Hello, and welcome to Walking With Christ. I'm Jeremy, and I'm really glad you're here today. As a reminder, this expository-style devotional is a short time that we set aside to reflect on a portion of Scripture contextually, thoughtfully, and humbly. We want to learn more about God's Word, but also to apply it and to let it shape how we live, think, and walk with Christ each and every day. Today, in our study of Colossians, we're looking at chapter 1, verse 15, and we'll see the affirmation of Christ's deity and equality with God, a core doctrine of the Christian faith. We'll be reading from the ESV, and if you've got your Bible, again, that is Colossians 1, verse 15. Paul writes there, He, Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Right out of the gate, if anyone claims that Jesus Christ was only human, or simply a gifted teacher, or a great prophet sent from God, yet not truly divine in nature, our passage today absolutely crushes that argument. As Paul continued a rather lengthy introduction and welcome letter to the Church of Colossae, he switches gears here slightly from discussing our duty to walk in a proper manner and to be grateful to God for all he has done, to what is perhaps one of the most authoritative outlines of Christ's divinity. Paul says that Christ is the image of the invisible God. The Greek word used for image is icon, and it means a representation or resemblance. It can be applied that Christ is a complete representation of God the Father in heaven, in character, power, and will. The author of Hebrews says He, Christ, is the radiance of the glory of God, and that would be the Father, and the exact imprint of His nature. That's Hebrews 1 verse 2. And here we have a clear picture of the true divinity and majesty of Jesus Christ. He has the splendor, power, and authority of His Father. And as we'll see a few verses later, the Father is truly pleased to allow His own fullness to dwell in Christ. This is a perfect holy unity in the heavenly throne room. We also see that God the Father is invisible to mankind. We read in John 1, verse 18, that no one has ever seen God. But wait, didn't Moses talk to God face to face in Exodus 33, 11? Well, if you read just a few more verses in that chapter, you'll see that the Father told Moses, You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live. That's Exodus 33 verse 20. And then he only allowed Moses to see his back as he passed by. That alone was enough to cause Moses' face to shine so brightly that he had to cover his head because it frightened the other Israelites. Read that in Exodus 34 verse 29. Yet there is one person who has seen God face to face, Christ Jesus our Lord. In John 6, 46, Jesus said, Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has ever seen the Father except he who is from God. He has seen the Father. And he was speaking of himself, clearly indicating his own divine place in heaven and, quite significantly, his absolute purity and righteousness. as without these, he would, like us, not have been able to see God the Father. Christ stands alone in history as being both human and sinless. We get that from Romans 3 verse 23 and 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21. His unique position as the only begotten Son of God is clearly evident throughout Scripture, and it cannot be dismissed without rejecting the entirety of the Christian gospel. Finally, we see here that Jesus is the firstborn of all creation. It's clear from the preceding verses that Christ was co-creator with God the Father, so we should not conclude that Paul was saying that the Father ever created Christ before he created us. Instead, there are two meaningful understandings to this text. In Romans 8 verse 11, we read, If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 verse 20, But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, speaking of Christians who have died. Therefore, Christ is the firstborn of the resurrection, which all Christians will eventually participate in. The Father raised Christ from the dead in the same manner that he will raise us from the dead and clothe us with an imperishable new body. Secondly, firstborn should also be interpreted to mean that Christ has preeminence, or He ranks highest over all in creation. Traditionally, the firstborn son ranked highest in the family. And, in the same way, Christ ranks highest above all created beings, both in heaven and on earth. And we see this outlined just a few verses later in our chapter here when Paul writes, and he, speaking of Jesus, is before all things, and in him all things hold together. As we continue unpacking the next few verses of this chapter, we'll learn more about Christ's incredible nature, work, authority, and power. There is absolutely no room for any argument to place Jesus in the category of prophet, teacher, or simple moral example. He is divine. He is the Son of God. He is the Creator. He ranks highest in all creation in heaven and on earth. He is the visible image of the invisible God, God the Father. No one has ever or will ever be like Christ, and He deserves our utmost praise, adoration, worship, and obedience. I really appreciate you spending these few minutes with me in God's Word today. As you go about the rest of your day, remember what Paul wrote in Colossians 2 verse 6. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. I do pray the Lord strengthen you to follow Him faithfully step by step as you keep walking with Christ. Have a blessed day.