Who is Jesus?

In this passage, Paul shifts the subject and tone. “My greeting is done. Let’s get theological.” Because Paul’s mission is to answer the simple but important question: Who is Jesus? Paul needed to address false teaching circulating outside and inside the church. This false teaching attacked the very character and nature of Jesus by saying that Jesus was not actually God. So in response, Paul gives an emphatic defense for Christ's deity. Jesus is God.

Over the last two thousand years people have called Jesus different things: a prophet, good man, radical, historical figure, or great example.But all of us individually will have to give an answer to that question…

“What do you say? What do you believe? Who is Jesus?”

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the fi rstborn over all creation.

We live in a world of faulty substitutes. We try to replicate the same quality and experience. But it clearly falls short of the real thing. The word Paul uses in Greek for image doesn’t mean just similar or close to.

The word means an image that is an exact copy. Christ is the very essence of who God is. Therefore, Jesus is fully God. God the Father who is invisible, becomes visible through the perfect manifestation in His Son, Jesus.

Paul goes on and uses the word prototokos, translated firstborn. This title has misled many to believe that Jesus was created. They were saying, “Jesus is the firstborn. It means God created Him right before the world. Therefore, Christ is more like humans than God. He is just is a created being”

But Paul is not talking about the chronological timeline. Firstborn means priority in rank and status. Jesus is the head and has authority over all created things. Christ holds the highest position of honor, leadership, and rank. The firstborn title means Jesus is wholly different. Because He is Holy.

Colossians 1:16 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.

Paul continues to showcase Christ by writing that everything is made by Jesus for Jesus. This means that Jesus is infinitely powerful. Simple logic… “He cannot be the first created thing when He Himself is the Creator.”

Another dangerous doctrine was angelology: study of angels. This belief stated that angels were the mediators between God and mankind. So they started worshipping angels. This is obviously false doctrine. When angels receive worship, they refuse it. But when Jesus received worship, He didn’t stop them. Because He is God.

So whatever ranks there are of spiritual beings, They are beneath Christ. They answer to Him because He created them.

Colossians 1:17-18 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the fi rstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

“Jesus is before all things.” Jesus has always been. He existed in eternity past. That’s why God’s name is “I AM WHO I AM.”

“In Him all things consist” The Greek literally means “to hold or tie together.” It’s the picture of a unifying support. Jesus is the Creator, BUT also the continuous Sustainer of the universe. Therefore, creation is not random nor autonomous.

Without Jesus, all things would literally fall apart.

And then Paul wraps up by saying, In all things He may have preeminence This means that Jesus has positional supremacy. There is not a close second. Remember, He is on His own list.Because Jesus is fully God. Always has been. Always will be.

Preeminence means Christ is everything.

Jesus is the exact image of God

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

Jesus is the head of the church.

Jesus is the Savior and Ruler of the world.

The person who has Jesus has everything.

The person that has everything but Jesus, has nothing.