Colossians 1:15–20

Jesus removed the wall that separated us from God and gave us His peace. Not the peace of this world which is transient and passing but His peace which transcends time and space.

‘The curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.’ (Mark 15:38)

‘For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,’ (Ephesians 2:14)

Colossians 1:15–20

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Jesus gave this word: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with…the anxieties of life” (Luke 21:34 NIV).

Look for these signals: Are you laughing less than you once did? Would those who know you describe you as increasingly negative and critical? Given the chance, would you avoid any interaction with humanity for the rest of your life?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, I have a scripture for you. Consider Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing.” Max Lucado

I do know that when I am torn, I live anxious, and restless, and exhausted.  Which means I do my darndest to keep that curtain up, even though I can't explain why. I cannot be a place of sanctuary and grace and inclusion and sufficiency and healing.
As long as there are curtains, I cannot receive.
As long as there are curtains, I cannot give.
As long as there are curtains, we cannot connect. Sabbath Moments

Jesus Christ makes the Father and the Spirit visible  to people. Paul later draws on the notion of resembling God when writing about how people should treat one another. 

The Greek word used here, prōtotokos, affirms Christ’s supremacy and sovereignty over all things. There is nothing outside the scope of Christ’s sovereignty. Since all things—natural and supernatural—were created through Him, they are subject to His authority. His authority and empowerment enable the body of Christ to grow and mature. God is fully present in Christ. Consequently, Christ is sufficient for the Colossians’ salvation. 

The Gospel of John describes Christ as the tabernacle or the dwelling of God—an allusion that demonstrates the continuity between God’s presence among the Israelites and His presence in the person of Christ. The purpose of Christ’s death on the cross was to bring all things created by Christ and for Christ into harmonious relationship. Faithlife Bible.

Firstborn could denote a priority in time or in rank. The word does not describe Christ as the first being created in time because the hymn proclaims that all things were “created by Him” and that “He is before all things.” Jesus is the eternal One who was before all creation. Being firstborn referred more to rank and privilege than to order of birth. Since Christ is God, He is supreme in rank over all creation. Yet He is not only the transcendent deity who created us; He is the One who died on our behalf and was subsequently raised from dead. Thus He is also the firstborn from the dead. The first One who experienced the true resurrection.

Christ is the One who created all things, whether they be material or immaterial, seen or unseen. Not only did Jesus create all things; everything was created for His purposes, where Christ is said to be the “heir of all things”. But the glory of the earth, the heavens, or the sun, moon, and stars cannot be compared with the glory of His new creation.

Following the celebration of Christ’s authority over all creation. He is the head of His own body, which is the church. No one should underestimate the significance of the church, for it is in fact Christ’s body. The sovereign Creator of the universe, as Head of the church, provides leadership and oversight over it. Christ was the first to be raised from the dead. His own resurrection guarantees that the church will one day be resurrected.

The Gnostics viewed Christ as one of many spirits existing in this hierarchy between God and all people. However, Paul used the term fullness to refer to the complete embodiment of God. Christ is the only Intercessor for human beings and fully embodies all of God’s nature. No other intermediary, whether person or group, is able to stand in our place before the Father. Only Jesus can do this.

The term “now He has reconciled”: shows the significance of Christ’s work on the Cross. It does not mean that all people will be saved, since many passages clearly say that unbelievers will suffer eternal separation from God. The work of Christ will overthrow the damage effected by the Fall and change all of creation from a position of enmity to a relationship of peace and friendship. NKJ Bible.

Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were created for him; being made by his power, they were made according to his pleasure, and for his praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from him; and the church is his body. All fulness dwells in him; a fulness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed his justice in requiring full satisfaction. This mode of redeeming mankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here is presented to our view the method of being reconciled. And that, notwithstanding the hatred of sin on God’s part, it pleased God to reconcile fallen man to himself. Matthew Henry Commentary.

John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Ephesians 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

Ephesians 1:21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,