Jesus is First (Colossians 1:15-23) - Grant Lunsford

Colossians 1:15–23 lifts the eyes to Jesus as first in all things. He is the image of the invisible God—the eternal Son who took on flesh so that God could be known in human form. “Firstborn” does not imply He was created; it speaks to rank and rightful authority. All things were created by Him, through Him, and for Him—from the visible to the invisible, from thrones and dominions to every corner of creation. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the church and the firstborn from the dead, proving His supremacy by rising from the grave. Preeminence is not merely a title; it is a reality that reshapes how life is understood.

This supremacy is not distant or cold. In the fullness of deity, He drew near to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace by the blood of His cross. The One who is first put others before Himself. In Gethsemane He bowed to the Father’s will, choosing the cross to bridge the chasm our sin created. Formerly alienated and hostile, doing evil deeds, those who trust Him are now reconciled—presented holy, blameless, and above reproach. In Christ, God sees not the old record of sin but the perfect righteousness of Jesus counted to us.

Such grace calls for a clear response: continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel. Putting Jesus first is not a slogan; it is a life reoriented. It looks like giving Him the first and best time in Scripture and prayer, embracing practices like fasting to say “less of me, more of Him,” and building on the rock of His Word. It reshapes relationships through forgiveness and reconciliation, strengthens marriages by the gospel’s pattern of covenant love, and transforms work into worship done unto the Lord. As a new year dawns, the invitation is simple and searching: let the preeminent Christ take preeminence in every part of life.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Christ is truly first in everything. His preeminence is not a metaphor; it is the fabric of reality. He outranks every power because all things exist through and for Him. When Jesus is seen as first, fear loses leverage and worship finds its proper home. Seeing His rank corrects our priorities and calms our anxieties. [15:49]
• 2. Creation’s Lord holds all things together. The One who made all sustains all, stitching creation together moment by moment. Stability is not found in predictable circumstances but in the faithful hands that uphold them. This means hope is not fragile; it is anchored in the Sustainer Himself. Dependence on Him becomes the rational way to live. [13:14]
• 3. The cross reveals self-giving preeminence. Power, in Jesus’ hands, does not grasp—it gives. In Gethsemane He chose obedience over escape, love over self-preservation. True greatness is defined by this downward movement for others’ good. His “not my will” remakes our view of strength and leadership. [21:18]
• 4. Reconciliation gives a new, durable identity. Those in Christ are no longer defined by alienation or shame but by being holy, blameless, and above reproach in Him. This identity is not achieved; it is received, secured by His blood. It frees us from fatalism about our past and resignation about our future. We live from acceptance, not toward it. [23:19]
• 5. Our response: steadfast, whole-life allegiance. Grace calls for endurance—continuing in the faith, stable and unshifting. Putting Jesus first means concrete habits: Scripture-shaped thinking, prayerful dependence, fasting that loosens lesser loves. This allegiance invades time, relationships, and work with a new center. The gospel is not the entry point; it is the atmosphere of every day. [28:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:31] - Gratitude for Christmas serve teams
• [03:56] - Prayer and turn to Colossians
• [04:37] - What is first in your life?
• [05:58] - Threefold roadmap: Jesus first
• [06:34] - Image of the invisible God
• [08:11] - India idol contrast and true image
• [10:46] - Creator and rightful authority
• [13:14] - Before all; holds all together
• [14:39] - Head of the church; firstborn from the dead
• [17:07] - Fullness of God; making peace by blood
• [21:18] - Gethsemane and self-giving love
• [22:18] - From alienated to reconciled
• [28:45] - Continue steadfast; don’t shift
• [30:47] - Fasting, Scripture, and whole-life reorientation

1. In verses 16–17, what scope words does Paul stack up to show Jesus’ total rule (heaven/earth, visible/invisible, thrones/dominions, rulers/authorities)? What picture does that build of his authority?
2. Verse 17 says two things: “He is before all things” and “in him all things hold together.” How do those two statements fit together?
3. In verses 21–22, what were believers “once,” and what are they “now”? Name the three words that describe the new standing before God.
4. “Raising from the dead is sort of like the ultimate wildcard.” How does verse 18 connect resurrection with Jesus being first in everything? [14:39]

1. “‘Firstborn’ points to rank, not origin.” How does the flow of verses 15–17 defend that claim, and why does that matter for worship and obedience? [10:09]
2. If all things were created “through” and “for” Jesus (v.16), what does that say about the purpose behind powers and positions? How could that reshape how someone views a boss, government, or unseen powers?
3. “Not my will, but yours be done.” What does Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane teach about how true authority uses power, and how does that redefine leadership at home, in church, and at work? [21:18]
4. If God now presents believers “holy, blameless, and above reproach” (v.22), why do many still say, “It’s just who I am,” when facing an old sin pattern? What lies or fears might be at work there? [23:57]

1. “What is first in your life?” Look at your last week—your calendar, attention, and energy. What actually got your first and best? Where is Jesus truly first, and where is he not? [04:37]
2. Jesus “holds all things together.” Name one area that feels like it’s coming apart. What would it look like to entrust that specific thing to Jesus each day this week? Pick one line from Colossians 1:15–23 to pray when anxiety hits. [13:14]
3. Give Jesus your first and best time. When and where will you meet with him in Scripture and prayer this week? What will you shut off or move so it’s truly undistracted? Share your plan with the group. [31:25]
4. Consider a fast. From what might you fast (a meal, media, sweets) and for how long, as a way of saying, “less of me, more of him”? What will you pray for during that time? [30:47]
5. Reconciliation reshapes relationships. Is there someone you need to forgive or move toward for peace? What is one concrete step you can take in the next 48 hours (text, apology, invite, or prayer)? [33:07]
6. Work as worship. Choose one task or meeting this week you will do “unto the Lord.” What would doing it for Jesus change—your preparation, tone, excellence, or integrity? [33:28]
7. Cut and reorient. What is one habit you will cut and one habit you will add so Jesus is first in a specific area (time, marriage, parenting, friendships, finances)? Be specific. [34:02]