Daily Bible Reading 5th June 2025 // Colossians 1:15-23
15 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. 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 pre-eminent. 19 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.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Is it any wonder, after exulting in the full salvation which is ours in Christ, that in the next verses the apostle should break out into a hymn of praise to Christ, exalting the Son in full and joyful adoration?
It would seem that there were those in Colossae who were denying the sufficiency of Christ for all spiritual needs and, in effect, if not by intention, denying the supremacy of Christ. So having highlighted the blessings of salvation which are the believer’s present possession, Paul drives home his point by affirming and asserting the breathtaking supremacy of Christ in all things. He seems to be urging the Colossian believers to remember who Jesus is and what he has done for them. Jesus Christ, he says, is both supreme Lord and sufficient Saviour. This is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Angels and spiritual powers (cf. 2:18) are of no consequence. This Creed/hymn is of the highest importance for our understanding of the Person and Work of Jesus (which are part and parcel of the one Christ - His nature and his salvation, incarnation and atonement go together). From vv 15-19 we have an affirmation of the supremacy of Christ's nature and being and from vv 20-23 we have an affirmation of the universal and cosmic sufficiency of his atoning work.