The Supremacy of Christ seen in Col 1:15-18

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For byhim 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. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Col 1:15-18 (ESV)

Taking a look at Col 1:15-18 forces us from going from being egocentric to Christocentric as we see the Supremacy of Christ in all of the universe and everything in it. These three verses show us three pictures of Christ that should leave us in awe. The first is of Christ the Creator. The second is that of Christ the sustainer and the last picture is of Christ the redeemer. These three pictures of Christ remind us that its not about us but about him! The Creater, Sustainer, Redeemer! The only proper understanding then is to abandon any egocentrism but realize we live in a Christocentric universe and our only proper response is to align ourselves with the centrality, supremacy, preminence of Christ in all creation! Here a few thoughts on this extrodianary passage!

v.15 what does first born mean. The first born of all creation! It means in it Christ has preeminence! Firstborn has the idea of the birthright think back Old Testament time who got blessing, honor, and prestige. It is the place of honor. This all belonged to the first born! It does NOT mean that Jesus was born some time after God. He is eternal as John 1:1 teaches equally coeternal with God the father. So what it is saying by Jesus being the first born of all creation? It means all creation is for him. It all belongs to him. It is all rightly given to him because he deserves it all. Jesus Christ rightly has the place of honor. As we are the part of all creation we need to rightly give him the place of honor in everything. Jesus also inherits all of creation. Its all for him!

V.16 This one of my favorite verses of the Bible. We do not tend often think of Christ as Creator but just as Savior. But by things him all things were created. John 1:3 puts it this way: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jesus Christ is the creator of you, your clothes, your family of your universe; of Mars, of Saturn, of galaxies far and near. Look at the stars tonight and see them as what Jesus created. Look at look at yourself as something Jesus Christ created. For you are his workmanships says Eph 2:10. You along with the rest of everything else in the universe has one creator Jesus Christ. The text says he is the creator of all things visible and invisible. Guess what, the air you breath something invisible you owe to Jesus Christ. The microscopic cells that you have that protect your body he created, has, and owns.

The next two lines are beautiful. All things are for him! Ever wonder why the universe exist? Its for Jesus Christ! For him to reveal and display his glory. He did not make the universe for you. Even all the good things you have are not really for you. Its ALL for him. The universe and everything in does not exist for you. You use it but really you are only borrowing. Its is all to please Jesus. That tree outside your window exist to please Jesus. You exist for Jesus. Just to drive it home lets replace the generals in that verse for specifics. You were created through Jesus for Jesus. Like 1 Cor 6:19 says you are not your own. That is so true! Nothing has any right over itself we are to please the our creator that’s what we are for. Think of Romans 9:21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? The creator has supreme authority over his creation! Remember that God created you for what he wills.

V17. And he is before all things… This is simply that all things are subject to him and again for him. He also very literally before all things! He is the Alpha & Omega. Not only that, all things consist in him.He in not only your creator, he is also your sustainer. The reason you are being sustained right now is because of Jesus. This includes all your provisions like food.The reason you have anything such family, friends, hope, shelter, food is because Jesus Christ is sustaining you! Not only is he sustaining you that way he is also sustaining you in other ways. The very atoms that make up your body Jesus is holding together right now! Scientist do not know why an atom is held together. It has to be a very very stong force. Because when you spilt an atom that makes a nuclear bomb. Think of all the power that is released as a bomb goes off. Its what fuels the sun. Why don’t atoms just fall apart? Because Jesus is holding all things together! Does this fill your heart with thankfulness?Also know the air you breath is because Jesus is holding holding you together. The precise orbit of the Earth so you could live all examples of how Jesus is right now holding us together! Not only is he our creator but our sustainer!

V.18 Jesus Christ is also our redeemer! He is the head of the body the church. The first born from the dead. Why does it say that? Because without Jesus right now you would be dead! The Bible describes some one with out Christ as dead.

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Eph 2:1-5
Before you knew Christ you were a dead person. But Christ came and redeemed you from your death. Just like Lazarus could not do anything about his condition so were you spiritually until Christ redeemed you. How did he do that by coming down to Earth. Jesus Christ the first born of all creation the one who all glory and honor is due came down and died for you. Think about our condition how we are sin against God. Our sins are like slaps in the face to the God who created all things through him and by him. Our iniquities were placed on him according to Isaiah 53:6. He came and bore are penalty because we failed to do what we were created for. We fall short of the glory of God. And he has bought us back from the death with his own blood to enjoy him eternally. For his sake not ours. Again all so Christ can have preeminence. Look at the verse all salvation is not for our self it is for Christ. All to show his prememinence!

To summarize Christ is the Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer.

Does that help show you its not about you?
To begin with you were created for Jesus.
You are being currently sustained by Jesus.
You are redeemed by Jesus.

What is your response to that? Well lets say someone gives you a really really awesome gift. What is your natural response? What do you want to do back for them? You usually want to do something nice back for them. Not out of duty but out of love! To say thank your for they have done for you. Its not something any should have to tell you to do! It is what should be naturally overflowing out of your heart. That is chief motivation to serve Christ. That’s what we were created for! Remember created by him for him, sustained by him and redeemed by him! This should naturally cultivate three responses.

Gratitude and realization for a your purpose in creation. How do know how to use something. Usually for its intended purpose. There is a reason a you don’t eat soup with a fork. That not its purpose and imagine how miserable someone would be trying to eat soup with a fork. Its just as bad when anyone does not align their life to Christ and his purposes for their life. We are created for him. So we need to be doing what he would have us to do.

Gratitude and Thankfulness for sustaining us! We take everything for granted but the only reason we have our next breath is because has chosen to sustain us. How do we respond to that with a heart of thankfulness? What does a thankful heart do? It serves.

Our response for redemption should be humility. The King of all creation came and died for us. Remember that though he died for us it was for his glory. What amazing benefits we get when God chooses to glorify himself!

When we respond to what Christ has done for us it naturally should cause us to want to get aligned with where we stand in creation. Remembering we are here for him and we should serve him with our life with gratitude, thankfulness, and humility. The right place for us to be is a servant of the beautiful King of Kings who it is all for! Therefore never be egocentric but Christocentric!

Editors note: This post is an adaptation of my notes I prepared for the devotion I gave the my youth on our Mission Service project last week. It was to show the motivation for Service: the Supremacy of Christ.
The picture I used can orginally be found here.