Did Jesus create the universe?

In most every case, the attribution that Jesus as the creator of all things is associated with the account in the book of Colossians. In order to answer the question of creation, it is wholly a biblical question that can be answered without tradition or religious dogma. In this regard this article will be somewhat lengthy in order to address the question as best served from a biblical standpoint.

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature 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, And he is before all things, and by 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 pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, Who is the image of the invisible God” Colossians 1:15–19

This refers to Jesus, who in His life and behavior, emulated God. Jesus is “like” God, in a similar way a son is the image of his father. The son may look like his dad, he may have some of his father’s attributes and talents, the son will remind you of his father, but the son is “NOT” the father and the father is not the son.

Consider what Jesus said Himself..

“He that has seen me, has seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, shew us the Father?, Believest thou that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words I speak unto you, I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very works sake” John 14:9–11

When Jesus said this, He was not saying that He was God, He was speaking to the aspect of His will and that of the Father as being one and the same. To be of one mind, one Spirit, one faith and to be on the same page completely.

“I and my Father are one” John 10:30

The context of what Jesus meant is the closeness they share. Not that Jesus and God are one in the same (Ephesians 4:4–6), one faith, one baptism, one God of all.

Jesus said in a prayer to the Father..

“That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me, And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me” John 17:21–23

Jesus makes plain here the aspect of what He means when He uses the phrase “ONE.” As Christians, Christ lives in us, but this is manifest in us through the Holy Spirit. It is referred to as the “fruit of the Spirit” which enables us to have Love, Joy, Peace, Long suffering, Gentleness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance. (Galatians 5:22–23; Colossians 3:8–10)

“the Spirit of God dwelleth in you” 1 Corinthians 3:16

This Spirit that is in all believers, gives them the heart of Christ and the capacity to be children of God. As Paul states “all things become new” 2 Corinthians. 5:17

To be one in the Lord is to be in complete agreement with the Father, as Jesus is in complete agreement with Him. As an example, or type and shadow of this effect in our lives, God gave us marriage and family. Which is why in part family is a sacred office of man. This began with Adam..

“Therefore shall man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh” Genesis 2:24

This account in Genesis, is the first time the admonition of becoming “ONE” is seen in scripture. It is where the concept of becoming one mind and of one agreement, being one as a couple is introduced. Adam and Eve were not the same person, but it is easily understood, that a marriage is to become one. This is actually a spiritual concept manifested in the flesh through marriage. It is this reality that Jesus always referred to between Himself and God.

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and they twaine shall be one flesh, so then they are no more twaine, but one flesh” Mark 10:7–8 (Matthew 19:5–6; 1 Corinthians 6:15–17 and Ephesians 5:31)

One mind, one faith, one agreement, with the husband as the head of the household, as the Father is the head of Christ (Romans 15:6; 1 Corinthians 6:17; Ephesians 5:22–24; 1 Cor. 11:3)

“the first born of every creature” Colossians 1:15

There are a few things this verse does “NOT” mean. Jesus was “NEVER” born “Spiritually” in the same way man is born with a body soul and a spirit. Jesus was only born “Physically”. Jesus’ birth made Him the first person to be born that belonged directly to God.

Jesus did not have to be reconciled to God, because He was never created as a spirit and subsequently flesh like a man. Jesus was born to Mary of the Holy Spirit, making Him “NOT” born of the seed of man (Matthew 1:18–25).

“Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost” Matthew 1:20

This in part, is why Jesus Himself never had to be reconciled to God, having not been born into sin. But Jesus did reconcile all believers to God.

“and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” Revelation 5:9

Jesus is the “first” to experience the transition Christians refer to as the “Rapture” or the “First Advent” of Christ, Jesus “first” coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17; 1 Corinthians 15:50–55; Matthew 24:40–42; Luke 17:34–36).

In this context Jesus is also referred to as the “first begotten of the dead”

“From Jesus Christ, who is the faithful and true witness, and the first begotten of the dead”Revelation 1:5

Jesus being the “first” to be resurrected. The bigger picture of Christ work is that it is the ultimate end game of man’s salvation. It is not simply about being saved from the wrath of God’s judgment, it is to be reconciled to God in a never before experienced one on one, face to face relationship with God Himself, “without” any mediator, not Jesus or any Angels. Jesus work in mans salvation is to remove any veils or impediments to a true personal relationship with God. No more prophets, teachers, or even a Gospel, just you and God.

“Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God” Revelation 21:3 (Revelation 22:3–4)

“For by Him were all things created that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible” Colossians 1:16

This refers to God Himself, NOT Jesus.

