In Colossians 1:15-17, Paul wrote that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature; For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or power: all things were created by Him, and for Him,: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist of every creature. What did Paul mean that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature?
Jesus is the image of the invisible God
Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of every creature: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist (Colossians 1:15-17)
Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3). If you know Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Word that was made flesh, you know the Father. No one has seen the Father than Jesus Christ (a.o. John 1:18, 6:46). Only through the Word, you can get to know the Father (Read also: Was Jesus fully Human?).
Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My Name, I will do it (John 14:8-14)
Philip had spent so much time with Jesus and still, Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father. While Jesus was the reflection of the Father. The words, Jesus spoke and the works, He did were the words and works of the Father.
This shows, that as long as you remain the old creation, it’s hard to believe and to see, comprehend, and understand the spiritual things of the Kingdom of God.
Only when you become born again in the spirit, you will enter the Kingdom of God and you will see the Kingdom of God and understand the spiritual things.
Jesus is the Firstborn of every creature
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3)
These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God (Revelation 3:14)
Jesus is the Firstborn of every creature. Jesus existed before everything else was created. Nothing existed before Him. All things in the heavens and on the earth, the visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him.
This shows us, the ultimate authority and highest power of Jesus Christ, above all other forces, powers, thrones, dominions, principalities, etc.. There is no higher and greater power in the heavens and on earth, that stands above God (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Since all things were created by Him and for Him, Jesus had to come to the earth. So that through Him, the new creation; the new man could be created. There was no one, who could do that, than Jesus Christ, the Living Word. And so Jesus became the Firstborn of the new creation (Read also: The whole creation is created in Jesus Christ).
The new creation is the image of Jesus Christ
For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29)
Just like Jesus is the image of the invisible God, so shall those, who are called according to His purpose, by faith in Jesus Christ and regeneration in Him, be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
Those, who are born again in Him and are justified by His blood and born of water and Spirit and have become a new creation, shall be the image of Jesus Christ on earth. They shall belong to Him and submit to Him and live according to the will of God.
They shall walk after the Spirit and have an experiential relationship with Jesus Christ and the Father and speak and do His words and His works, yes, even greater works, says Jesus, because He went to the Father, and they shall bear the same fruit.
And so they shall be witnesses of Jesus Christ on earth and in His Name preach the gospel and call the people to repentance and the removal of sin and deliver them from the powers of darkness.
Because of this, those, who are born again in the spirit and are born of God and belong to Him and walk in the light shall distinguish themselves from those, who through natural birth belong to the devil and the world and walk in darkness.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
