The Work of Creation by and for Jesus Christ
R. W. Hamilton, LL. D. Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones… I. CHRIST IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS. Whatever is the act of creation it must be the Divine act; and whoever is the Creator He must be Divine. 1. Creation is always averred to be a Divine act (Genesis 1:1, etc.). It answers to our idea of the highest omnipotence, for "the things which are made were not made of the things which do appear." 2. The creating act is always set before us as the basis on which the exclusive honours of the Deity are challenged. (1) God puts His right to worship on this act. (2) He suspends the veracity of His statements on it. (3) His majesty and pre-eminence are made to depend upon it. 3. The creating act is always represented as designed to manifest the glory of Him by whom it was done. "For thy pleasure they are and were created." "The heavens declare the glory of God." 4. The creating act constitutes the very groundwork of natural religion. "We will wait upon Thee, for Thou hast made all these things." 5. There is a validity stamped upon all the blessings of revelation, because they issue from Him who is this universal Creator. The great blessings of the gospel are placed in immediate connection with this omnific act. (1) Reconciliation. "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us." (2) Atonement. "It became Him, for whom are all things," etc. (3) Illumination. "God, who hath commanded the light to shine," etc. (4) Protection. Let us commit our souls to Him as a faithful Creator. 6. Idolatry is reprobated on this exclusive ground, that it is offered to those who are not the makers of the universe. "Worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator." 7. Creation is always considered an unassisted act. "I am the Lord that maketh all things." 8. Now, without any qualification or exception, creation is attributed to Christ; how, then, can we deny Him to be Divine? II. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED FOR CHRIST, AND FORM HIS RIGHT AND PREROGATIVE. 1. There are two forms of the Divine foreknowledge. (1) God is acquainted with actions however future. (2) God realizes in His own mind what would be the issue of circumstances had they been different from what they are. "They would have repented long ago." 2. We are assured, then, that this universe being created for Christ was not a supplementary design upon some previous arrangement that had been tried and had failed. This is our method, not God's. Christ wrought this instrument, and it shall go on in His service. 3. Foreseeing sin He made the world in which it was to be vanquished, and hence we read of God's eternal purpose, and of "the Lamb which was foreordained before the foundation of the world." The world is still in revolt, but the eternal purpose shall be accomplished, and all the forces of nature and history shall contribute to it. 4. More particularly all things are created for Christ, inasmuch as — (1) They furnish the scenes of His mediation. "Lo, I come!" The earth claimed His birth, life, and entombment. He made it the seat of His Church. Here is the sphere of His Spirit's influence. This is the receptacle of His most complacent operations, where He is satisfied for all the travail of His soul. This is the arena of His spiritual victories. (2) They are tributaries to His praise. All things are created to do Him direct homage. Angels do; the redeemed will; devils and sinners shall. III. THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO PROPOSITIONS. That Christ is the Creator and Proprietor of all things. 1. This is shown by arguing the difficulty of our redemption, because only the Creator could surmount it. 2. The sufficiency of that redemption because the Creator has wrought it. (R. W. Hamilton, LL. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: WEB: For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.