Sermons on Colossians 1:15-23

Colossians 1:15-23 Interpretation:

Embracing God's Call: The Simplicity of the Gospel (App Wesley Media) offers a unique interpretation by focusing on the historical threat of Gnosticism and its denial of the full humanity and divinity of Christ. The sermon uses the analogy of "secret passwords" and "special keys" to critique the Gnostic idea that only a select few with special knowledge could access God, contrasting this with Paul's insistence in Colossians 1:15-23 on the sufficiency and accessibility of Christ for all. The preacher also highlights the Greek philosophical context, explaining how Gnostics viewed matter as inherently evil and thus denied the incarnation, whereas Paul affirms that Christ is both fully God and fully human, and that creation itself is good and made by Christ. The sermon’s use of the Amplified Bible’s language (“the controlling cohesive force of the universe”) further emphasizes Christ’s sustaining power, and the preacher draws a sharp line between the simplicity of the gospel and the complexity of Gnostic speculation.

Christ's Supremacy: Our Hope and Reconciliation (David Guzik) provides a detailed, verse-by-verse expository interpretation, with notable linguistic insights from the Greek. For example, Guzik explains that the Greek word for "alienated" literally means "transferred to another owner," deepening the understanding of humanity's estrangement from God. He also unpacks the redundancy in the phrase "body of his flesh" as a deliberate emphasis on the real, physical suffering of Christ, countering early heresies that denied Jesus’ true humanity. Guzik uses a series of metaphors—Christ as a treasure bank, the Christian life as a walk, a tree, and a building—to illustrate the richness and accessibility of wisdom in Christ, and he stresses that all treasures of wisdom and knowledge are "hidden" in Christ not to be concealed, but to be securely available to all believers.

Embracing the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Canterbury Gardens Community Church) interprets Colossians 1:15-23 by engaging with contemporary skepticism about Jesus’ authority and exclusivity. The sermon draws on the concept of the "Christ hymn" and the idea that this passage may have been sung in the early church, emphasizing its poetic and confessional nature. The preacher uses the metaphor of a "skillful rider on a spirited horse" to describe steadfastness in the gospel, and contrasts the modern tendency to value Jesus’ moral teachings while rejecting his authority with Paul’s insistence on Christ’s lordship over all creation and the church. The sermon also references the Old Testament (Psalm 89) to clarify the meaning of "firstborn," arguing that it denotes preeminence and authority rather than created status, and uses the image of Christus Victor (the conquering king leading captives) to illustrate Christ’s victory over all powers.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (Lakeshore Christian Church) interprets Colossians 1:15-23 by structuring the passage around three domains of Christ’s lordship: creation, the church, and the individual believer. The sermon uses the analogy of Jesus as the "glue" that holds all things together, warning that as individuals or societies move away from Christ, chaos and disintegration follow. The preacher also addresses the meaning of "firstborn" in the Greek context, explaining that it refers to preeminence rather than birth order, and uses the analogy of a bank vault to describe the security and sufficiency of wisdom in Christ. The sermon critiques both Catholic and Protestant tendencies to place human leaders or preferences above Christ’s headship, and insists that only Jesus has the authority to define doctrine and morality.

The Global Hope and Power of the Gospel (Desiring God) offers a nuanced interpretation of Colossians 1:15-23 by focusing on the Greek construction of "firstborn of all creation," arguing that the phrase should be understood as "firstborn over all creation" (i.e., preeminent, not created), and uses the context and the Greek preposition to support this. The sermon also addresses the scope of "all things" in the reconciliation of Christ, contending that "all things" refers to the new creation and the redeemed, not universal salvation, and uses contextual clues and Greek participles to clarify the meaning of "preached to every creature under heaven," suggesting it means the gospel is being proclaimed everywhere, not that it has already reached every individual.

The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World (Desiring God) interprets Colossians 1:15-23 as a direct answer to the fundamental questions of human existence, using the structure of the passage to show that the supremacy of Christ is the starting point for understanding identity, purpose, the problem of evil, and redemption. The sermon uniquely frames the text as a worldview corrective, contrasting secular humanism’s answers to life’s questions with the Christ-centered answers found in Colossians, and uses the passage to argue that human dignity, purpose, and hope are rooted in Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency.

