The Supreme Lord of the New Creation

Jesus Christ is Head of His church (Col 1:18). This holds a two-fold meaning: authority and source of life and growth. The church, the bride of Christ (Eph 5:25), is the body of people loved by God, who are collectively given the name “Israel” (Gal 6:16).

Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, is the beginning of a new creation (Col 1:18). As the firstborn from the dead, Jesus is the authoritative source of a new, holy nation of people who are not ashamed to be identified with Christ (Rom 1:17; 1 Pet 2:9). Having received the Spirit of Christ, the life of God now lives in Christians in every epoch and in every place (Gal 2:20).

Jesus Christ is God (Jn 1:1; 10:30; Titus 2:13). He is the eternal Son of God the Father. Having been enfleshed as a man (Jn 1:14), Jesus was especially conceived so as to avoid original sin (Mt 1:20; Lk 1:35; Rom 5:12). He proceeded to live a sinless life before going to the cross (Heb 4:15; 2 Cor 5:21), where He shed His precious blood that reconciles God’s elect people to God (Col 1:20; 1 Pet 1:19).

Estrangement from God required a restoration of the relationship. Those who were at enmity with God because of sin, have now been brought near to God by the blood of the cross, where Jesus offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of His people (Mt 1:21; Jn 10:11, 15). The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19), for these were given to God the Son by God the Father in eternity past (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9).

It was the Father’s good pleasure to put absolutely everything in to the care of the Son. Jesus rules and reigns over all things in heaven and on the earth. All authority has been given to the One who has sat down at the right hand of Majesty (Mt 28:18; Heb 1:3; 8:1).

The first creation was a testament to the creative power of God to make and sustain good things. It was also a testament to sinfulness of creatures, both angelic and human. God is glorified for His original creation, but that which fell into sin requires restoration in God’s purposeful design.

Everything that is made should glorify God, the Maker of all things (Col 1:15). God even made the wicked for the day of evil (Prv 16:4). We would not know many of the essential character attributes of God were it not for the things that are deemed wicked in this present evil age. Righteousness, judgment, justice, and wrath are seen more clearly when they deal with the darkness.

The new creation is already here, but it is not yet in the finished form to come. In fact, by God’s predetermined plan (Acts 2:23), revealed in God’s Word, we are privy to the prophecy of the end of this world — a judgment by fire (2 Pet 3:7). A new heavens and a new earth are part of the new creation. They will be our eternal home when the old has finished the course God has for it.

Jesus is only the beginning of the new that has started. The original creation groans as it waits for the revealing of the Sons of God (Rom 8:19–22). The resurrection of Christ Jesus sets the stage for the future resurrection of the dead. In this, we follow Christ now and on the day of His second coming when the dead in Christ will be raised to life (Jn 5:28–29; 1 Cor 15).

The foreshadowing of the bodily resurrection is spiritual regeneration (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; 1 Pet 1:30). When one of God’s elect, redeemed people is born again by the Holy Spirit, he or she experiences life from the dead. The new birth is the new beginning that looks forward to the new creation in the fullness to come.

The fullness of God was in Christ, in bodily form, and that status remains, forever. The fullness of our resurrection on the last day will see us fit to live in the new world, where all things will be made new by Christ (Rev 21:5). The new will be very much better than the old.

The new Jerusalem upon the new earth will be the most radiant city imaginable (Rev 3:12; 21:2, 10).

In addition to its perfect prosperity, security, and longevity, it is will be the place of God, the city of our exalted Head, the King of glory (Ps 24:1). All of the evil, darkness, suffering, crying, hate, violence, perversion, rebellion, war and strife will be no more. The devil, his demons, and all of those who refused to submit to Jesus Christ as Lord will be dealt with by eternal punishment in the fiery torment of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).

Those for whom peace was achieved by the unconditional covenant of grace will be satisfied with their eternal home, mansions of glory, prepared for them by the One who brought them peace by the blood of His cross (Col 1:20). By His stripes we are healed (Is 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24). We will see Him as He is…beautiful and glorious, the Lamb of God who gave Himself for us in love (Rom 5:8; 1 Jn 3:2).

Jesus Christ is the supreme authority in the new creation (Col 1:18). He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim 6:15), our Savior and God (Titus 2:13; 2 Pet 1:1). As we have seen, the restoration has begun with the reconciliation of the chosen remnant (Rom 11:5; 2 Cor 5:8; Col 1:20), who will enjoy Christ Jesus, our Lord forever and ever.

Our Christian hope is in Christ (Col 1:27; 1 Tim 1:1), the promise of God because our faith is in Christ, the Person of God enfleshed and now enthroned (Rev 7:17). The first creation was His very good work (Gen 1:31; Col 1:15); but the new creation will far surpass the first. It will be above and beyond all we can think or imagine — a glory to be revealed to us at Christ’s second advent (Rom 8:18).

My dear reader, rejoice at what has been granted for you to know and believe from God’s Word, the Bible, revealed to you. Our God reigns and there is no other, no one beside Jesus Christ, the victorious dread champion (Jer 20:11), who loved us, saved us, and has a place for us as the supreme Lord of the new creation (Jn 14:2–3; Col 1:18; Titus 3:5).

David Norczyk

Leavenworth, Washington

January 7, 2024

Colossians 1:18–20