fullness of God dwelt in him. This is pointing to the divine essence of Jesus Christ. When you hold these two realities together, you can begin to see how the church has repeatedly said that Jesus was truly God and truly Man at the same time.
But what about that little phrase in the first verse? The phrase that called Jesus “…the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15, ESV). Isn’t that saying that Jesus was created? That’s what Arius thought. He believed that Jesus was the greatest of all created beings, but that he was still created. There are many different ways to prove this point, but let me give you two. The first is to point out that in biblical terms “firstborn” does not necessarily refer to the first created but can either simply refer to something that came before other things or often refers to something being the first in authority or rank. This passage later clearly states: “And he is before all things…” (Colossians 1:17, ESV) which, at a minimum, clarifies that this is simply talking about the fact that Jesus existed before creation—not that he was the first created.
Then, a much more compelling argument comes from the text itself when it says, “For by him all things were created…” (Colossians 1:16, ESV). The logic is pretty simple here, if all things were created by him, then he can’t be created.
The argument being made here is the exact opposite of saying Jesus was another created being, but rather HE created it all, which means he is high above everything that has been created, which reminds us, not only that he has authority over all things, but that he is enough because he is greater than all things.
And when this passage talks about all things, it means all things. Look at the way it talks just to make sure you understand that all things means all things: “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.” (Colossians 1:16, ESV). Not only does he mention “all things” twice to make sure that you understand that he means ALL THINGS, but he also expands that just to make sure you get the point. All things means everything on earth AND everything in heaven. All things means everything that you can see and everything that you cannot see. That means he created everything.
This also means that there are things out there in the world that you cannot see, but were created by Jesus. We all know that there are small microbes and organisms and atoms that we cannot see that exist in the world—that’s kinda crazy—but this is talking about more than that. There are spiritual realities in the world that you cannot see that Jesus created. One of those spiritual realities is your soul. You cannot see it, but it was created by Jesus. The other spiritual reality that people talk about are angels and demons. They exist. They are invisible, you cannot see them, but they exist AND they were created by God. I don’t have time to get into the weeds of this at the moment, but most likely this is what Paul is talking about when he talks about thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities. He’s talking about angels—and most likely including fallen angels (demons) in it as well.
The point being made here is the reminder that all of these were created by Jesus—they are created beings who fall way beneath the power and glory and dignity of Jesus. So, the Colossians aren’t missing out by staying away from weird angel worship or by overly focusing on “spiritual” things. Christ is so much higher and more powerful and more glorious than any of those things and they have the ability to enter directly into his presence. To focus on those other things is not to go “deeper” or get “more” but to settle for something that is far lower than Christ himself.
Paul even goes further. He says, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17, ESV). Not only did Jesus create all things he also holds all things together. You may have heard him described as the creator and sustainer. That means that he didn’t simply create these things then turn them loose on the world. It doesn’t even mean that he created these things and is still in control of them while they operate on earth. It says that they hold together in him. That’s incredible. The very fact that the molecules of this pulpit are firm enough for me to lean on is because Jesus Christ is holding it together. If we were to withdraw his hand, it would completely fall apart. The very fact that I have strength and breath and a heart beat right now to speak to you, is because Jesus Christ is holding me together. If he were to withdraw his hand for a moment, not only would I die, but I would literally come undone because he holds me together. And the same thing is true for every other created reality whether visible or invisible.
That makes it even crazier for people to look anywhere else outside of Christ—even to other spiritual realities. Not only have these other spiritual realities been created by Jesus, which means he’s greater and more powerful than he is and that he has authority over them, but their very existence still depends on Jesus. All Jesus would have to do is withdraw his hand and they would be completely undone because he holds them together. Why in the world would you look to them for your hope and comfort in the world? Why in the world would you think that by going to them you would experience something greater and deeper than what you get in Christ?
He takes it even one step further. He says, “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.” (Colossians 1:16, ESV). Notice the three prepositions in this passage: BY, THROUGH, and FOR. Everything was created by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus. I don’t plan on getting into the technical details of what each of these propositions stand for and the nuance of the difference between things being created by Jesus and through Jesus. I want to focus on the last one—the fact that everything was created FOR Jesus. As you leave worship and look around at the sun and the sky and the trees and the fields and the mountains and the seas, they were all created for Jesus. That also applies to the invisible created realities. They were also created for Jesus—their purpose is to glorify and praise Jesus too. So, why in the world would you settle for worshiping or trusting in them, when their entire purpose in the world is to point you to Jesus.
All of this is pointing to the simple reality that “…in everything he might be preeminent.” (Colossians 1:18, ESV). Jesus Christ is preeminent—he is higher than all created things. Or as the title of my sermon, he is supreme. That means he is enough—he’s more than enough—and that you need not look anywhere else outside of him.
