All Things Were Created Through Him and For Him
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17
It took the early church four centuries to fully understand the nature of the Trinity. It knew that Jesus was the preexistent Son of God, but it did not know how to fully articulate what that meant. It was clear from the scriptures that the early church leaders such as the apostle John and Paul understood Christ’s identity. Paul talked about Christ as the image of the invisible God by whom and through whom all things were created. He pointed to a reality that the church would affirm but struggle to fully understand. Theologians have since said that the doctrine of the Trinity was “theologically undeveloped” in the scriptures. God left it to the early centuries of the church to find language to articulate God’s triune nature to the church and the world.
The Old Testament had hinted at the divinity of the Messiah in a kind of puzzle. It was a riddle whose answer would not be known until the time of Christ but was pointed to by the prophets. Isaiah, for example, said that the Messiah would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This hinted at divinity. It also hinted at the Trinity. How could the Messiah also be the Everlasting Father? How could the Messiah also be Wonderful Counselor? The theological answer is that Christ, the Son of God, came to make known to us both the Father and the Holy Spirit. Because of him, we come to know God as he truly is, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Wherever Christ is, there is also the Father and the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit indwells a believer, he brings with him the Father and the Son.
Paul extols the majesty of Christ. He says that all things were created “through him and for him.” He is “before all things and in him all things hold together.” Paul places Christ in a place of preeminence. He is above all things, even the angels. Nothing in the invisible spiritual realm matches his honor and glory. In fact, even the angels were made by him and are subject to his authority. What is the purpose of creation? It is for the sake of Christ. All things were made for him. He is the highest goal for which anything can be made. For that reason, he is the end of all creation and all purposes in history. The scriptures teach throughout that all things culminate in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There is no higher purpose possible than that.
The remarkable thing is that Christ, the Son of God, became human in order to affect our salvation. This is a wonder! Why would the God of all creation do such a thing for us? It is the great mystery of God’s love. We are the recipients of great grace.
The more we understand God, the more wonderful he is. There are depths in God that we cannot fathom. The joy of heaven will be a continual increase of wonder before a majestic God. He is worthy of all praise and honor and glory.