Read
15 Christ is exactly like God,
who cannot be seen.
He is the first-born Son,
superior to all creation.
16Everything was created by him,
everything in heaven
and on earth,
everything seen and unseen,
including all forces
and powers,
and all rulers
and authorities.
All things were created
by God's Son,
and everything was made
for him.
17God's Son was before all else,
and by him everything
is held together.
18 He is the head of his body,
which is the church.
He is the very beginning,
the first to be raised
from death,
so that he would be
above all others.
19God himself was pleased
to live fully in his Son.
20 And God was pleased
for him to make peace
by sacrificing his blood
on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven
and on earth
would be brought back to God.
21You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things. 22But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent. 23But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
Reflect
Since Darwin and his theory of evolution in the mid 1800’s people have increasingly rejected the creation Story (Genesis 1-3). This rejection is the basis for secular humanism and why so many Westerners have a problem with Christ (1 Corinthians 1:23).
The theory of evolution is simply not true. Darwin didn’t have any evidence that it was true and since then the missing evidence (transitional fossils) has still not materialized. What is true is that Christ is preeminent in creation and the One through whom everything was created. There are six statements in Colossians that highlight Christ’s pre-eminence: He is the visible image of the invisible God (v.15a), “superior to all creation” (v.15b), created everything (v.16a), made everything for Himself (v.16b), existed before anything was made (v.17a), and holds all creation together (v.17b).
It follows that because Christ is preeminent in creation He’s also preeminent in the Church. Christ is the origin, source, leader, and ruler of the Church. There are apostles, denominational leaders, elders, bishops, and so on, but Christ alone is preeminent (v.18). All authority and power in the church centres in Christ. After the super apostles have had their say, after the mega-church guru’s have shown the way, and after the pastors and boards have held sway; at the end of the day “Christ is all that matters” (3:11).
Take away Christ and there is no Church. If the head is removed, the body will be lifeless. For Christ alone is the life of the Church and in Him alone the Church finds life.
Christ is preeminent in the Church in four ways: He is the head of the church (v.18a), first in everything (v.18b), has God’s fullness living in Him (v.19), and reconciles everything to God by making peace, sacrificing Himself, bringing us into His presence, and making us holy, blameless and without fault (vv.20-22).
This to explain why you “must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news” (v.23).
Respond
Thank you Lord for being preeminent in creation and in the Church. Help me to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. And help me to “become a servant of this message” (v.23). Amen.
Lawson Murray
Lawson is the President of Scripture Union Canada and the Managing Editor of theStory™. Lawson takes every opportunity to enthusiastically invite people of all ages to connect with Jesus and His Story. He says, “We have been given the greatest story ever - God's Story! Should we not, with all our might and energy immerse ourselves in it? I believe we should. For without the Story we really have nothing to offer the millions who hunger and thirst for something more. But, with God’s Story we have what everyone needs!” Publications: Bible Engagement Blog; Children’s Ministry Basics Blog, Bible Engagement Basics; Bible Beginners