Christ’s Pre-Eminence In Creation And Providence

“That in all things he might have the preeminence” Colossians 1:18

Our Lord Jesus Christ is pre-eminent in all the works of creation and providence. This is what the Holy Spirit tells us in Colossians 1:16 and 17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things. He is not a creature of God, but the Creator who is God. But remember, this passage is specifically describing his pre-eminence as our Mediator. It is as our Surety that the Apostle tells us that “All things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." Everything that has been made proclaims the wisdom and power of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He who is our Savior is also our Creator (John 1:3; Heb. 1:10).

When science (falsely so called) denies creation, all attempts to disprove it are so obviously laughable that it seems any sane man would keep such opinions to himself. Recently, the whole world was astonished by reports of life on Mars. As I listened to and read the conjectures of otherwise intelligent fools, I could not help laughing. The life they discovered was a bacteria! They discovered it in a rock! And the rock is only conjectured to have fallen to the earth from Mars! Orsen Wells had a better fairy tale! There is simply no explanation to the existence of our complex universe except that expressed in the song of praise sung by every saved sinner. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Rev. 4:11). “All things were created by him and for him.”

“And he is before all things.” Our Savior’s human body and soul were supernaturally created by God the Holy Spirit in the womb of a virgin in time (Matt. 1:20-23; Heb. 10:5). Yet, he is himself the eternal “I AM.” Jesus Christ the Man is God the eternal Son.

Our Savior is also the God and King of providence. This universe is not held together and governed by laws of nature, but by the Son of God. “By him all things consist!” He is “over all, God blessed forever” (Rom. 9:5). It is Christ whom the Spirit describes as “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3). “He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Rev. 19:16). Our Savior’s disposition of all things in his sovereign providence is for the salvation of his people. God the Father has made his Son as our Mediator the Sovereign Monarch of the universe, trusting to his hands the reins of universal government, that he might give unto every chosen, ransomed sinner eternal life (John 3:35; 17:2). All things that are, have been, or shall hereafter be are brought to pass by him for the eternal salvation of chosen sinners (Rom. 8:28).

Don Fortner