Christ is the Image of God and the Creator of the Universe

1. Colossians 1:15a says, “He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God…”

2. Jesus is the exact and complete image of the invisible God in every detail.

1) One way that they both are alike is that they are eternal. Both God and Jesus have always existed and they both will always continue to exist.

2) Both God and Jesus are also omniscient, which means that each have all knowledge.

3) Both God and Jesus are also omnipresent, which means that each are present in all places at all times.

4) Both God and Jesus are also omnipotent, which means that each have all power.

5) Lets turn to John 1:1-3. John 1:1-3 teaches that Christ, the Son, is God, which means that Christ has all the divine characteristics of God the Father. John 1:1-3 says, “1 In the beginning was the Word [referring to Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God. 2 He [Christ] was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him [Christ], and without Him [Christ] nothing was made that was made.”

3. Understanding that Jesus is the image of the invisible of God helps man when he reads about Jesus’ examples in showing love and care and concern and forgiveness while He was on earth know and appreciate that the spiritual Father has these same genuine concerns for physical man.

4. I have never read the expression that I am going to mention, but I think that it is in harmony with bible teaching.

1) I think that is scriptural to refer to The Son and The Father as being “identical twins”. We can refer to The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit as “identical triplets”.

2) All three are eternal and all three have all knowledge, and have all power and are all able to be present at all places at all times and all three have abundant love and compassion and forgiveness.

1. Colossians 1:15b says, “the firstborn over all creation.”

2. This does not mean that Jesus was the first being created. Here, “firstborn” refers to Jesus being first in rank or honor or superiority. The study of a few bible passages will help us to understand that those words are the correct interpretation to the word “firstborn” as it is refers to Christ in the Colossians 1:15b phrase.

3. Turn to Exodus 13:1&2. In Exodus 13:2 the word “firstborn” is used differently than it is in Colossians 1:15b. In Exodus 13:2 the word “firstborn” is used in a literal way and in reference to the first child or the first beast to be born to those of Egypt.

1) Let’s read Exodus 13:1&2, “1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”

2) Exodus 13:1&2 use the word “firstborn” in regard to time, pertaining to which child or which animal was born first.

4. Turn to Exodus 4:22&23. In Exodus 4:22&23 the Israelites are referred to as the “firstborn” not in regard to time, but in regard to rank and honor.

1) The term “firstborn” is used figuratively in reference to the Israelites being recognized as highest in rank and superiority and honor in the estimation of God during the O. T. period of time.

2) In Exodus 4:22&23 God says to Moses, “22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Israel is My son, My firstborn [here “firstborn is used figuratively in reference to Israel being God’s superior nation among all other nations at that day and time but not “firstborn” because of literally first of all nations] Verse 23, “So I say to you [Pharaoh], let My son [Israel] go that he [Israel] may serve Me. But if you [Pharaoh] refuse to let him [Israel] go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn [literal firstborn male child in each household].”

3) Exodus 4:23&24 provides a good example of the word “firstborn” being used in a literal way and then the word being used figuratively and referring to first in rank, honor or superiority.

5. Turn to Psalm 89:20&27. In Psalm 89:20&27, again the word “firstborn” is used in a figurative way.

1) In Psalm 89:20&27, the word “firstborn” is used figuratively in reference to David, to be understood as the highest of the kings in regard to rank and superiority and honor.

2) Psalm 89:20&27 is also a messianic passage prophesying that Christ would be the spiritual king that would be more superior in rank an honor than all the other kings of the earth.

3) Let’s read Psalm 89:20&27, “20 I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, 27 Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.”

6. Turn to Romans 8:29. Romans 8:29 uses the word “firstborn” to refer to Christ being of higher rank and honor and superiority than all the brethren who make up the church. Rom. 8:29 says, “that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

7. Turn to Hebrews 1:6. In Hebrews 1:6 the term “firstborn” again is used figuratively in reference to Jesus at time the angels worshipped him at His physical birth. The term “firstborn” is used to emphasize that Jesus was higher in rank, honor and superiority than any of the angels. Hebrews 1:6 says, “But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: Let all the angels of God worship Him”

8. Thus, passage after passage has shown that Christ was not and is not a created being.

1) Passage after passage teaches that the word “firstborn” when referring to Christ, as Creator, does not have a time frame in mind, but rather it is a title of honor.

2) When passages use the word “firstborn” in reference to Christ the supremacy and greatness of Christ is expressed.

1. Colossians 1:16a&b&c say, “16 For by Him [Christ] 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 [Christ] and for Him [Christ].”

2. Turn to Genesis 1:1. In Genesis 1:1 we read, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In Genesis 1:1 the word God is a plural word, meaning that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all involved in the creation. Genesis 1:1 and Colossians 1:16 and other passages teach bible students that God was the designer or the architect in creating everything.

1) Christ, by way of illustration, was the carpenter or contractor or builder.

2) The Holy Spirit, by way of illustration, was the one to put the finishing touch to everything, we might say, “the painter”.

3) Each, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit had different roles or jobs or functions in creation and they each have different roles relating to the spiritual work that they have and do provide for man.

a. Look now at Genesis 1:2. In Genesis 1:2 the Holy Spirit’s presence is specifically mentioned: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

b. Drop down to v. 26. In verse 26 we learn that as God, the Father, states the plan to create Adam and Eve, He speaks to the other two persons of the Godhead. In using the words, “let us” and “our” God the Father is speaking to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

3. Turn to John 1:1-3. John 1:1-3 teaches, as we have said, that Christ has all the characteristics of deity as God the Father and is also called God.

1) John 1:1-3 also teaches that Christ, as the carpenter or contractor or builder created everything that the Father designed and the Holy Spirit put the finishing touch to everything.

2) John 1:1-3 says, “1 In the beginning was the Word [referring to Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God. 2 He [Christ] was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him [Christ], and without Him [Christ] nothing was made that was made.”

3) Turn to Hebrews 1:2. Hebrews 1:2 teaches that God speaks to man on the earth through Jesus and His New Testament. Hebrews 1:2 also teaches that one of the things that qualify Jesus to speak to man on earth is due to the fact that Jesus created the entire world. Hebrews 1:2 says, “[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom he made the worlds.”

a. Since Christ, whom the Father used to make the worlds, is man’s spokesman we should pay attention to the teaching in the New Testament and each Lord’s Day partake of the Lord’s Supper and worship the Father as the Son teaches.

b. We can not afford to be guilty of just giving emphasis to celebrating the birth of Christ on Christmas and then ignore Christ’s teachings for the majority of the rest of the year.

4. Turn back to Colossians 1:16.

1) In Colossians 1:16 we read that Christ created all things that are in heaven and that are on earth.

2) The creation Christ made included both visible and invisible beings and things.

3) The angelic hosts of heaven are the work of Christ’s hands; the invisible laws that preserve and operate the material world that were designed by the Father are kept in operation by Christ.

4) There are far distant places in the universe which no human eye can see. Christ created all of these. Christ created all the galaxies, the stars, the moon, the son, the clouds, the rain, the grass, the trees and all the birds and animals.

5) Earthly thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers owe their origin to Christ’s creative genius. For the good of man, the principle of civil government was instituted.

a. The Lord willing, we will give more discussion to these words in a future lesson.

b. We encourage each one to be present for that lesson.