The Supremacy of Christ

Christ at the Center: Holding All Things Together

Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-20

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” — Colossians 1:17–20 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Colossians presents one of the most profound Christological passages in all of Scripture. In just four verses, we are given a sweeping vision of Jesus Christ that spans eternity, creation, the church, and the redemption of all things.

1. Christ Holds All Things Together (v.17)Paul begins by reminding us that Jesus is not just part of creation—He precedes it. “He is before all things,” indicating His eternal existence. But more than that, “in Him all things hold together.” Christ isn’t a distant architect who walked away from His design. He is the sustainer of the universe. Every atom, every star, every breath—held together by His will and power.

2. Christ is the Head of the Church (v.18)Jesus is not only supreme over creation but also over His redeemed people. As the Head of the body—the church—He leads, directs, and gives life to His followers. Paul goes on to say that He is the “firstborn from the dead,” a phrase rich with meaning.

This doesn’t mean Jesus was the first ever to be raised from the dead (after all, others were resurrected in Scripture), but that He is supreme over death itself. In biblical language, “firstborn” often refers not to birth order but to status and inheritance. It means “heir,” or the one with the rights and authority of the firstborn son. In this context, Jesus is the heir of resurrection life—the One who defeated death in a final and unrepeatable way. He was raised never to die again, and He now holds preeminence over life and death.

So this title doesn’t imply that Jesus was created—quite the opposite. Paul has already established that He is eternal, “before all things.” Rather, “firstborn from the dead” emphasizes His role as the victorious, resurrected King who guarantees our future resurrection. He is the prototype of the new creation and the source of eternal life for all who trust in Him.

3. Christ is Preeminent in Everything (v.18b)The phrase “that in everything He might be preeminent” is the heartbeat of this passage. Christ is not just important—He is supreme. In every realm—cosmic, spiritual, personal—He reigns. Christianity is not about fitting Jesus into our lives. It’s about realizing that our lives fit into Him.

4. The Fullness of God in Christ (v.19)In Jesus, “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” He is not a partial reflection of God—He is fully God. This was a radical statement in Paul’s time and remains so today. Jesus is not merely a prophet or teacher. He is God in the flesh—divine fullness walking among us.

5. Reconciliation Through the Cross (v.20)Finally, this passage culminates in the cross. The One who created and sustains all things also bore the cost to reconcile them. Through His blood, He makes peace—cosmic peace. The cross is not just about personal salvation; it is the hinge on which all of creation turns toward restoration.

Conclusion: Colossians 1:17–20 calls us to lift our eyes. Christ is not just a piece of our theology—He is our theology. He is before all, holds all, leads all, fills all, and redeems all. The more we see Him as Paul did, the more we realize: our lives only truly make sense when He is at the center.

As always we encourage you to check everything through the lens of the scriptures, for by them we can walk in the light with our Lord whilst in this dark world, bringing the message of redemption.  Please visit us in person for much more worship and fellowship, and if you feel led to help this outreach ministry you can do so by clicking "Support our Ministry" at the bottom of our website or "donate" at the top.  We thank you for joining us today and hope to see you in person for worship, fellowship and a meal afterward.

Until we meet again, lets go serve our King!

FRF Family