FRIDAY March 4, 2022

Christ, the Image of the Invisible God

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:15-16

Gnostics, false teachers believed in an organization of evil spirits that controlled the world––angels, archangels, principalities, powers, dominions and thrones. They did not believe Jesus was God.

Paul spoke to the Colossians of Christ’s preeminence. He introduced to the Colossians the Person of Christ as the image of the invisible God. The word image in the Greek language is “representation.” Jesus is the exact representation of God. He is God!

Jesus was not created. As God, He has equal power to create. The word firstborn simply means “Jesus is first above all things in His preeminence.” He existed before the world was created. John 1:1-4 helps us to comprehend Christ’s deity:

In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1-3).

Everything God created was in order––not chaos. God created thrones, dominions, principalities and powers––angelic beings––and all these things were created for Jesus Christ and for His glory. Consider mankind. He was made in the image of God. Why? To bring Jesus honor and glory.

Know that there are many false doctrines that deny the deity of Jesus Christ. Jesus was not the brother of Lucifer––Satan––nor was He a separate Person from God. He is God! Jesus is both One and the same. The next time Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses come to your door, take them to these important Scriptures.

The deity of Christ is the key doctrine of the scriptures. Reject it, and the Bible becomes a jumble of words without any unifying theme. Accept it, and the Bible becomes an intelligible and ordered revelation of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
~J. Oswald Sanders~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!