Understanding Reconciliation: Christ, Creation, and Consequences (Desiring God) provides a detailed exegesis of Colossians 1:20, focusing on the meaning of "all things" in the context of reconciliation. The sermon argues against universalism by showing, through careful textual analysis and comparison with other Pauline and biblical texts, that "all things" refers to the totality of the new creation, not every being that ever existed. The preacher notes the absence of the phrase "under the earth" (used in Philippians 2:10) in Colossians 1:20 as a deliberate exclusion of the damned and demons from the scope of reconciliation, and draws a parallel with Isaiah 66 to show that "all flesh" in the new creation does not include the rebellious dead.

Christ: The Supreme Head of the Church (Alistair Begg) interprets Colossians 1:15-23 by emphasizing the metaphor of Christ as the head of the body, the church, and draws a detailed analogy between the human head’s control over the body’s growth and guidance and Christ’s role over the church. The sermon uses the metaphor of the pituitary gland and the brain’s control centers to illustrate how the church’s health and direction depend on its connection to Christ as head, and stresses that the church’s authority and vitality are derived from submission to Christ’s supremacy and sufficiency, not from human leadership or tradition.

Colossians 1:15-23 Theological Themes:

Embracing God's Call: The Simplicity of the Gospel (App Wesley Media) introduces the theme of the radical accessibility of grace, countering the Gnostic idea of limited atonement and secret knowledge. The sermon insists that there is no "special key" or "password" to salvation—Christ’s reconciling work is universally available, and the only requirement is relationship and faith, not intellectual achievement or esoteric practices.

Christ's Supremacy: Our Hope and Reconciliation (David Guzik) develops the theme of reconciliation as both a legal and relational reality, emphasizing that God does not meet us halfway but comes all the way to us in Christ. Guzik also highlights the idea that the "mystery" revealed in Christ is not just individual salvation but the indwelling of Christ in all believers, including Gentiles, thus breaking down all barriers and creating a new, unified people of God. The sermon also stresses the ongoing need for doctrinal steadfastness as the mark of true reconciliation, not just moral behavior.

Embracing the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Canterbury Gardens Community Church) brings out the theme of the exclusivity and sufficiency of Christ, challenging both secular and religious attempts to add to or subtract from the gospel. The sermon applies the concept of Christus Victor to the believer’s assurance, arguing that Christ’s victory is not just future but present, and that believers are already "on the winning side." It also explores the tension between divine provision and human responsibility, insisting that steadfastness in faith is both a gift and a calling.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (Lakeshore Christian Church) adds the theme of Christ’s unchanging authority as the standard for truth and morality, critiquing cultural and ecclesiastical trends that seek to redefine doctrine or ethics apart from Christ. The sermon also explores the idea that true spiritual stability and peace are found only in submission to Christ’s lordship, and that attempts to "remove God" from personal or public life inevitably lead to chaos and fragmentation.

The Global Hope and Power of the Gospel (Desiring God) introduces the theme that the gospel’s power is not merely individual but cosmic, emphasizing that Christ’s supremacy extends to both the old creation (as Creator) and the new creation (as Redeemer), and that the gospel is inherently global and unstoppable, destined to bear fruit in all the world and accomplish God’s purposes regardless of human limitations.

The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World (Desiring God) presents the theme that the supremacy of Christ is the only adequate foundation for human dignity, purpose, and hope, and that all attempts to ground these in secular humanism or postmodern relativism ultimately fail. The sermon adds the facet that the exclusivity of Christ’s atonement is not merely a doctrinal point but the only possible solution to the problem of evil and alienation, and that the Christian worldview uniquely provides both the diagnosis (human hostility toward God) and the cure (reconciliation through Christ’s penal substitution).

Understanding Reconciliation: Christ, Creation, and Consequences (Desiring God) develops the theme that reconciliation in Christ is comprehensive within the new creation but exclusive in its scope, explicitly rejecting universalism and showing that the peace Christ makes by his blood is for the redeemed cosmos, not for those outside God’s saving rule. The sermon also highlights the eschatological distinction between the reconciled new creation and the excluded realm of judgment.

Christ: The Supreme Head of the Church (Alistair Begg) brings out the theme that the church’s authority, growth, and guidance are entirely dependent on its living connection to Christ as head, and that every attempt to substitute human authority, tradition, or philosophy for Christ’s headship leads to spiritual decline and confusion. The sermon uniquely applies the metaphor of bodily health to ecclesiology, arguing that just as the body’s well-being depends on its connection to the head, so the church’s vitality depends on submission to Christ’s supremacy.

