In Colossians 1:12-23 Paul emphasized the preeminence of Christ. Let us look at some areas in which Christ is preeminent.

Preeminent in Redemption

Some Judaizing teachers were trying to mix the Law of Moses with the gospel. The Gnostics, on the other hand, believed that the only way salvation could be obtained was by having a kind of esoteric knowledge. To the Gnostic, salvation was restricted to just a few, based on a special knowledge that only they could attain. However, when it comes to redemption, Jesus is preeminent and all-sufficient. Why? Because He is able to deliver people from darkness and translate them into the kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13).

The word translated had a special significance to the Jews. It literally meant to carry away. In times past, when one empire won a victory over another, it was the custom to take away the population of the defeated country and carry it to the conqueror’s land. Thus, the people of Israel were translated to Assyria, and the people of Judah were translated to Babylon.

We used to be of the kingdom of Satan, but he has been defeated and we have been translated to a new country. We have been translated from darkness to light; from the slavery of sin, to the liberty of righteousness. What did it? Was some kind of special knowledge necessary? No! Did it demand adherence to a law that was contrary to us? No! All it took was Jesus willing to pay the price for our sins, and by doing that, He was able to secure the forgiveness of our sins. How? Was it by teaching us some secret passwords? No! He did it by dying on the cross.

Preeminent in Creation

Jesus occupies a greater position than all of God’s creation. He is not on equal footing with those who have been created by God. He is superior, for, not only was He not created Himself, but, Paul said, “…by Him were all things created…” (Colossians 1:16). Jesus is not a creature; He is the Creator. He is not an angel, nor any other kind of created being. Instead, all created things have their origin with Him, and Paul makes sure that we clearly understand the scope of His creative work. It is not that He created some things; He created all things, whether they be in heaven or earth. And, not only did He create the celestial bodies of heaven that are physical and observable, but Paul said, He was responsible for things “visible and invisible.” Furthermore, in between the beginning and the end, during the period we call time, Christ holds the creation together (ver. 17). The laws of gravity, by which the universe hangs together, all proceed from Christ, for “by him all things consist.” If anything points to the deity of Christ, and reveals His preeminence, it is the work He did in creation (Genesis 1:1; Hebrews 1:1-10; John 1:1-3).

Preeminent in the Church

Christ is the Head of the church. Every organization has to have a head—someone who possesses final authority. On the job, there are bosses who are heads over certain departments. In the home, God ordained the husband to be head over the family. These are people who have final authority. In the church, it is Christ. He is the only one who can set forth rules and regulations that govern the church. No man, or group of men, are qualified to do this. The church of Christ does not have little heads. There is one body and one Head; thus, all that we do must be approved by Christ. We must have the authority of Christ to do or teach anything (Colossians 3:17). This is the major flaw in denominationalism today. They are guided by counsels and men that they have elevated to positions of power. These men can implement new laws and make creeds, etc. This is not the case with the church of Christ over which Christ is head. We must do only what He, through His word, has directed us to do (1 Corinthians 4:6).

So, in a most magnificent way, Paul elevates Jesus and shows that in all things He is preeminent. This is the position that Christ should occupy in our lives. He should be above all other things, regardless of what or who they might be. Jesus should have preeminence over us all.