The Preeminence of Christ

Colossians 1

¹⁵ He is _d the image of the invisible God, _e the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For _f by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or _g dominions or ₁ principalities or ₂ powers. All things were created _h through Him and for Him. ¹⁷ _i And He is before all things, and in Him _j all things consist. ¹⁸ And _k He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, _l the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that _m in Him all the fullness should dwell, ²⁰ and _n by Him to reconcile _o all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, _p having made peace through the blood of His cross.

²¹ And you, _q who once were alienated and enemies in your mind _r by wicked works, yet now He has _s reconciled ²² _t in the body of His flesh through death, _u to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - ²³ if indeed you continue _v in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are _w not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, _x which was preached to every creature under heaven, _y of which I, Paul, became a minister.

1. Cross References
   2 Corinthians 4:4
   Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
   Hebrews 1:3
   Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
   
2. Cross References
   Psalms 89:27
   Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.
   Revelation 3:14
   And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
   
3. Cross References
   John 1:3
   All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
   Hebrews 1:2
   Has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.
   Hebrews 1:3
   Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
   
4. Cross References
   Ephesians 1:20
   Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.
   Ephesians 1:21
   Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
   Colossians 2:15
   Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
   
5. Cross References
   John 1:3
   All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
   Romans 11:36
   For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
   1 Corinthians 8:6
   Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
   Hebrews 2:10
   For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
   
6. Cross References
   John 17:5
   And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
   
7. Cross References
   Hebrews 1:3
   Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
   
8. Cross References
   1 Corinthians 11:3
   But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
   Ephesians 1:22
   And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.
   
9. Cross References
   Revelation 1:5
   And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.
   
10. Cross References
    John 1:16
    And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
    
11. Cross References
    Romans 5:1
    Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Ephesians 2:14
    For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
    
12. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:18
    Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
    
13. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:10
    That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him.
    
14. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:1
    And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
    
15. Cross References
    Titus 1:15
    To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
    
16. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:18
    Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
    2 Corinthians 5:19
    That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
    
17. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 5:18
    Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
    Ephesians 2:14 - 16
    For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
    
18. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:27
    That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
    Colossians 1:28
    Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
    
19. Cross References
    Ephesians 3:17
    That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love.
    Colossians 2:7
    Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
    
20. Cross References
    John 15:6
    If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
    1 Corinthians 15:58
    Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
    
21. Cross References
    Mark 16:15
    And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
    Acts 2:5
    And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
    Romans 10:18
    But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: "Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.
    Colossians 1:6
    Which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
    
22. Cross References
    Acts 1:17
    "for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry."
    Ephesians 3:7
    Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
    Colossians 1:25
    Of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.