Colossians 1 might give us the best look at the deity of Christ that we have in the New Testament.  Consider with awe and admiration the inspired words Paul concerning Jesus.

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV)
¹⁵  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

While we have been created in the image of God, Jesus is the image of God.  This fact alone points to the preeminence and divinity of Christ.  It is Paul’s emphasis on creation, however, that removes all doubt about Jesus being God, that is, a member of the Godhead.  Jesus is not a created being as some teach, but is, instead, the Creator of all things (ver. 16).

Paul makes sure that we understand the scope of our Lord’s creative work.  It is not that He created some things, but He created all things.  Whether they be things in heaven or earth, they were created by Jesus.  Heaven refers to the whole universe above us.  It would include all the heavenly bodies that occupy space.  Christ created the sun, the moon, and all of the billions of stars that exist in our universe.  None of these things just happened to be.  They were each formed by the mighty hand of the one we call Lord.  The writer of Hebrews gives us more information about this.

Hebrews 1:2-3 (ESV)
²  But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ³  He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

When the Hebrews writer said that Jesus “upholds the universe,” he was teaching the same thing as Paul in Colossians 1 when he wrote, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (ver. 17).  What powerful information this gives us about Jesus.  Think of the magnificence of the universe.  It is so complex and vast that it boggles the mind.  Yet, according to two different inspired writers (if Paul did not write the book of Hebrews), it is all held together by Jesus.  It is amazing that anyone who claims to believe in the Word of God would say that Jesus is just an ordinary man.  But, there is more.

Not only did Jesus create the celestial bodies of heaven that are physical and observable, but He was also responsible for things invisible as well (ver. 16).  What did Paul mean by things invisible?  He tells us.  He said, “whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities.”  While sometimes this language refers to earthly authorities in the Bible, Paul often used it to refer to the angels of heaven (Ephesians 3:10; 1 Peter 1:12).  Yes, Jesus even created the angelic hosts of heaven.

Philosophers, Judaizers, Gnostics, and modern-day critics can all downplay the preeminence of Christ, but it does not, for a moment, change who He is—Creator of all things.  When it comes to Jesus, we should all be able to say with Paul, “in nothing I shall be ashamed” (Philippians 1:20).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.