Matthew Henry Commentary Colossians 1:15-23

"who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it was the good pleasure [of the Father] that in him should all the fulness dwell; and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, [I say], whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens. And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him: if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister." — Colossians 1:15-23 (ASV)

Christ in His human nature is the visible manifestation of the invisible God, and he who has seen Him has seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all creation, before any creature was made—which is the way Scripture represents eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us.

All things, having been created by Him, were also created for Him. Made by His power, they were made according to His pleasure and for His praise and glory. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of His power that they are upheld. Christ as Mediator is the Head of the body, the church; all grace and strength are from Him, and the church is His body.

All fullness dwells in Him—a fullness of merit and righteousness, of strength and grace for us. God showed His justice in requiring full satisfaction. This way of redeeming humankind by the death of Christ was most suitable. Here, the method of being reconciled is presented to us.

And, notwithstanding God's hatred of sin, it pleased God to reconcile fallen humanity to Himself. If we are convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we will not attempt to explain away, nor think to fully comprehend these mysteries; but we will see the glory of this plan of redemption and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this is so—that God's love for us is so great—what should we do now for God?

Be frequent in prayer and abound in holy duties; and live no longer for yourselves, but for Christ. Christ died for us. But why? Was it so that we should still live in sin? No; but so that we should die to sin, and live from now on not for ourselves, but for Him.