A HYMN TO THE KING (Colossians 1:15-18)

A HYMN TO THE KING
(A Portrait of the Living Christ)

Joe Alain, Pastor, Hebron Baptist Church
Preached on Sunday, August 26, 2007

Scripture Passage: Colossians 1:15-18
In this passage, Paul makes three profound statements concerning Christ and His relationship to deity (v.15), to creation (vv.15b-17), and to the church (v.18). "In making these assertions, Paul refuted the Colossian errorists, in whose system angelic mediators usurped the place and function ofChrist." (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 181)

Saturated with Christian theology, this passage of Scripture, a hymn to the King, portrays the true nature of Christ. Keep in mind, the major problem in the church at Colosse had to do with their Christology – what some of the false teachers were saying about Christ. They did not deny Christ but they did dethrone Him by holding forth a distorted portrait of Christ. Paul wants the Colossians to have a solid grasp of the nature of Christ and to acknowledge the Lordship of Christ over their lives.

I want us to view this passage in two ways. First, I want us to look at the portrait of Christ that Paul paints for us with some of these rich theological concepts. Second, I want us to look at the practical application of what Paul says. What does this portrait of Christ mean for us?

I. A PORTRAIT OF CHRIST
I’m using the idea of a "portrait" here because the word "Image" (Eikon) in one form was used for the word "portrait" in Greek. It is the nearest equivalent in ancient Greek to our word "photograph." What does this portrait of Christ look like?

1. Christ Is God (v.15)
Without apology and without hesitation, Paul wants the Colossians to know that Jesus Christ is God. Notice the phrase in verse 15a, "He is the image of the invisible God." What does this mean? There are two ideas behind this word.

(1) Image As Representation
In this sense, an image represents and symbolizes what the object pictures. For example, an image on a coin or a reflection in the mirror. But Paul doesn’t say that Jesus is simply a symbol of deity, he goes beyond that.

(2) Image As Manifestation
More than a symbol, in this sense of the word, the symbol brings with it the actual presence of the object. Paul means that Jesus brought God into the human sphere of understanding. He manifested God!

The idea of Christ manifesting God is what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 1:3a, NIV. "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word" (my emphasis).

The Gospel of John also helps us understand the deity of Christ. This is in fact the major focus of his Gospel. John 1:18, NIV says, "No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son [begotten], who is at the Father’s side, has made him known" (my emphasis).

And then in John 14:8, 9a, NIV we have the classic exchange between Philip and Jesus. "Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.’ [9] Jesus answered: ‘Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (my emphasis).

2. Christ Is Creator (vv.16, 17)
Christ is God! Paul also tells us that Christ is creator!

(1) The Sphere of Creation (v.16) "All things"
At least four times, the phrase "all things" is used. The emphasis is that there is nothing that exists that is outside the boundaries of God’s creative power.

i. "Visible" – Material World
God is the creator of the material world, that which is visible, the earth (v.16).

ii. "Invisible" – Immaterial World
God is also the creator of the immaterial world, that which is invisible. With the phrase, "thrones or dominions or principalities or powers" (v.16) there is an emphasis on the invisible world.

Why is it important to establish that Christ is the creator of the unseen world? Because the Gnostic teachers made so much of these rival thrones and authorities, probably a reference to angelic beings. Paul lets us know that Christ, not the angels, is Lord of the material creation.

(2) The Source of Creation (vv.16, 17)
With these four prepositional phrases, we have a wonderful teaching concerning Christ and His role in creation.

i. "By Him" – Conception
Jesus conceived of creation and its complexities. Creation was His idea.

ii. "Through Him" – Realization
Creation came to be through His power and ability. He is the agent of creation.

iii. "For Him" – Glorification
Literally, "unto Him." Jesus is the goal of creation. Everything exists to display His glory, and ultimately He will be glorified in His creation.

iv. "In Him" – Preservation
"Consist" (v.17) means to hold together. Jesus keeps things in order. He daily maintains a balance in the universe. The very basic forces in the natural world, the building blocks of physics – gravity and electrical forces, plus a "strong" and a "weak" nuclear force, all work together in perfect balance from the complexities of the structure of the atom to the gravitational attraction that keeps the earth in its exact life giving relationship to the sun and the other planets in our solar system. And this perfect balance is maintained by Christ!

3. Christ Is Lord (v.18)
To be "head" is to be sovereign. Christ as the head of the church, it its chief, its leader. It is He who governs it. "He" is emphatic, the meaning being that Christ alone – Christ and no other – is Head of the church.

The major stress of this passage is on the supremacy of Christ. What proves His supremacy? Why is He the head? Because He is the one who rose from the dead, "the firstborn from the dead." He’s head because He rose from the dead!
From this passage and others, the early church formulated their understanding of Jesus Christ. The great Nicene Creed formulated by the church in 325 A.D. is steeped in theology that is expressed in the language of this Hymn to the King, Colossians 1:15-18. The teaching that they formulated centuries ago is still the doctrine that we hold to today. Christianity unlike some new and passing fad (there are many modern day versions of Gnosticism), is rooted in a historical Christ who lived and died, and rose again, and who is at this very moment, "head of the body, the church."

II. THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION
What does this rich theological teaching mean on a practical level?

1. To Confirm the Faith
This Scripture passage serves to confirm the faith. Christians have a faith that is rooted in a historical Jesus that lived, died, rose again, and lives today!

2. To Counter the Error
This passage counters or exposes error (then and now). The best way to counter the error is not by knowing everything about every error. This would be impossible. However, if believers know the truth then they will have a standard by which to judge all teachings.

3. To Crown Jesus As Lord
This is truly a hymn to the King! What God has done for us is to cause in us a spirit of worship and gratitude and honor to Him. But this crowning of Jesus as Lord, this allowing Him to be preeminent in our lives and His church is conditional. "He may have the preeminence" (v.18, my emphasis). Is Jesus Lord of every area of your life? Your home? Your marriage? Your children? Is He lord of your business practices? What area of your life needs to be surrendered to Christ so that He may be crowned as King of your life?