In the first article, we began exploring the profound truth that life is found in Jesus, as illustrated in Colossians 1:15-20. We considered how dependent we are on electricity for our daily existence and how much more we rely on Jesus for our very being. Today, we continue by diving into the first aspect of the life of Jesus that pulses out toward us to give us life.
1. We Live Through His Divine Life
“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.” Colossians 1:15-16
Who Is Jesus
If you were reading Colossians from the beginning and arrived at verse 15, it’s as if someone interrupted Paul after verse 14 and asked, “Who is Jesus?” Paul begins by declaring that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” He isn’t saying that Jesus is merely made in the image of God or that He reflects God’s image. Rather, Jesus is the image of the invisible God, embodying God’s exact nature.
When I was a kid, people often told me I looked like my dad, which didn’t particularly thrill me. However, as a parent, I’ve noticed how fascinated we are with determining whether a baby resembles their mom or dad. People will discuss for hours which features they think the baby has inherited. There’s an expectation that a child looks like their parents because they share the same genes. Paul is telling us that Jesus possesses the exact same nature as the Father, not just a faint resemblance but an identical image.
Fully God
Paul then calls Jesus “the firstborn of all creation.” In Paul’s time, the firstborn son had the right to inherit everything from the father. So, Paul is saying that Jesus owns everything by right. Verse 16 supports this by saying, “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.” This means Jesus, being God, is the one who created everything.
Emphasizing Jesus in this way does not exclude God the Father or God the Spirit from being equally and eternally the one true God. Paul emphasizes Jesus’s divinity because, since Jesus assumed humanity and entered history, there’s a temptation to see Him only as a man. We must start with Jesus from above as God Himself. While He was a baby in Mary’s arms, He was upholding the universe according to His divine nature.
Some might think Jesus was just an agent of creation that God used. But Paul clarifies that “all things were created through Him and for Him.” Everything that exists was created by Jesus and for Jesus, which makes Him the ultimate being we were created to worship.
Worthy Of Our Worship
What does it mean that we find life through His divine life? If Jesus made us, then He defines who we are and what we were created for. Life is found within the boundaries He sets for us. When you and I realize that we have a Maker, it inevitably puts limits on our lives. There are certain boundaries that we accept by embracing the fact that Jesus is our Creator. But as is true with all boundaries, they are good if the one who made them is good.
If Jesus made us, then He knows how we are wired, what conditions we best thrive under, and what will cause us to survive rather than crash and burn. Jesus does not exist to restrict us or to place heavy burdens on our backs that we can’t carry. Jesus does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. And that means we come alive when we live by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus.
Conclusion
In this second article, we have explored the first aspect of how life is found in Jesus—through His divine life. Jesus, as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation, is our Creator. He defines our existence and sets the boundaries within which we thrive. Recognizing Jesus as God and our Creator helps us understand that living by, through, and for Him is where true life is found. As we continue to delve into the remaining aspects of the life of Jesus in the upcoming articles, let us marvel at the depth of our dependence on Him and the fullness of life He offers.
To read Life in Jesus (Pt.1) CLICK HERE
