Slides: King of Creation

King of Creation

Colossians 1:15-17

 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Who is this?

“What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)

“Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  (Mark 2:7)

“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4:41)

“Who do people say that I am? … Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:27-29)

Image of the invisible God

…the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:4,6)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Heb 1:3).

The Word was God… the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory… No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:1-18)

Firstborn of all creation

Here firstborn means “ranking above all others.” It’s not about timing of birth.

“I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 89:27)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Rom 8:20)

Creator/firstborn's image in us

God created man in his own image (Gen 1:27)

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Cor 15:49)

We all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2 Cor 3:18)

…the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Col 3:10)

 For by him all things were created

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)

… his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Hebrews 1:2)

Jesus showed himself Creator by making eyes to see, ears to hear, mouths to speak, corpses to live, water become wine, food to multiply, storms to cease

in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities

•Angels sang when the Word became flesh, and they stood ready to destroy his enemies.

•Demons cried and fled at Jesus’ command.

•Jesus defeated dark powers at the cross.

•Satan is not equal but opposite to Jesus. He was an angel created by Christ.

Forces beyond Jesus' control?

Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood! (Isaiah 10:15)

Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed (Isaiah 54:16-17)

Is anything strong enough to separate us from Christ's love?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Rom 8:38-29)

all things were created through him and for him.

Truth: The Word produced the patterns in created things, and the Word created minds to detect those patterns and praise God. 

Goodness: The Word designed all things to flourish by love, and the Word created consciences to know what love requires. 

Beauty: The Word put a facet of splendor in each thing, and the Word gave desire and imagination to savor beauty for God’s glory.

Is Jesus able?

•Is the Logic of the universe able to know how nature and society work? If so, put His truth ahead of human opinion.

•Is Love incarnate able to know what’s good for you? If so, follow Him, not what you “need to do to get ahead.”

•Is the Radiance of God’s glory able to stir imaginations and fulfill longing? If so, delight in real beauty, rather than just trying to escape boredom.

And he is before all things

Jesus is the starting point and standard.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (1 John 1:1)

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)

“The Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea… The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah… Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land… the Lord God appointed a plant… God appointed a worm… God appointed a scorching east wind.” (Jonah)

The glory due His name

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders…
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty…
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
(Psalm 29)