Jesus, perhaps to the false teachers of the day, was just one of many ways that God had reached down to save people.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
No grouping of sentences in the entire Bible has more to say about who Jesus is than this one.
1. Jesus is Savior.
Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Sin can never be resolved by philosophy or religion. Sinners need the Savior. Jesus “delivered us”, which means rescued from danger. Jesus delivered us from the powers of darkness.
The gnostic false teachers believed in a hierarchy of evil spirits that controlled the world. Jesus is greater than any force of darkness.
Jesus did not simply move us from darkness into the Wilderness. He brought us from darkness immediately into light.
Through Jesus, we have “redemption.” This word means to “release a prisoner by payment of a ransom” (Wiersbe). Jesus did not pay a ransom to Satan. He met the holy demands of the Law of God.
Redemption and forgiveness are partners in God’s salvation story. Forgiveness means to “cancel a debt” or “to send away.” Jesus has cancelled every debt so that we would not be slaves to sin again.
Matthew 18:21-35 (please don’t turn there), tells the story of the Unforgiving Servant. Because we have been forgiven, we can forgive other people!
2. Jesus is Creator.
Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The false teachers in Paul’s day were misinformed about Creation. They believed that matter/substance was evil. Jesus could not have a real body because God would not take on evil matter. Also, they believed, your body is evil—so, you should enslave it or enjoy it.
“Firstborn” does not refer to time. It is refers to place of importance in the order of things.
The word “image” is important. Jesus is the exact representation of God.
Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Jesus “created” all things. Because Jesus created “all” things, it is clear that Jesus Himself was not a created thing.
John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Everything exists “for” Him. 1 Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
3. Jesus is the Source.Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
No denomination can claim to be “the” body of Christ. The Body of Christ is comprised of all true believers.
Jesus is the “Head.” Head in the original language indicates “source.” It can also mean “origin” or “leader.” Whichever translation is selected, it means that Jesus is in charge of all.
No believer on earth is the head of the church.
4. Jesus is Reconciler.
Colossians 1:19-20 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
