his came about as the result of my pondering the question of how redemption can be accomplished without having the events of atonement take place externally those who are redeemed by the cross of Christ. I was considering the answer to this question while singing in church[1]. The result was an exploration of what it means for creation to be in, through and for Christ.
Colossians 1:16[2] says of Christ: “for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers– all things have been created through him and for him.” Christians are in general familiar with the creation accounts of Genesis 1&2 but have less of a grasp of the role which Jesus (and for that the matter the Spirit[3]) plays in the creation of the universe. This passage in Colossians makes the statement that all things were created in (or by[4]), through and for Christ. These three prepositions denote three separate relationships between creation and Christ. This is intended to tease out the implications of those relationships.
Firstly, all things were created in him. The expression ‘in him’ or ‘in Christ’ is one which occurs frequently in the New Testament – 76 times according to a search using BibleWorks 7. Here is a sample: redemption is in Christ (Rom 3:24), grace is given in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 1:4), hope is in Christ (1 Cor 15:19), freedom is found in Christ (Gal 2:4), we are brought near in Christ (Eph 2:13), God’s riches are in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Many matters are done in him: all promises are yes in him (2 Cor 1:20), in him we are the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21), we were chosen in him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4), we are glorified in him (2 Thess 1:12), we must abide in him (1 John 2:28). The question that springs to my mind is how can all these things take place in Christ? What makes it possible for human beings to be so connected with Christ and his redemptive activity?
The answer to this lies in the statement that all things were created in Christ. Being created in Christ means that we were made in such a way that we have, by virtue of this creation, a ‘natural’ connection to Jesus Christ. The matter of redemption in Christ is not, therefore, a mystery. Being in Christ is the original state of creation and the redemption which Christ has effected on the cross and completed in his resurrection restores to human beings (and to creation in general) that state of being in Christ. Thus there is an organic connection between the work of Christ on our behalf and those who are being saved. The work of the cross is not disconnected from those for whom Christ died because they were originally created in Christ Jesus (Eph 2:10).
Secondly, the fact that all things are created in Christ explains why God desires fellowship with human beings. The Son is the eternal object of the Father’s love (John 3:35; 15:9; 17:24), and his delight (Matt 3:17, 12:18, 17:5; Col 1:19). That which is created in Christ will therefore give the Father pleasure. The intention of the Father in creating the universe in Christ was that his love for the Son would be poured out on the creation. The fact that the Father loves that which he created is made possible by the fact that all things were created in Christ. Thus the restoration of the relationship with human beings, necessitated by human sin, is a priority to God. So John can say, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). The Father loves the world because he first loved the Son and created the world in the Son. The Father’s love for the world must be understood as springing from the love he has for the Son.
What is more of a mystery is how human beings could become sinners and thus separated from Christ in whom they were created. Sin and death were not intended as part of the creation, because the creation was made in Christ, who is eternally holy. No sin is found in Christ so it is an unfathomable thing that sin entered into the creation made in him. Yet, Adam and Eve did sin by rebelling against the command of God. The result was an unholy human race, created in Christ, but unable to participate in the life of the holy trinity. God could not give humans their intended share in the trinitarian life while sin and death reigned in them. Thus redemption became necessary.[5]
Colossians 1:16 also says that all things were made through Christ. That is to say, the Father created the world through the Son; the Son is the agent or the instrumental means of creation. Nothing could have been created without Christ and nothing in creation can continue to exist without Christ (Heb 1:2-3). So what are the implications of this fact? Firstly, that God the Father created all things through Christ explains how the world can display the glory of God (Ps 8:1, 19:1). The glory which the Son shares with the Father from all eternity (John 17:5) is manifested in the world because the creation was made through the Son.
As the Father poured out his power into creating the world through the Son, the glory of the Son was poured into the universe so that all people are able to see the glory of God in creation (Rom 1:20-23). As a consequence, human beings, even sinful human beings, are unable to escape the glory of God because it is manifest in every part of creation. Sin dulls the senses and causes human thinking to become futile, but the glory of the Son remains in the universe. The restoration which is experienced in the redemption Christ brings opens people’s eyes once again to the glory of God. As Habakkuk 2:14 says, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” This is possible because of the glory of God being manifested in the world due to the creation being effected through Christ.
The final preposition used in Colossians 1:16 is ‘for’; all things have been created for Christ. The creation has a destiny and a purpose and that purpose is Christ. Human beings, as creatures created in and through Christ, are also made for Christ. They are intended, then, to share in his destiny. This destiny has many aspects: sonship, inheritance, rule, and joy. Those who have faith in Christ, and are hence united with him, are sons of God (Gal 3:26). They have been predestined to be like the eternal Son (Rom 8:29) and destined for the adoption as sons (Eph 1:5). This destiny includes being heirs of God (Eph 1:11) with all the saints (Col 1:12). That inheritance is eternal (Heb 9:15) and is imperishable (1 Pet 1:4). The saints will reign with Christ forever (Rev 22:5) and joy is the present portion of those who know Christ (1 Peter 1:8).
Because the world was made for Christ there can be no place for sin in the final destiny of creation. Even now those united to Christ must cast away sin (Heb 12:1) and live for Jesus (2 Cor 5:15), for whom the universe was made. When the universe reaches it climactic destiny there will no longer be any place for sin at all (Rev 22:14-15). Only that which is united to Christ will be part of the new creation. Although it is clear that world was intended to reach this destiny en masse it cannot do so because of sin.
This leads me to the final point which is the way in which these three statements in Col 1:16 relate to the incarnation. Creation was made in, through, and for Christ, yet people sinned and disrupted the creation. People under sin fail to experience the love of God, to see the glory of God in creation, and to move towards the destiny which God has appointed for them. Sin and death have prevented human beings sharing in the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Hence, there is a need for redemption. The Son of God became part of his creation and gave his life for humanity to deliver them from sin. All this is familiar stuff but it is only possible because creation is made in, through, and for Christ.
The way in which the universe was created means that creation is receptive to the incarnation. Creation in, through and for Christ implies that creation is prepared for the possibility of God becoming part of that creation. The Son of God could become part of the creation created in himself. The connection between Christ and creation was always present so it was prepared for his entering into that creation. The man Jesus Christ, as part of the created order can shine forth the glory of God in a way that no other part of creation (John 1:14) can because he is the one who poured glory into the creation as it was made. That creation is compatible with his glory. Jesus is the exalted human being (Phil 2:9-11) because he entered into creation to die and his destiny as the firstborn over all creation (Col 1:15) is manifested in the creation which was made for him. Jesus has joined creation to himself in the incarnation, having eaten the fruit of the ground and breathed the air into his body. He has joined himself with humanity to conquer death and hell. All these things, which are for us and our redemption, are made possible by the fact that creation was made in, through and for Christ.