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“CHRIST IS ABOVE ALL - COLOSSIANS 1:15”
In his classic work, Meditations, Marcus Aurelius (portrayed favorably in the movie Gladiator as the elderly leader whom Russell Crowe loves and admires) wrote: Nature. All things come of you, have their being in you, and return to you.
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he made clear who he viewed as supreme (Col. 1:16). The apostle Paul and Aurelius held two very different perspectives on what is ultimate. Aurelius, a persecutor of Christians, believed that nature is supreme—that what we can taste, touch, see, and smell is where we find our meaning. Many men live as if they believe this, searching for meaning and identity in the things of this world. The Christian perspective is very different, though. We believe that the one God, who created all things, is ultimate and we find meaning and significance in Him. And we believe that Jesus the Christ is God.
In many letters in the New Testament, the apostles devoted time to teaching who Jesus is and to correcting false teaching and beliefs about Him. In Colossians 1:15-20, the apostle Paul reminded his readers and us that Jesus is above all.
Today, let’s start with Colossians 1:15.
HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD.
God created us in the image of God, but we are not the image of the invisible God. Jesus is different. He is not created in the image of God because He is not created; He is the image of God.
Remember the second commandment in the Ten Commandments? (See Ex. 20:4-5.) One of the reasons God was so adamant to His people not to make any image of Him was because every image we create falls woefully short of the reality of who God is. But Jesus is different. He is not a created image. He does not fall woefully short. He is the image of God.
…THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION. The word, firstborn, in the original language refers primarily to position or rank, not chronology. The firstborn son, in this culture, was given authority and rank from the father. The firstborn would receive the inheritance. Jesus is the firstborn. He is first in rank, position, and authority, and He has received all that is the Father’s.
How does Christ as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn over all creation shift your perspective of Him?
In his classic work, Meditations, Marcus Aurelius (portrayed favorably in the movie Gladiator as the elderly leader whom Russell Crowe loves and admires) wrote: Nature. All things come of you, have their being in you, and return to you.
In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he made clear who he viewed as supreme (Col. 1:16). The apostle Paul and Aurelius held two very different perspectives on what is ultimate. Aurelius, a persecutor of Christians, believed that nature is supreme—that what we can taste, touch, see, and smell is where we find our meaning. Many men live as if they believe this, searching for meaning and identity in the things of this world. The Christian perspective is very different, though. We believe that the one God, who created all things, is ultimate and we find meaning and significance in Him. And we believe that Jesus the Christ is God.
In many letters in the New Testament, the apostles devoted time to teaching who Jesus is and to correcting false teaching and beliefs about Him. In Colossians 1:15-20, the apostle Paul reminded his readers and us that Jesus is above all.
Today, let’s start with Colossians 1:15.
HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD.
God created us in the image of God, but we are not the image of the invisible God. Jesus is different. He is not created in the image of God because He is not created; He is the image of God.
Remember the second commandment in the Ten Commandments? (See Ex. 20:4-5.) One of the reasons God was so adamant to His people not to make any image of Him was because every image we create falls woefully short of the reality of who God is. But Jesus is different. He is not a created image. He does not fall woefully short. He is the image of God.
…THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION. The word, firstborn, in the original language refers primarily to position or rank, not chronology. The firstborn son, in this culture, was given authority and rank from the father. The firstborn would receive the inheritance. Jesus is the firstborn. He is first in rank, position, and authority, and He has received all that is the Father’s.
How does Christ as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn over all creation shift your perspective of Him?
About this Plan
Most men know specific Bible stories, but do they know the overarching story of the Bible? Eric Geiger’s Unfolded Bible study invites men to explore the story of a God who loves us, longs to be known by us, and ultimately invites us into His story. This devotional walks through the epistles and examines who Christ is, what Christ did, who we are, and how we should live.
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We would like to thank Eric Geiger and LifeWay Men for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: LifeWay.com/Unfolded
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