By Him, Through Him, For Him (Col 1:16)

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 - Col 1:16

Paul tells us in this one verse that all things were created by Christ, through Christ, and for Christ.

In other words, Christ is the beginning, the middle, and the end of all things.

All things were created by Him. He is the cause of creation. Nothing was made that was not made in Him. There is nothing real outside of Christ. Nothing in this world has any substance in and of itself. It gains its reality by being called into existence by the Word of God.

All things were created through Him. All of creation is intertwined with Christ whether it knows it or not. There is nothing alive that is not connected to Christ, the Source of Life. All of creation finds its true self only by finding itself in Christ. Any identity that is foreign to Christ is foreign to reality, and therefore does not exist except in the delusions of man.

All things were created for Him. Jesus Christ is the reason for all of creation. Just as cars are meant for driving and cakes are meant for eating, creation is meant for Christ. Just as it would be silly to try to use a car for eating or a cake for driving, it is absurd for creation to be used for anything except the glory and pleasure of Christ. This is its purpose for existing.

As fully God and fully man, Jesus Christ reconciles heaven and earth through the blood of His Cross. By being God He possesses all the glory of divinity. By being man he communicates this glory to humanity.

Only when we come to know Him by whom, through whom, and for whom we were created will we truly come to know ourselves.

Jesus said to him,

“I am the way,

and the truth,

and the life.

No one comes to the Father

except through me.

John 14:6