“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15 NET).
In Colossians 1:15 we’re told that Jesus “…is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” Unfortunately, some non-Christian religious organizations have elected to co-opt the term “firstborn” in attempting to “prove” that Jesus was a created being and not God. The problem with this idea is that the word “firstborn” does not necessarily mean “born first.”
You see, the word “firstborn” can signify priority in time (as in “He arrived at the finish line before everyone else“). It can also be used to designate positional supremacy. For instance, the word firstborn can be used to identify a person who holds a superior rank, just as a military Captain outranks a Private, Corporal, or Sergeant. We can find a Biblical expression of this concept in the role of the firstborn son, a person who traditionally held a position of supremacy among his siblings.
Each of these concepts are valid in relation to Christ. As God, Jesus existed before any created being and is therefore greater then any created being. In addition, the Son of God and firstborn over all creation holds a position of authority and superiority along with all the rights and privileges associated with that position. So Colossians 1:15 does not serve as a reference to Jesus as a created being; instead, this passage speaks of Jesus’ supremacy and preeminence over everything.
We’ll examine the word firstborn in greater detail in our next study but for now, let’s consider a few Scriptures that clearly identify Jesus as God…
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14 NIV, emphasis added).
“‘I tell you the truth,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’ (John 8:58 NIV compare with Exodus 3:14).
“…while we wait for the blessed hope– the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13 NIV).
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours…” (2 Pet 1:1 NIV).
“‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’– which means, ‘God with us'” (Matthew 1:23 NIV).
When you look into a mirror, what do you see? Well, unless you are in a carnival funhouse or peering into a mirror that is cracked or distorted, you will see an exact image of yourself. A good mirror is one that reflects our exact likeness, even when that image reflects something less than our best. This is why the use of a mirror is often essential when applying makeup, shaving, or checking our personal appearance.
The passage quoted above paints a vivid picture for those who stop to reflect upon it. But unlike a conventional portrait created with paint and brush, the image given to us in Colossians 1:13-14 is formed with words. The word-picture contained within this passage is one of rescue (CSB) and deliverance (KJV) from a perilous condition to a place of safety. But to fully appreciate this artistry, it helps to know something about the Artist who created it.
We can turn to a well-known fictional character to illustrate this idea: Count Dracula. Dracula is widely known in film and literature as the “Prince of Darkness” for his ability to bring human beings under his power, transform them into creatures like himself, and use them to do his bidding. In this respect, Count Dracula is a type of Satan, our spiritual enemy who “…has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV).
In contrast to the God of light, the Scriptures associate Satan and his associated behaviors with the concept of darkness. But unlike the depiction of a cartoonish, pitchfork-carrying prankster, the Bible does not portray Satan as a myth, a legend, or a charming rogue. Instead, he is represented as a literal being with malicious intent. For instance, the New Testament Scriptures refer to the devil as “the evil one” (Matthew 6:13), “the wicked one” (1John 2:13), “a liar and a murderer” (John 8:44). “a deceiver” (Revelation 20:10), and “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31).
There is very little that is truly new when we stop to consider it, at least not in the sense of something that has never existed before. For instance, much of what we call “new” today is often nothing more than an existing product, service, idea, or belief that has been packaged in a different way. In fact, the same is true of this very observation, for the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes expressed this same idea long ago…
We can also turn to the fictional classic, A Christmas Carol to illustrate this idea. This 
For decades, a television game show known as “Truth Or Consequences” served as a staple of American daytime TV. During the course of the game, the host would challenge each contestant by asking a question with an answer that no average person would likely know. Not surprisingly, most contestants got the answers wrong and suffered the consequences. Those “consequences” usually involved doing something ridiculous for the entertainment of the audience.
