The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15-23

1.Read verses 15-23.  What fills Paul’s mind in this passage?

2. How did Paul gain this knowledge of Christ?  (See 1 Cor. 2:10-12, 2 Cor. 12:1,7, Gal. 1:11-12, Col. 3:1-2.)

3. God has allowed the revelation of Jesus to be preserved for us through scripture, including the revelation He gave to Paul.  What practical steps can you take to fill your mind with the knowledge of Christ?

15-20: the person of Christ

4. Using the following scriptures as an aid, summarize the meaning of each truth about Jesus.  (Phrases used are according to the ESV.)

a. He is the image of the invisible God: (John 1:1,14; John 14:9, Heb. 1:3a)

b. the firstborn over all creation:

the significance of the firstborn—Ex. 13:2, 11-16

the right of the firstborn—Deut. 21:17

in relation to Christ—Ps. 89:27

in relation to time and creation—John 1:1-3

c. for by him all things were created… all things were created through him and for him…and in him all things hold together. (John 1:3, Heb. 1:2)

d. He is the head of the body, the church: (Eph. 1:22-23, 5:23-24)

e. He is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead: (Rom. 1:4, 1 Cor. 15:20, Rev. 1:5)

f. that in everything He might be preeminent: (Ps. 2:6, Phil. 2:9-11, 1 Tim. 6:15, Rev. 19:16)

g. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell: (Col. 2:9)

h. through him to reconcile to himself all things: (2 Cor. 5:18-21, Rom. 5:10)

i. all things, whether on earth or in heaven

compare with Eph. 1:10

contrast with Phil. 2:10

things in heaven—see John 14:2

reconciliation of creation—see Rom. 8:19-22

j. making peace by the blood of his cross

5.a. How do these truths about Christ enlarge your understanding of who He is?

b. How should these truths make a difference in the life of a believer?  In the life of a church?

c. Take a few minutes and pray through these verses, praising Jesus for who He is.  If these verses seem like words on a page, ask Him to make them real and understandable to you, to take them from your head to your heart.

19-23: God’s purpose in Christ

6. According to 19-20, what 2 purposes accomplished in Christ gave God pleasure?

How are they related?

7. a. From verses 21-22, describe a Christian’s past, present, and future with Christ.

b. How does this put every believer on level ground before God and one another?

8. Where does alienation from God originate—in one’s behavior or in one’s mind?

9. What evidence will there be of a believer’s reconciliation to God through Christ (23)?

10. How would the truths about Jesus’ person (15-19) and God’s purpose in Him (19-23)  firmly ground the Colossians against false teaching? 

11. What will you do this week to demonstrate Jesus’ supremacy over your life?