Colossians 1:15-23 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing God's Call: The Simplicity of the Gospel (App Wesley Media) provides an in-depth explanation of Gnosticism as the primary heresy facing the Colossian church, describing its dualistic worldview (matter as evil, spirit as good), its denial of the incarnation, and its elitist approach to salvation. The sermon explains how Gnostics believed in a series of emanations from God, with creation being the work of a distant, ignorant entity, and how this context makes Paul’s affirmation of Christ as creator and reconciler all the more radical.

Christ's Supremacy: Our Hope and Reconciliation (David Guzik) situates Colossians within the context of early church struggles with false doctrine, noting that Paul had never visited Colossae but was deeply concerned for their doctrinal purity. Guzik also explains the use of the term "mystery" in the Greco-Roman world, clarifying that it refers to truths previously hidden but now revealed in Christ, especially the inclusion of Gentiles in the people of God.

Embracing the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Canterbury Gardens Community Church) references the likely house-church setting of the Colossian congregation and the dual threats they faced: Judaizing teachers who insisted on adherence to Jewish law, and proto-Gnostic or mystical groups who promoted secret knowledge or spiritual experiences. The sermon also notes the early church’s use of the "Christ hymn" as a confessional or liturgical piece, highlighting its role in shaping early Christian identity.

Christ: The Supreme Head of the Church (Alistair Begg) provides historical context by describing the situation in Colossae as one of doctrinal threat from "puffed up instructors" and "specious philosophy," and draws parallels to church history, noting how the church in various centuries (17th, 18th, 19th) faced rationalism, deism, and higher criticism, and how God revived the church not through intellectual debate but through a return to the proclamation of Christ’s supremacy. The sermon also situates the passage within the ongoing struggle of the church to maintain its authority and vitality in the face of cultural and philosophical challenges, both ancient and modern.

Colossians 1:15-23 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing God's Call: The Simplicity of the Gospel (App Wesley Media) cross-references John 1:1-5 to reinforce the doctrine of Christ as the eternal Word and creator, directly countering Gnostic claims about creation and the nature of Jesus. The sermon also alludes to the parable of the lost sheep and the concept of prevenient grace, emphasizing God’s initiative in seeking and saving the lost.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (Lakeshore Christian Church) references Matthew 16:13-17 (Peter’s confession of Christ), John 1:1-14 (the Word as creator and incarnate), 1 John 4:1-3 (testing the spirits by their confession of Christ’s incarnation), and Galatians 1:6-9 (Paul’s warning against false gospels). These passages are used to establish the centrality of Christ’s identity and authority as the standard for truth, and to warn against any teaching that undermines his lordship.

Christ's Supremacy: Our Hope and Reconciliation (David Guzik) references Ephesians 4 (the perfecting of the saints and the goal of Christian maturity), and 1 Corinthians 5:3-5 (Paul’s spiritual presence with the Corinthians), to illustrate the themes of unity, maturity, and spiritual solidarity. The sermon also alludes to Old Testament sacrificial language in describing believers as "holy and blameless," drawing a parallel between the inspection of sacrifices and the believer’s standing in Christ.

Embracing the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Canterbury Gardens Community Church) references Psalm 89 to explain the biblical use of "firstborn" as a title of preeminence, and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18) to affirm Christ’s universal authority. The sermon also alludes to the broader narrative of Genesis 1-3 to frame the human tendency to usurp God’s authority and the redemptive reversal accomplished in Christ.

The Global Hope and Power of the Gospel (Desiring God) references 2 Thessalonians 1:9 to argue against universalism, showing that Paul teaches eternal destruction for those who reject the gospel, and uses Colossians 3:10-11 to illustrate the limited scope of "all" in Pauline language, as well as Romans 15:20-24 to clarify the meaning of "preached to every creature under heaven." The sermon also references 2 Corinthians 4 to emphasize the centrality of Christ’s divinity in the gospel, and Psalm 29 to illustrate the power of God’s word.

