colossians_lesson05

Lesson 5: Jesus: Supreme Over Everything

Lesson 5: Jesus Supreme Over Everything

Colossians 1:15-20 — study notes

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20 (NASB)

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:

16for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

19For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

1) Introduction

Paul writes the letter to the Colossian church after he had received a report from Epaphras that they were struggling with a christological heresy, regarding the person and deity of Jesus.

In today's lesson we go deep into these verses to prove the deity of Jesus and what it means for us today.

  • Read Colossians 1:15-20

2) Colossians 1:15

In Colossians 1:15–20 Paul presents Christ in categories that, for Christians today, strongly substantiate His deity and supremacy.

  • Everything that God is, Jesus is also. He is Lord over everything.
  • Jesus is "the image of the invisible God"—not merely a likeness but the definitive revelation of God's unseen nature; in biblical theology, only God can fully disclose God.
  • He is also "the firstborn of all creation", which in the Old Testament often signals status and inheritance rights rather than "first created."

3) Colossians 1:16

  • Paul immediately explains why Jesus is the image of God.
  • Jesus being God is the creator of all things: "by Him all things were created… all things have been created through Him and for Him."
  • Christ is not placed within creation as a made thing; He is presented as the Creator, goal, and rightful Lord of everything that exists.

4) Colossians 1:17

  • Paul adds, "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together", attributing to Christ preexistence and sustaining power—divine functions.
  • The universe and all creation was created and it exists because of Jesus.

5) Colossians 1:18

  • Because Jesus is God, Paul adds that He is the head of the body (church).
  • He is also the "firstborn" of the dead, implying His resurrection.
  • He has and is first place in everything—God supreme.

6) Colossians 1:19-20

  • Finally, "all the fullness was pleased to dwell" in Him and through Him God reconciles "all things" by His cross.
  • The language that Paul uses points to the fullness of God's presence and a cosmic scope of salvation that Scripture elsewhere ties to God's own saving work.
  • Jesus' ultimate work is to reconcile all things in Him, to get back to the original plan of God.

Action Plan for This Week

Reflect and respond to what Paul reveals about Christ's supremacy with these three practical steps:

  1. Submit one area to Christ's lordship. Name one area you have kept outside Christ's lordship (time, money, media, relationships) and submit it in prayer.
  2. Practice daily worship. Practice worship daily (song, psalm, or spoken praise) focusing on who Christ is in Colossians 1:15-20.
  3. Take one reconciliation step. Take one reconciliation step (apology, forgiveness, peacemaking) this week.