Christ is the Image of God and the Creator of the Universe #2

1. Colossians 1:16a, b & c part say, “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.”

2. 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.

1) Romans 13:1-5 teaches that honest governments originate from God. “1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.”

a. We know that there are many law officials and government leaders that violate the standards of right and wrong in the system of government and law.

b. However, the system of law and government as a general rule has for their original intentions to do what is best for humanity.

c. Romans 13:1ff teaches that God and Christ appoint those in authority.

2) Daniel 4:32 teaches that God rules in the final analysis in determining who is elected in governmental offices: “…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”

3) Evil rulers are allowed to control the reins of government oftentimes, but this does not indicate God’s lack of power to determine a nation’s leaders; rather, these things are calculated to work out God’s great overall purposes on earth.

a. God may allow bad government officials to create humility and submission to the more important things that man ought to place value on.

b. Sometimes God gets the attention of the good people through bad people.

1. Turn back again to Colossians 1:16 to the last phrase: “All things were created through Him and for Him.”

2. Paul declared that not only did Christ create all things, but all things are created for Him. All things are created for Christ’s honor, and all things created, in one way or another, bring glory to Christ.

3. The earth and universe was built by the Creator to be Christ’s own property; to be the theater or the stage on which Christ would accomplish His purposes, and display His sinless life.

1) More specifically the earth was made by the Son of God to be the place where He would become incarnate (incarnate meaning to take on a fleshly body).

2) On the earth Christ also exhibited the wonders of redeeming love as he healed the blind and the sick and died on a cruel cross and shed His blood.

4. Turn now to John 1:14 and a few other passages which further teach that Christ is Creator and that Christ used His creation to do His work in providing redemption for lost mankind.

1) John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

2) Turn to John 17:4-6 and let’s read what Jesus says on the night before He was crucified that relate to the work Jesus had done for the redemption of man: “I have glorified You [the Father] on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, of Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which had with You before the world was. ⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”

3) Turn to Philippians 2:4-9 where we are reminded of Christ coming to earth and living as a man and a servant and dying on the cross to bring the opportunity for man to be saved. Philippians 2:4-9 says, “⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of not reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of man. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.”

4) Turn to Hebrews 2:9, which teaches that Christ willing died on the cross to provide the opportunity for each human being to be saved, but each person must do their part. Hebrews 2:9 says, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

5) Turn to 2 Corinthians 5:21, which teaches that Christ paid the penalty of death on the cross for each and every individual that will do their part toward receiving forgiveness of sins. 2 Corinthians says, “For He [the Father] made Him [Christ] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

6) Turn to Eph. 1:22-23, which teaches that Christ is head over all things and that Christ is specifically head of the church. ²² And He [God] to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His [Christ’s] body, the fullness of Him [Christ] who fills all in all.”

7) The earth, Christ’s physical creation, is the place for the church, Christ’s spiritual creation to temporarily dwell to allow Christ to be the church’s head as Christ carries on His work.

1. Turn to Col. 1:17a. Let’s discuss: “And He [Christ] is before all things.” “Before all things” means Christ existed before the world or heavenly beings were created. Christ is eternal.

2. Isaiah 9:6 teaches that Christ is eternal: “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God. Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

3. Micah 5:2 also teaches that Christ is eternal: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings for are from of old, From everlasting.”

4. John 1:1-3, likewise teaches that Christ is eternal: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

5. Everything was created except God; however, Jesus is God (John 1:1-3). Jesus has always existed because He is divine.

1) Only Deity is eternal, having neither beginning nor end. This is true with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is not true of angels, who are created beings. Angels are distinct from animals, humans, and Deity. They are above men, but lower that God.

2) Man is not eternal.

a. Our souls are created entities.

b. Zechariah 12:1 — “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.”

c. From the instant of their creation or conception, souls have an eternal being; a soul does not go out of existence, but there was a time when each human soul did not exist.

6. The universe, the earth, minerals, the plant world, and the animal world were all created for man’s use; when their use is not longer necessary, they will cease to exist.

7. 1 Corinthians 15:50ff teaches that in heaven, there will be no material being or thing. This same truth also teaches us that the soul must have a new body in which to dwell; it will be a spiritual body. “⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

1. “In Him all things consist.”

1) Means that Jesus is doing what is necessary to make sure that all things cohere or hold together in an orderly fashion.

2) Jesus not only created all things, he continues to sustain the world so that it holds together and does not fall into chaos.

2. Jesus holds it together by what man calls the laws of science. Keep in mind that true science originated with God.

1) These laws for the universe were planned out by God, the great architect and designer and planner of the universe and Christ the great builder or contractor of the universe keeps everything functioning and running smoothly.

2) Were it not for the constant power of Christ being exerted upon the universe, it would instantly cease to exist!

3) In Heb. 1:3 it is said of Christ: “He upholds all things with the word of his power.”

4) And here in Col. 1:17b we read of Christ: “By him all things consist.”