Christ the Creator

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…(Colossians 1:16)

Now we will look at a truth in Scripture that when properly understood, will satisfy at once the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself as the manifestation of God in the flesh.  The very first verse in all of Scripture states:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

A famous creed in Christendom, the Nicene creed states:

“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.”

But the New Testament Scriptures reveal that the work of creation was in the “hands” of the Son:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3)

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds… (Hebrews 1:1-2)

These are to be in addition to our present verse under consideration.  Jesus Christ is the Creator.  The creative agent in the Godhead is in fact the Son!  All that we see in creation is the handiwork of Christ, so when we see that “we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:10), we see a special case of what the Body of Christ is to Him.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For many of us, it is natural in our minds to think of creation as the Father’s work, but when we believe our Bibles, we understand the Son as creator.  Understanding the Son as creator, read the following verses:

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? (Isaiah 40:12)

Thus saith God the LORD, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein… (Isaiah 42:5)

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18)

Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. (Isaiah 48:13)

Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is… (Acts 4:24)

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things… (Acts 17:24-25)

There are many more that could be referenced, and readers are welcome to write them in the comments below.

That He is the creator is the meaning of verse 15 which states that the Son is the “firstborn of every creature”, or as Young’s Literal Translation renders it “the firstborn of all creation”.  Firstborn is a title of preeminence and sovereignty, and He is the rightful holder of this title because “by Him were all things created”!

It also is not simply the material universe that He created, but He also created the authority structure—”whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers”.  This reveals the Son as above any angels, and declares why:  He created them!  What more, as Man, the second man who is the Lord from Heaven, He has “by inheritance obtained a more excellent Name that they” (Hebrews 1:4).

This is also over the power structure of the earth.  He created the earth, and has put its government under the dominion of man.  But as under the dominion of man, the earth is in rebellion against his creator.  He will subdue the power structure of this world, and rule it with a rod of iron.  He will rule over His enemies:

Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:24-26)

If we ask the questions “Why war?”, “Why injustice?”, “Why corruption?”, “Why doesn’t God do something about…?”, remember it is the world that is in rebellion against Him that is responsible for this.  Remember also that “we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another” (Titus 3:3).  Remember also that this is what we were when He saved us, but “after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).  He saved us while we were His enemies (Romans 5:10), yet sinners (Romans 5:8), and ungodly (Romans 5:6).  When we wish for God to break through and do something against our enemies, remember that we were once His enemies, and yet He saved us.  Pray that He saves them too.  He will make things right one day, but now He is giving His enemies grace to be reconciled unto Him (2 Corinthians 5:20).  Until that time that He rights all wrongs, He is showing His greatness as Redeemer!

In His greatness as Redeemer, consider the condescension of the Son of God, the Creator,

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

Consider and wonder what it will be, when we see what God has declared so now, and the world will rightly know the truth of Jesus Christ our Lord:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Now, in His work as redeemer, He has made a way for mankind to be right with Him now:

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man [Jesus Christ] is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39)

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED…

I posted the following poem a few weeks ago.  It is a wonderful reminder of Christ the Redeemer and Creator.  The title is “The Maker”.

His holy fingers made the bough
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow.
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.

He made the forest whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung.
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.

The sky that darkened over His head
By Him above the earth was spread.
The sun that hid from Him its face
By His decree was poised in space.

The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His form was laid,
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.

The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years,
But a new glory crowns His brow,
And every knee to Him shall bow.

—F. W. Pitt