The Image of the Invisible God ∙
You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you. – Nehemiah 9:6
Colossians 1:15-19
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.
19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.
How Did it All Begin? – A Biblical Perspective
From the dawn of human history, people have sought answers to the profound questions of existence: Where did the earth, the stars, and all life originate? How did it all begin? Who made the heavens and the earth? While various religious traditions around the world offer explanations, many fall short of providing a definitive or satisfying answer. The Scriptures, however, emphatically declare that God is the Creator of all things.
The Foundational Truth of Creation
The Bible begins with a simple yet powerful statement that underpins all of Scripture. Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This opening verse not only proclaims God’s creative power but also sums up the entire creation story in one sentence. It introduces the Creator and sets the stage for the detailed account that follows.
The creation story continues in the book of Genesis. Genesis 1 describes the six days of creation, explaining how God brought the universe, the earth, and all living beings into existence. Genesis 2 focuses on the creation of humanity, specifically Adam and Eve, highlighting their special role in God’s plan.
The psalmist captures the power of God’s creative word in Psalms 33:9, saying, “For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.” This verse emphasizes God’s effortless authority, as he simply speaks and everything comes into existence.
God’s Sovereignty Over Creation
The Scriptures consistently affirm God’s sovereignty as the Creator of all things. In Isaiah 45:11-12, the Lord declares: “This is what the LORD says, the Holy One of Israel and your Creator. . . I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands, I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command.”
This passage beautifully illustrates God’s active role in creation, from shaping the earth to filling it with life. It emphasizes His power and command over the universe.
Take a moment to imagine God stretching out the vast expanse of the heavens with His hands. Visualize a skilled baker gently working on a ball of dough, carefully shaping it to make the perfect pizza crust. With each deft movement, pressing, pulling, and turning, the baker creates a solid base, ready to hold toppings and cheese.
The Triune God in Creation
The Old Testament emphasizes God the Father, often referred to as the Lord, Yahweh, or simply God. However, the presence of the triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is subtly woven throughout the Old Testament. The roles of the Son and the Holy Spirit are less prominent, but their involvement in creation is apparent.
The New Testament provides clearer insight into the Triune nature of God, presenting God as a unity of three distinct persons. For example, the Gospel of John identifies Jesus Christ, the Son, as the divine Word through whom all things were created. John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
Similarly, the Holy Spirit’s role in creation is evident in Genesis 1:2, which depicts the Spirit of God hovering over the waters, preparing the earth for God’s creative work. Together, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit form the triune Godhead, working in perfect unity to bring creation into existence.
The Infinite Layers of Scriptural Truth
The truth of Scripture is immensely layered and progressively revealed over the course of approximately 3500 years. What starts as a simple yet profound declaration in Genesis 1:1 unfolds into a rich and detailed narrative that spans the entirety of the Bible. From the creation account in Genesis to the New Testament’s revelation of the triune God, the Scriptures provide a comprehensive and awe-inspiring view of God’s creative power and purpose.
The Bible’s description of creation addresses humanity’s profound questions regarding origins while also revealing God’s character as the intelligent Designer and Creator, Who is sovereign over all. According to the Scriptures, God spoke, and the heavens and the earth came into being. Moreover, it is through His ongoing presence that all of creation is maintained.
REFLECT & PRAY
Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God, existing before all creation and holding supremacy over everything. – Colossians 1:15
Father, thank You for the profound clarity You have provided regarding creation and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is truly awe-inspiring to understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is the tangible expression of the invisible God.
INSIGHT
The Son – the Agent of Creation
The Scriptures reveal a profound truth that may initially be startling: the Father created everything through the Son. This concept is clearly stated in John 1:3, which declares, “God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.” Similarly, Hebrews 1:2 affirms, “God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.”
The Lord Jesus Christ, as a member of the Triune God, is uniquely responsible for the creation and ongoing maintenance of all that exists. This role is further elaborated in Colossians 1:15-19, which provides a detailed description of Christ’s supremacy and creative authority: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see, such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”
This passage highlights two essential truths: first, that everything was created by God through His Son, and second, that the Lord Jesus Christ sustains and holds all of creation together. Historically, theologians have referred to Christ as the “agent of creation,” emphasizing that He is the one through whom all things came into existence.
The Firstborn of All Creation
The phrase “firstborn of all creation,” found in Colossians 1:15, has sparked much theological discussion. It is essential to clarify that this phrase does not refer to Christ’s physical birth or imply that He is a created being. Instead, it highlights the unique relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. He is the eternal Son and heir of the heavenly Father.
The term “firstborn” emphasizes Christ’s preeminence and authority over all creation. As the United Bible Societies (UBS) explains, “The use of the word ‘born’ or ‘begotten’ emphasizes the unique relationship between God and Jesus which is best expressed in terms of father and son; unlike all other human beings, Jesus’ relation to God is not expressed in terms of creature and creator.”
This expression has been translated in various ways to capture its meaning:
- The World English Bible (WEB) renders it as, “He takes precedence over all the created universe.”
- The New English Bible (NEB) translates it as, “His is the primacy over all created things.”
- Lightfoot paraphrases it as, “He is the Firstborn, and as the Firstborn, the absolute Heir and sovereign Lord, of all creation.”
The Greek word for “firstborn,” prototokos, is derived from protos “first” and tikto
“to bear or bring forth”. While it is often used literally to refer to the firstborn child, it also has a metaphorical meaning, reflecting the ancient belief that “preeminence and authority belonged to the firstborn.” As Douglas Moo explains, prototokos in this context “emphasizes Christ’s supremacy and His role as the heir of all creation.”
Christ as the Visible Image of the Invisible God
When people ask, “What is God like?” the answer is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the perfect and visible representation of the invisible God. This truth is powerfully stated in John 14:9, where Jesus declares, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” Paul echoes this extraordinary fact in Colossians 1:15, writing, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.”
Through Christ, the incomprehensible nature of God becomes clear and understandable. He reveals the character, essence, and glory of the Father in a way that people can grasp. To see the Son is to see the Father, for they are one in essence and purpose.
The Supremacy of the Son
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the agent of creation but also the sustainer and ruler of all. His title as the “firstborn of all creation” demonstrates His authority and supremacy over all things. He is the visible representation of the invisible God, through whom all things were made and held together. This profound truth invites us to marvel at Christ’s majesty and supremacy as both the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 