It also means that since he created it all and it was all created for him, he owns it all. Last week we read from Psalm 50 that the cattle on a thousand hills are his and the fullness of the world is his. He owns it. Or to bring the famous quote from Abraham Kuyper into the mix, "There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: 'Mine!’”.
Here’s what is powerful about that. It’s been made clear that Christ is supreme over all things—he created them, he owns them. So, what does he do with that authority? We read, “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20, ESV). He takes that power and authority and ownership he has over all things—in heaven and on earth—and uses it to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven. In reality, this also is a reminder that he is the only one who can truly do this BECAUSE he is the only one who has the authority and power to do it. You cannot reconcile all things and there are no spiritual realities that can do this. It’s only Jesus Christ who is preeminent over all created realities.
Notice how he brings this reconciliation to all things, “…by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20, ESV). He does it through the cross. That’s how he brings reconciliation to all things. You can also say it’s through the gospel. Notice the connection to later in the passage: “…the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven…” (Colossians 1:23, ESV). He reconciles all creation by his blood as the gospel is preached throughout all creation.
Let me answer one more question before I answer the elephant in the room. What does this reconciling look like? What does it mean that he will reconcile all things to himself? He tells us what this looks like, which helps us understand how the gospel brings this about. He says, “…making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20, ESV). The reconciliation of all things is about peace being made. At its core, it’s about making peace between all of creation and its creator. Because of sin, all of creation is groaning. FF Bruce says, “The universe has been involved in conflict with its Creator, and needs to be reconciled to him: the conflict must be replaced by peace.” (Bruce, 74). The only way for that peace to happen—that reconciliation—is through the gospel and the blood of Jesus Christ.
Here’s the elephant in the room: Is this saying that everyone will be saved? That everyone will be reconciled to God? Is this saying that every spiritual reality will be reconciled to God? The answer to that is no, because scripture clearly tells us that there will be people who are not saved and angels that are not saved. So, that’s not what he’s talking about here. However, think more along the lines of the end of the book of Revelation, after everything is sorted out and those who rejected Christ and the fallen angels are thrown in the lake of fire, the image we’re given is that in the new heavens and the new earth, there is no longer any hostility against the creator, everything has been reconciled to him and there will be peace for eternity. That’s the “all things” that he’s talking about.
It’s also important to recognize that he’s in the process of doing that right now. Right now, Jesus Christ is at work reconciling all things to himself, making peace through the blood of the cross. This is what we’re praying for as we pray, “Your kingdom come…” But guess how that happens? How does he reconcile all things to himself and make peace through his blood? He does it one person at a time. That’s why our passage ends saying, “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” (Colossians 1:21–22, ESV). On the one hand this is a reminder that nobody is too far gone that the preeminent Christ is unable to save them. If he is able to reconcile all things to himself, you are able to be reconciled.
However, it’s also a reminder about how he does this. He reconciles all things to himself by reconciling people to himself through the gospel and then transforming their lives. He saved you to present you holy and blameless—to purify you. That’s what we’ve been talking about for so long now. As your life is increasingly reconciled to God—and you increasingly become less hostile to God—you begin to shape the world around you to become less hostile to God. It’s my favorite saying at work that changed hearts change lives, which change families, which change churches, which change businesses and communities, and nations—all things in fact. Christ reconciles all things by reconciling hearts that overflow on the world around them.
Yet, there’s something in here that may serve as a warning to some. We read, “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard… (Colossians 1:23, ESV). The IF should serve as a warning. Christ has reconciled us to himself IF we continue in the faith. There’s a dual reality in scripture that is often overlooked. Some people like to say the phrase, “Once saved, always saved,” and that’s a true statement. However, it doesn’t fully explain the fullness of God’s teaching. Rather, the reality is “Once saved, you will continue in the faith—you will persevere to the end.” That means that those who said a prayer at a camp somewhere, but their life never changed and never bore fruit and they didn’t persevere were not actually saved. That also means that those who may have gone to church for a couple decades, but eventually walk away and leave the church, were not actually saved. I realize there is some nuance in this and that there is some room for a backsliding believer. However, scripture also clearly says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us.” (1 John 2:19, ESV).
But here’s the beauty in all of this: The preeminent Christ is the one who saves you and reconciles you through his blood. The Canons of Dort say this beautifully: "Because of these remnants of sin dwelling in them and also because of the temptations of the world and Satan, those who have been converted could not remain standing in this grace if left to their own resources. But God is faithful, mercifully strengthening them in the grace once conferred on them and powerfully preserving them in it to the end." It’s through his power that your heart is changed and your life as a result. It’s also through his power that you will persevere to the end and finish the race.
The one who created all things is the one who holds you to the end. He’s enough. Don’t look to yourself and your own strength. Don’t look for other spiritual realities to help you. Don’t look for deeper knowledge. Don’t look anywhere other than Christ. He is enough for everything you need so that you will finish the race.