Image of the Invisible God
DAY 37 WRITTEN BY: GUY SHARLOW-
Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
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In Paul’s opening chapter to his letter to the saints in Colossae, he is pleased to hear about their faith in the gospel of Christ and encourages them to continuing growing in the knowledge of his character. He completes the picture of Jesus to them in this passage saying that the invisible God that no man has seen has been seen in Christ. He explains that the deity of Christ is in both creation and redemption. In the first part of chapter 15, Jesus is told to be the image of the invisible God. This is a reflection of Jesus’s own words in John 10:30 where he says, “I and the Father are one.”
This can be confusing when reading the last part of verse 15 that says he is the firstborn of all creation. If you’re like me, you may ask how Jesus can be both God and the firstborn. John Calvin gives a great background into the culture of this time. The firstborn of the family was considered the principal heir. They carried the family name in the genealogy of their family. Jesus is the principal heir of the father; not that he was created, but that holds the supremacy, honor, and holiness of the firstborn. He is the greater Abraham, the greater David (Psalm 89:27), and the greater prophet. He is the Messiah.
This connects creation and redemption as seen by the rest of the letter where all things were created in him, by him, and for him. He holds all things together. He is the active role in our universe that holds it together. If you want to see God, see him in the person of Christ.
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Thank you, Jesus, for your sovereignty and active role in my life. You were before all things and, in you, all things were made. For your glory, you revealed yourself to us so that we may see our invisible God. You suffered, died, and rose again so that we may, by your grace, be heirs to the kingdom of God with you being our principal heir. You are the reason of our creation and the way of our redemption. Thank you for loving me and adopting me into your family and discipling me into the heir you have called me to be.
