The Preeminence of Christ is the absolute first-place supremacy of the Son of God in every realm — creation, redemption, the church, and the age to come.
He is before all things, the firstborn from the dead, the head of the body, and the One in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, so that in everything He might be preeminent.
All things were created through Him and for Him, and all things will finally serve the praise of His glory.
Paul declares that Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. By Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 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. The Father was pleased to have all fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself. This preeminence is not a future hope alone; it is already true in the heavenly places and is being worked out in history until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord. The church’s calling is to acknowledge, display, and live under that preeminence in doctrine, worship, and life. Nothing may rival Him. No created thing — whether angel, tradition, philosophy, or human leader — may share the place that belongs to Christ alone.
- Christ is preeminent by divine right and by the Father’s good pleasure.
- His preeminence extends over creation, the church, redemption, and the final consummation.
- He is first in time (before all things), first in rank (over all things), and first in honor (worthy of all praise).
- The resurrection and session of Christ publicly declare His preeminence as the firstborn from the dead.
- All fullness dwells in Him; nothing needs to be added to Christ for the church’s life and completeness.
- The goal of God’s plan is that in everything Christ might have the first place.
- Every rival claim — religious, philosophical, or personal — must yield to the preeminence of Christ.
- In Creation – All things were created through Him and for Him; He is before all things and holds them together.
- In Redemption – He is the firstborn from the dead and the One through whom all things are reconciled.
- In the Church – He is the head of the body; the church exists to display His supremacy.
- In Fullness – All the fullness of deity dwells in Him bodily; believers are complete in Him.
- In Exaltation – God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name above every name.
- In Final Glory – Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
- In the Believer’s Life – He is to have first place in affection, obedience, and hope.
- Colossians 1:15-20 – “He 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 2:9-10 – “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.”
- Philippians 2:9-11 – “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
- Ephesians 1:20-23 – God “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named… And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.”
- John 1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”
- John 3:31 – “He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.”
- Hebrews 1:2-4 – God “has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature… After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
- Revelation 1:5 – “…Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”
- Revelation 5:12 – “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
- Revelation 19:16 – “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:25, 28 – “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet… When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”
- Colossians 3:11 – “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
- Matthew 28:18 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
- Romans 14:9 – “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”
Christ is preeminent. Not merely important, not merely first among equals, but before all things, above all things, and the goal of all things. He is the firstborn of creation and the firstborn from the dead so that in everything He might have the first place. All fullness dwells in Him. All authority is His. All knees will bow to Him. The church exists to display that preeminence, not to share it or diminish it. Therefore give Him the first place in doctrine, in worship, in the heart, and in the life of the church. Hold fast to the One who is before all things and in whom all things hold together. In everything — let Christ be preeminent.
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