You are Welcome here!! We are so glad you are joining us for worship.

Jesus is:

1. The King (v. 13)

a. Jesus makes this claim
- John 18:36-37
- Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-23

b. This is revealed in Revelation
- 1:5 =
- 1:6 =
- 1:9 =
- 2:26-27; 3:21 =
- 17:14; 19:16 =

2. The Savior (v. 14)

a. His shed blood facilitates our redemption
- The Greek word translated “redemption” means “a releasing made possible by payment of a ransom”
- Believers have been released from the bondage of sin through the payment of Jesus blood (Matthew 20:28)

b. His shed blood makes forgiveness possible for those who believe
- The Greek word translated “forgiveness” means “release from bondage or imprisonment”
- In Christ the believer has forgiveness or pardon that results in being declared righteous and free from the penalty of sin
- Matthew 1:21 reveals this as the reason He came

3. The Image of the Invisible God (v. 15)

- “Image”
a. Greek word eikon
b. Means “an image, figure or likeness”

- Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God!
a. John 1:18
b. John 14:7-9
c. Hebrews 1:3
d. 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6

- Jesus accurately and fully expresses the being and perfections of God!

4. The Firstborn Over All Creation (v. 15)

- What does this mean?
a. It can mean the first one born or created. This is what Jehovah’s Witnesses teach.
b. It also is used in Scripture as a metaphor to describe one who occupies the rank and privilege of being firstborn without literally being born.
1. Of Israel in Exodus 4:22
2. Of David in Psalm 89:27
c. The metaphoric usage, as it relates to rank and pre-eminence, is how this should be interpreted when applied to Jesus.
1. John 1:1-3
2. Colossians 1:16

- The purpose in using this language: To emphasize the pre-eminence of Christ over all creation

5. The Creator of All Things (vv. 16-17)

- Confirmed elsewhere
1. John 1:3
2. Hebrews 1:3

- Affirms the purpose of creation = for Christ, His glory and His redemptive purposes

- Emphasizes His pre-existence = “before all things (v. 17a)

6. The Sustainer of All Things (v. 17b)

- “In him all things consist” = kept in their present state
- No Jesus, no sustenance

7. The Head of the Body, the Church (v. 18)

- “Church” = ekklesia – meaning congregation or assembly

- Used in two ways
1. Universal – saved believers throughout the world
2. Local – local assemblies

8. The Beginning, the Firstborn from the Dead (v. 18)

- Jesus is both the origin and active cause of resurrection

- By His own resurrection, never to die again, He is the pre-eminent One!

9. The Fullness of All Things (v. 19)

- Jesus is the fullness of Deity
- Jesus is the fullness of every believer for redemption, forgiveness

10. The Reconciler of All Things to God

- Things on earth – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 2:14-18
- Things in heaven (?)