Understanding Reconciliation: Christ, Creation, and Consequences (Desiring God) draws on 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 to show Paul’s belief in eternal punishment, Matthew 8:11 to highlight the exclusion of some from the kingdom, Philippians 2:10 to note the deliberate omission of "under the earth" in Colossians 1:20, and Isaiah 66:22-24 to demonstrate that "all flesh" in the new creation does not include the rebellious dead, thus supporting a non-universalist reading of "all things."

Christ: The Supreme Head of the Church (Alistair Begg) references 2 Corinthians 5:17 to connect being "in Christ" with new creation, and Ephesians 4 to explain how Christ mediates his rule through gifted leaders in the church, emphasizing the organic connection between Christ as head and the church as body.

Colossians 1:15-23 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing God's Call: The Simplicity of the Gospel (App Wesley Media) explicitly references unnamed commentators and authors who describe the Colossian heresy and Paul’s response, including a quote that "not only is Christ the head of the universe and the church, but also it was through his sacrificial, physical death on the cross that we were reconciled to God." The sermon also references the Amplified Bible’s translation choices to highlight theological nuances.

Embracing the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Canterbury Gardens Community Church) cites unnamed commentators and a small group leader (Dean) who introduces the concept of Christus Victor, the image of Christ as the conquering king leading captive powers in triumph. The preacher also references contemporary Christian authors and commentators to support the interpretation of "firstborn" and the sufficiency of Christ, though specific names are not given.

Christ: The Supreme Head of the Church (Alistair Begg) explicitly references Martin Lloyd-Jones, recounting his transition from medicine to preaching and using his example to illustrate the necessity of preachers themselves submitting to Christ’s headship before exhorting others to do so. The sermon also alludes to historical figures like Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and Jonathan Edwards as instruments of God’s revival in times of church decline, emphasizing the role of Christ-centered preaching in restoring the church’s vitality.

Colossians 1:15-23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing God's Call: The Simplicity of the Gospel (App Wesley Media) uses the analogy of "secret passwords," "special keys," and "handshakes" to critique Gnostic elitism, drawing on contemporary experiences of exclusivity and access (such as needing a password to enter a club or a special handshake to join a group) to make the point that the gospel is radically inclusive and accessible.

Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (Lakeshore Christian Church) opens with a detailed Super Bowl story about a fan who finds an empty seat at the 50-yard line, only to learn it belonged to a deceased woman whose family is at her funeral. This story is used to illustrate the idea of misplaced priorities and the importance of focusing on what truly matters—knowing who Jesus is. The sermon also uses the analogy of antifreeze to explain the concept of "antichrist" as something that works alongside to undermine, rather than simply oppose, Christ. Additionally, the preacher references a kindergarten girl drawing a picture of God to illustrate the idea that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God, and uses the analogy of Jesus as the "glue" that holds life together, warning that removing God leads to chaos, much like removing glue causes things to fall apart.

Embracing the Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ (Canterbury Gardens Community Church) references Australian sociological research (McCrindle and NCLS) on attitudes toward Jesus, using statistics and generational quotes to illustrate contemporary skepticism about Jesus’ authority and exclusivity. The sermon also mentions Jordan Peterson as a modern figure attracting young people to a moralized version of Christianity, and uses the metaphor of a "skillful rider on a spirited horse" to describe holding fast to the gospel amid cultural pressures. The preacher also humorously references the hope of being called to play for the Hawthorne football club as an example of misplaced hope, and uses the image of a bank vault to describe the security of wisdom in Christ.

Christ: The Supreme Head of the Church (Alistair Begg) uses detailed medical analogies, describing the pituitary gland’s role in growth and the brain’s control centers (cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla) to illustrate how the church’s health and coordination depend on its connection to Christ as head. The sermon recounts the story of a physician with a pituitary disorder to make the metaphor vivid, and references the experience of traveling with a neurosurgeon to further explain the body’s dependence on the head for guidance and growth.

The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World (Desiring God) employs several secular illustrations, including the example of Lee Iacocca’s answer to "how much money is enough?" ("a little bit more") to critique materialism, and references to Nazi Germany’s eugenics and the logic of social Darwinism to show the dangers of a worldview that denies inherent human dignity. The sermon also uses the example of college students’ shifting majors to illustrate the aimlessness of a purpose rooted in consumption and enjoyment, and draws on the speaker’s own upbringing in South Central Los Angeles to underscore the message that human worth is not determined by circumstances but by Christ’s creative purpose.