Colossians 1:15–20 He is the Image of the Invisible God

Colossians 1:15–20 He is the Image of the Invisible God

Main Idea: Jesus Christ is the visible image of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the Head of the Church, and the only One able to reconcile the world to God.

Introduction

There’s a reason why celebrity culture exists. People are drawn to someone who is larger than life, someone who makes them feel awe, someone they can look up to and follow. The world spends billions of dollars every year creating images to capture this desire. Whether through marketing, entertainment, or social media, people are searching for someone who can give them meaning, identity, or emotion.

But we weren’t made to worship a product. We weren’t made to follow a celebrity. We were created to worship a Person, someone greater than us, someone outside of us, someone who bears the very image of God. That Person is Jesus Christ.

When we elevate any created thing to take His place, it is not harmless. It is a false rival. It provokes the jealousy of God and pulls our souls toward emptiness. The passage in Colossians makes it clear. There is only One who is worthy of that kind of honor. And it is not someone made in our image. It is the One who is the very image of God.

1. Jesus Is the Image of God and Creator of All (Colossians 1:15–17)

Paul begins by saying that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. That doesn’t mean Jesus was made. It means that everything God is in His invisible nature has been made visible in Christ. He is the exact imprint of God’s nature (Hebrews 1:3). He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1–5). He is God Himself.

Jesus is also the firstborn of all creation. That doesn’t mean He was created first, but that He holds the highest rank. In ancient culture, “firstborn” meant position, not birth order. Jesus has authority over everything because He made everything.

All things were created through Him and for Him, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. There is nothing that exists outside of His rule. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

This is why cultural idols are not just distractions. They are distortions. They seek to copy what only Christ is. They position themselves as worthy of awe, admiration, and allegiance. But there is no equal. No celebrity, movement, or ideology can hold creation together. No influencer can satisfy the soul. No cultural god can save. Only Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Only He is worthy of worship.

Some minimize Him as just a teacher. Some reduce Him to a myth. Some treat Him like a mascot for their own agendas. But Scripture is clear. He is the Creator. He is the Sustainer. He is the Lord over everything.

So why does the world still look the way it does? Why is there so much brokenness? Paul and Jesus both tell us. There is a day coming when He will return. Until then, the world continues as in the days of Noah, eating, drinking, marrying, ignoring God, until the judgment arrives (Matthew 24:36–39). But the delay is not denial. Christ is King. And His return is certain.

2. Jesus Is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18)

Paul continues, “And He is the head of the body, the church.” Not only is Jesus Lord of creation, He is also Lord of the redeemed. The church is not a brand or a community center. It is the body of Christ. And He is the head.

That means local churches are not free to reinvent Jesus or redefine His mission. We gather to worship the One who has been revealed as God. We obey His teachings because He is Lord. And we participate in His work by proclaiming the gospel. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in everything He might be preeminent.

There is no substitute. There is no backup. Jesus is not one option among many. Every other road leads away from Him. Every other message opposes the gospel. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. And He gave us His marching orders.

Go. Make disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:18–20). This is the mission of the church.

Paul echoes this in Ephesians 1. Christ has been seated above all rule and power and dominion, and God has put all things under His feet and made Him head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:16–23). That is who we follow. And there is no rival.

3. Jesus Reconciles All Things (Colossians 1:19–20)

Paul ends this section by saying that in Christ all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. That means there is no part of God missing from Jesus. He is fully divine. And through Him, God is reconciling all things to Himself.

How? By the blood of His cross.

The One who created all things did not remain distant. He took on flesh. He suffered. He died. And in doing so, He made peace between God and sinners. Reconciliation is not achieved by effort, religion, or good intentions. It is received by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

God did not need to save us. If He condemned every human, He would still be good. But He chose to show mercy. The righteous King died so that rebels could be redeemed. That is the beauty of the gospel. God Himself absorbed the wrath we deserved so that we could be brought into peace.

As Paul writes elsewhere, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Jesus became sin so that we could become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

There is no one like Him. No one else can reconcile heaven and earth. No one else can restore a broken heart. No one else can offer peace with God.

Reflection and Application

What are you worshiping?
Where is your awe directed? Who has captured your loyalty? If it is not Jesus, it is something less. And whatever it is, it cannot save.

Are you trusting in someone made in your image?
That is what the world constantly offers. Man-made saviors. Temporary gods. But Christ is not like them. He is the image of the invisible God, the One who created and sustains all things.

Do you submit to Christ as the head of your life and your church?
He is not just to be admired. He is to be followed. His Word shapes our obedience. His mission defines our purpose.

Are you reconciled to God through the blood of the cross?
If not, believe. There is no hindrance. The blood of Christ has paid the full price. If you turn from your sin and trust in Him, you will be transferred from darkness into His kingdom.

Enjoy creation, but know the boundaries.
You were made to enjoy life under the rule of Christ. Anything else is counterfeit. This is why we must study the Scriptures. The Word of God is how we learn to discern whether something is permissible or whether it is a subtle hindrance to godliness.

Proclaim the gospel that reconciles all things.
We are ambassadors for Christ. Share the hope you have. Watch what God will do. Every heart that turns to Jesus is a preview of the final reconciliation to come.

There is only One who is worthy of worship. His name is Jesus. He is Creator, Lord, Savior, and King. And He is enough.

Scripture References

• Hebrews 1:3 – Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s nature and upholds the universe by His power.
• John 1:1–5 – Jesus, the Word, was with God and was God in the beginning, and all things were made through Him.
• Matthew 24:36–39 – Just as in Noah’s day, many will ignore the truth until the day of Christ’s return comes suddenly.
• Matthew 28:18–20 – Jesus gave the Great Commission, commanding His followers to make disciples of all nations.
• Ephesians 1:16–23 – Christ has been exalted above all powers and given as head over the church, His body.
• 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 – God reconciled the world through Christ and gave believers the message and ministry of reconciliation.