By Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.
–Colossians 1:16
Someone has said about Jesus, “He is the Star of astronomy; the Rock of geology; the Lion and Lamb of zoology; the Harmonizer of all discords and the healer of all diseases. Great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. Herod could not kill Him; Satan could not seduce Him; death could not destroy Him; the grave could not hold Him.”
What a magnificent description of the Lord Jesus Christ! Yet it pales in comparison to Paul’s description of Jesus in Colossians 1. The first fourteen verses of his letter are introductory. Paul expressed his excitement for what was happening in the Colossian church. Then he prayed for the Colossians what you and I ought to be praying for the people we care about: that they would know God’s will, obey God’s commands, and experience God’s power. Now, in verse 15, we come to the very heart of this letter.
Remember, the Colossian Christians were being tempted to embrace other doctrines and belief systems. They weren’t trying to discard Christianity but to add to Christianity. They were being told, “Jesus Christ is important, but you also need something else. You need Jesus Christ plus this philosophy or that experience.” Even today, people try to add to what Jesus did for us. They say in order to be saved, you need Jesus Christ plus good works, or Jesus Christ plus baptism, or Jesus Christ plus some other philosophy.
The apostle Paul said no. Jesus Christ is sufficient. He has sufficiently saved you, sufficiently secured you, and sufficiently empowered you to live a victorious life. You need nothing and no one other than Jesus Christ.
But how do you know that Jesus is sufficient for your salvation? How do you know that Jesus is sufficient to carry you through whatever trial you’re experiencing right now? Paul answered those questions by demonstrating that Jesus Christ is central in three important realms of this universe: He is central in creation, He is central in the church, and He is central in salvation. When you understand the centrality of Jesus in the universe, you’ll understand why He is sufficient for all your needs.
