THE SUPREMACY OF JESUS CHRIST

Passage: Colossians 1:15-23

Key verse: 1:18b

NIV

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image(A) of the invisible God,(B) the firstborn(C) over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:(D) things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;(E) all things have been created through him and for him.(F) 17 He is before all things,(G) and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head(H) of the body, the church;(I) he is the beginning and the firstborn(J) from among the dead,(K) so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased(L) to have all his fullness(M) dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile(N) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,(O) by making peace(P) through his blood,(Q) shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies(R) in your minds(S) because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled(T) you by Christ’s physical body(U) through death to present you(V) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation(W)— 23 if you continue(X) in your faith, established(Y) and firm, and do not move from the hope(Z) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,(AA) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.(AB)

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 1:21 Or minds, as shown by
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Preeminence of Christ

15 (A)He is the image of (B)the invisible God, (C)the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[a] him all things were created, (D)in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether (E)thrones or (F)dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created (G)through him and for him. 17 And (H)he is before all things, and in him all things (I)hold together. 18 And (J)he is the head of the body, the church. He is (K)the beginning, (L)the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For (M)in him all the (N)fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and (O)through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, (P)making peace (Q)by the blood of his cross.

21 (R)And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, (S)doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled (T)in his body of flesh by his death, (U)in order to present you holy and blameless and (V)above reproach before him, 23 (W)if indeed you continue in the faith, (X)stable and steadfast, not shifting from (Y)the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed (Z)in all creation[b] under heaven, (AA)and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 1:16 That is, by means of; or in
  2. Colossians 1:23 Or to every creature
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, Jesus, the creator, the head of the church (15-19). Jesus is supreme as the Son, the image of God invisible. No one has ever seen God, but Jesus said, 'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.' (Jn 14:9b). He is the creator. All things were created in him, through him and for him. He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, through his resurrection. Thus he became the head of the church appointed by God (Eph 1:22). For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, Jesus alone is sufficient. Second, Jesus, the reconciler (2

-23). Through Jesus God reconciled to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once we were alienated from God and were enemies in our minds because of our evil behavior. But now he has reconciled us by Christ's physical body through death to present us holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. This is the good news that should be proclaimed for every creature under heaven.

Prayer: Lord, you are supreme and sufficient to save us through your death and resurrection. Help us to proclaim this gospel to all nations.

One Word: Jesus is supreme and sufficient for our salvation!