Who is Jesus?

One of my relatives is very religious. We have had some discussion about what he believes and like the roots determine the tree, his core belief affects everything else. This core belief is where we differ; he believes Jesus is a created being and I believe that Jesus is God in human flesh.

We don’t argue about it now like we once did. We agree that the world is in a mess and that people need a change of life. He says people need to obey God and I agree. Our root belief makes the difference. He thinks Jesus died to give us the ability to earn our salvation; whereas I am certain that Jesus died to grant us our salvation.

It is about the identity of Jesus. Both of us might use this passage to ‘prove’ our different views:

He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15–20)

My relative’s idea that Jesus is a created being is tied up in his definition of “firstborn.” If used in the normal sense, this passage could be taken to mean that Jesus was the first one created. However, the religious group that my relative belongs to does not believe in or encourage scholarship. If they did, they would find out that the Greek word used has a broader meaning than the English word ‘firstborn.’

The Greek term pertains to existing prior to something else or ‘existing first, existing before’ or ‘existing before all creation’ or ‘existing before anything was created.’ It can also mean ‘superior in status.’ While it can also include all the rights and privileges that accompany being a physical firstborn, here it refers to Jesus as preceding all others in time or space or degree. This is about His status.

The rest of the passage clarifies: He created all things and existed before all else. All creation was made before Him and He holds it together — translated from a word that means to be or become composed of many parts into a cohesive and enduring whole. This is a description of God our Creator and clearly equates Jesus as deity.

The rest of the passage is about prominence also. Again, firstborn from the dead is about the significance of His resurrection. He wasn’t the first in any other sense since He raised people from the dead before He died, such as the widow’s son and Lazarus. His resurrection was unique and gives Him preeminence.

Not only that, in Him all the fullness of God dwells. Some say God is in everyone, but the Bible does not say that. We are made in His image, but He dwells only in those who by faith have accepted His offer of salvation and have been reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of this unique person, Jesus Christ who is God the Son. He, unlike us who have been marred by sin, is the sinless image of God the Father.

My relative admits that they do not worship Jesus “because he is only a created being” yet also admits that his hope is in his ability to live up to God’s standards. His assurance is in how good he can be, not in Jesus Christ.

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Lord Jesus, as I worship You today, I will also be praying that You will reveal Yourself to those who have yet not seen the glory of who You are. You have delivered millions of people from the domain of darkness and transferred us to Your kingdom, the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13–14) May this be true of millions more.

Today’s thankful list . . .

The wonder of God revealing His Son to me, a sinner.

The wonder of God revealed in creation, especially as we drive in the Rocky Mountains.

Good roads and a dandy chauffeur — my hubby.

Wonderful supper in a restaurant built of logs.

Able to sing worship songs in a motel.

The blessing of listening to a preacher like Jamie Rasmussen on the Internet.