Colossians 1:15-23: The Image of Jesus Christ creates in us a beautiful Masterpiece

Do you ever wonder if God is truly with us? Do you wonder if he is just a figment of our imagination? Do you wonder if God leaves us or forsakes us? Do you believe that He created us with a grand purpose in mind?

I would like to begin this article with Ephesians 2:10. Ephesians 2:10 (NASB) states, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." A masterpiece is a perfect completeness of originality, uniqueness, and creativity that stems from the original master, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are made in the Image of God--In the Image of Jesus Christ.

Who is this Jesus character, anyway? What is so important about him?

Paul answers this question in a section of Scripture called Colossians. Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul has an interesting story of converting to Christianity (or in that time The Way). In Acts 8-9, It talks about Saul was a persecutor of Christians. Then, Jesus came to him on the road to Damascus and turned Saul into Paul, the proclaimer of Jesus Christ. So, after that period of time, he sat down and penned the words of Colossians in a prison cell. Colossians was written "To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae." Colossae was an ancient civilization located in Asia minor near the country of Phrygia. In modern geographical terms, Colossae was a region located in the southwestern area of Turkiye.

In Colossians 1:15-23, It talks about how we are made in the Likeness of Jesus Christ and describes the importance of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1;15-23 (NASB) states,

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He himself will come to have first place in everything, For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through HIm, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which, I, Paul, was made a minister."

This passage of Scripture is so important because it reveals that Jesus Christ is the Image of God. All things were created by Him. This means that Jesus Christ was in the beginning of the creation of the World. It wasn't caused by the Big Bang. Creation happened by the Words of God found in Genesis 1:1 'In the Beginning, God created the Heavens and Earth." These were God's masterpiece. Then, He created the ultimate masterpiece--you and me. Genesis 1:26-27 (NASB) states, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our Image, according to Our Likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the Sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. GOD created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him: male and female He created them." He only created two genders--Male and Female. He didn't create biological males to be females. He certainly did not create biological females to be males. He only created two genders--male and female. God created us with unique tasks that he set before us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:13-14 (NASB) states, "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well."

Not only are we fearfully and wonderfully made, but we are also God's children created to serve the Living God by believing that Jesus Christ is the Lord over our lives. John 1:12-13 (NASB) states, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." He created us to become Children of God by accepting the gift of salvation. Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ alone who died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day, conquering sin and death. All we have to do is admit that we are sinners, believe that Jesus Christ is who he says he is, and then forever receive him into our hearts and be assured of our salvation. (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:8; Romans 10:5-13; and 1 John 1:9).

In addition to being God's Children and God's rightful heirs by Grace, God created us to not be worryers but casters. 1 Peter 5:7 (NASB) states, "Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you." God cares for each one of us, and he provided a way to accept our anxious thoughts by giving us Jesus Christ as our gift to be forgiven from our wicked ways. Now we can live in fellowship with God, forever, once we accept him as the Lord over our lives. He is Lord over my life. He should be Lord over your life as well if you choose to accept this great promise that never fades away. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB) states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one can boast."

In conclusion, Colossians 1:12-23 showcases that we are in the Image of Jesus Christ, who is God's masterpiece set on a mission to glorify God in everything that we say or do. We are truly God's Masterpiece. Jesus Christ is our living Hope. So trust in him and not the World! At the beginning, we asked a series of questions concerning the promise of Jesus leaving us. Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). He is our Immanuel, which means God with us. So again, I urge you to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved! (Acts 16:31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.").