Did God Create Jesus? (Colossians 1:15)

(Colossians 1:15)"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (ESV) 

This verse has been used by ancient Arians and modern day Jehovah's Witnesses to deny the deity of Christ.  They suggest that the phrase "firstborn of all creation" means Jesus was a created being.  But this verse needs to be looked at in context.  An important verse for background in correctly understanding Colossians 1:15 is Psalm 89:27. 

(Psalm 89:27)"And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth." (ESV) 

The Psalm is speaking about David who was not the firstborn of his family.  He was actually the youngest of his brothers.  The term "firstborn" is figurative, actually meaning highest rank.  

So in Colossians 1:15 "firstborn of all creation" actually means Jesus ranks above all creation.  This fits the context of the Colossians 1:15-20 passage.  The passage says all things were created by him, through him, and for him.  He is said to be preeminent and in him all the fullness of God dwells.  

Jesus is the Creator, he is not part of the creation.  Jesus is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father.  Jesus is indeed, God.    

The Book Of Revelation Proves Jesus Is God

(Revelation 1:8)"I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (ESV) 

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  Jesus is referred to as the Lord God, the Almighty.  Christ is divine, eternal, sovereign, and omnipotent.  

(Revelation 21:6)"And he said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." (ESV) 

Here we have God the Father saying I am the Alpha and the Omega just like God the Son in Revelation 1:8.  God is beyond history, he is eternal.  

(Revelation 22:13)"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (ESV) 

Here we have Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega just like God the Father in Revelation 21:6.  Jesus is the "first and the last" just like Yahweh, the only God in Isaiah 44:6 (see also Revelation 1:17).  

Also in Revelation 5:13-14 both the Father and Son are worshiped.  Only God is worthy of worship.  The Book of Revelation clearly teaches that Jesus is God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father.   

The Way, The Truth, And The Life

 (John 14:6)"Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV) 

With the I am statement, Jesus is claiming to be God, referring back to Exodus 3:14.  God the Father, God the Son,  and God the Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal.  Through his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, Jesus is the way to the Father.  He is the only way to heaven, all other ways lead to hell.  

Since Jesus is God he is the source of truth.  Truth is rooted in the character and law of God.  Everything Jesus says is true, including the statement in this verse.  Jesus is the life, he gives eternal life to all who believe in him.  

Salvation is found in Christ alone.  Apart from Christ you do not have the way, you do not have the truth, and you do not have life.  By rejecting Jesus you are left with death, falsehood, and no way to heaven. 

Does Genesis 1:26 Refer To The Trinity?

 (Genesis 1:26)"Then God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.  And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (ESV) 

Some Christians see the words "us" and "our" in the first part of Genesis 1:26 as referring to God as Trinitarian.  Other Christians reject this interpretation, believing it does not refer to the Trinity.  

Some interpreters hold that "us" and "our" refer to the angelic court.  But angels were not involved in the creation of man, God alone is the Creator.  Also man is not made in the image of angels.  Man is made in the image and likeness of God.  Others view the plurality in the verse as referring to majesty or intensity.  

The phrase, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness is probably a hint of the Trinity.  The doctrine of the Trinity, one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is fully revealed in the New Testament. 

Is The Holy Spirit God?

 (Matthew 28:19)"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (ESV)

This verse is strong evidence for the Trinity.  There is one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  It is hard to see why you would baptize disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit if all three are not God.  

(Matthew 12:31)"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven." (ESV) 

Blasphemy is speaking wrongly or carelessly about God.  Blasphemy can only be committed against God.  Therefore the Holy Spirit is God. 

(Acts 5:3)"But Peter said, Ananias why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?" (ESV) 

In Acts 5:4 Peter then tells Ananias, You have not lied to man but to God." If you have lied to the Holy Spirit you have lied to God.  Therefore the Holy Spirit is God. 

Who Is Jesus?

 Matthew 16:13-20 deals with the very question of who Jesus is.  The Lord asks his disciples who people say he is and they reply that people consider him to be a prophet (16:13-14).  Jesus then poses the question to his disciples.  

"He said to them, But who do you say that I am?  Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."  (Matthew 16:15-16) (ESV) 

In response to Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord tells Peter he is blessed and that this has been revealed to him by God the Father (16:17).  

Jesus confirms the confession made by Peter as correct because he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Christ means Messiah or Anointed One.  Jesus is the only, unique Son of God.  He is co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father.  

Jesus is more than a good teacher, moral example, or inspirational figure.  He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.  This confession is the rock on which the church is built (16:18).   

Parts Of God?

 In recent days we have seen the Trinity defined as one God comprised of three co-equal parts.  At best this is sloppy theology, at worst this is heresy.  

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not parts of God.  The Father is not 1/3 God, the Son is not 1/3 God, and the Spirit is not 1/3 God.  The members of the Trinity are persons, not parts.  There is one God in three persons.  There is one essence or being and three persons.   Each member of the Trinity is a distinct person who is fully and completely God.  Each person of the Trinity is co-equal and co-eternal.  

Theology should never be done in a sloppy way.  The doctrine of the Trinity is foundational to Christianity.  Christians and especially Christian leaders should take great care to get things precise and right because theology matters. 

Understanding The Trinity

 The doctrine of the Trinity is very important and foundational to Christianity, but many people do not understand it.  God is totally unique so he cannot be compared to anything else.  

Christian apologist James R. White provides the following definition of the Trinity in his book The Forgotten Trinity, "Within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal and co-eternal persons, namely, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."  

There is one God that exists in three persons.  There are not three Gods, there is one God.  The Trinity is not composed of one person, it is composed of three persons.    Each person of the Trinity is distinct while having the same divine nature.  The Father is not the Son, and the Son is not the Holy Spirit.  The members of the Trinity have different roles but the same unified purpose.  

Each person of the Trinity has always existed, none of them were created.  All three members of the Trinity are also equal.  One person of the Trinity is not less God than another person of the Trinity.  The persons of the Trinity are not parts of God.  Each person of the Trinity is fully and completely God.  

While the term "Trinity" is not found in the Bible it is plainly and clearly taught.  The doctrine of the Trinity is also not a contradiction.  If we were saying there are three persons and one person or one essence and three essences that would be a contradiction.  There are three persons of one essence or being.