“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” – Colossians 1:15

Scripture reading: Hebrews 1:1-14 & Colossians 1:15-20

Perhaps we come to a passage like this, and we’re tempted to think to ourselves, “Well this is sort of ‘old hat.’ After all, who among us doesn’t already know that Jesus is the eternal Son of the Eternal God? We confess it every Sunday in the Apostles Creed.

But at the time when the Apostle Paul was first writing this letter, the theology of these verses was groundbreaking and life-altering. For in the person of Jesus, the Colossians had come to know what God was really like. For Jesus, from all eternity, is the perfect image – the perfect representation of the Father. If you want to know what God is like, you need only look to His Son.

In the second place, Paul tells us that this Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. The word firstborn, as Paul uses it here, is a title. Just as the firstborn son in the ancient world had claim to everything belonging to his earthly father – so, too, Christ has claim to everything that is the heavenly Father’s.

Christ possesses the place of prominence and preeminence. His is the name that is above every other name. Therefore, He alone is worthy of all our adoration and praise.

Suggestions for prayer

Thank God for making Himself known to us in His Son. And pray for the grace to render Him glory and honour as the firstborn over all creation.

Rev. Bryce De Zwarte is a native of Pella, Iowa and a graduate of Dordt University and Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Rev. De Zwarte has been serving as the pastor of the Adoration URC in Vineland, Ontario since April of 2020. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.