“In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth” Genesis 1:1

“Thus saith God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out, He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it, He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and the spirit to them that walk therein” Isaiah 42:5

Here we see that God is the one who created all things, He is the one who places the very “spirit” in man that animates us and makes us eternal beings.

“whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers, all things were created by Him, and for Him” Colossians 1:16

These are references to Angels and the physical applications of Thrones, as in Earthly Kings, Dominions, as in places of rule, Principalities, as in governments, Powers, as in those in authority. “Let every soul be in subject unto the higher powers, For there is no power but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God. Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist, shall receive themselves damnation” Romans 13:1–2

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake, whether it be to Kings, as supreme, Or unto Governors, as unto them that are sent by him, for the punishment of evil doers, For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, Honor all men, Love the brotherhood, Fear God, Honor the King. Servants be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully” 1 Peter 2:13–21

In this we see that God appoints those who are in authority over us, and even if that authority is unjust, we are to behave in a manner that our compliance is as though we are submitting to the Lord, not so much the men with authority over us. This submission has its rewards from the Lord. The offices of authority have two aspects, the physical and the spiritual.

Spiritually embodies the roles of Angels from Gods direction to them and their interactions with men. The physical refers to the roles of man, and the offices men hold that are monitored by the Angels.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” Ephesians 6:12

Dominions and Powers are a form of Angel in the second hierarchy of the work of Angels. As previously mentioned, when God performs miracles for man using the natural laws in nature, it is called providence. These forms of miracles are enacted through Dominion Angels.

Powers are another form of Angel in the second hierarchy. They oversee the distribution of power among mankind as God dictates. Principalities are in the third hierarchy and they are concerned with the welfare of human affairs. In this regard the spiritual authority passes to Angels and is administered by them to men.

“all things were created by Him” Colossians 1:16

This again, refers to God Himself (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6; Isaiah 45:5–7,18,21–23; Hebrews 11:3; John 1:3)

“And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” Colossians 1:17

This reference is to God himself. Paul makes the distinction between God and Jesus. “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him” 1 Corinthians 8:6

Paul is the author of the book of Colossians, what he said about this distinction in Corinthians, should help with the clarification of what he meant in this writing in Colossians. “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God” 1 Corinthians 11:3

God is the one who created everything. God has “given authority” over all that “He has created” to Jesus. But there is a difference between the one who created and the one who has authority over this creation.

“I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things” John 8:28

A father can start a company and give it over to his son to run, but no matter what his son does with the business, he does it and has it because his father gave it to him. There is no difference in this example with respect to God and Jesus.

“All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth” Matthew 28:18

This power Jesus spoke of came from somewhere, and it was “given” to Him by someone, God the Father.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in Earth, and things under the Earth. And that every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”Philippians 2:9–11

All who praise Jesus do so to the glory of God the Father, which is to say, to the satisfaction of God the Father (Romans 14:11–12; Hebrews 1:1–14).

God wants to see Jesus praised, Jesus does not want to see Himself praised. This authority and praise, is Gods reward to Jesus for what He has done for man, in this, we must see the distinction.

Another passage that has created similar confusion.

“In the beginning was the Word” John 1:1–3

The phrase “Word” is a designation associated with Jesus, because Jesus spoke Gods word and fulfilled them with respect to mankind. In other words, Jesus is the integrity of God fulfilled. “I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” John 8:28–29

“and the Word was with God”

This means that Jesus was “with” God in the beginning of all things. Jesus has no beginning or end any more than God has a beginning. Man is the one who was created, and as such, we are finite beings with a beginning (birth) and an end (death). Jesus is not in this condition, despite His physical birth and death as a man because He was always a Spirit before time.

“Thus saith the Lord the King of Isreal and His redeemer, the Lord of Host” Isaiah 44:6

Here we see that God is the King of Israel, where the “original” designation was associated. This and other designations were later attributed to Jesus in His role as the redeemer of man. But it is important to follow the way these designations are applied to God and then to Jesus.

The distinction in this verse, “and His redeemer” means that Jesus was with God.

“the Lord of Host” refers to another designation for Jesus, which is to say He is over all the host of Heaven. At the time of this writing and discussion between God and Isaiah only “Angels” were the inhabitants of Heaven. Heaven was a place where only the Godhead and the Angels lived. Man was in “Paradise” at this time, never having been to Heaven yet.

“As for our redeemer, the Lord of Host is His name” Isaiah 47:4

Jesus is the one who redeems man to God.

“and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation” Revelation 5:9

“And now O’Father, glorify thou me, with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” John 17:5

Jesus makes the point that He (Jesus) was with God before the world was ever formed. “for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world” John 17:24

The foundation of the world is what God created in the world in order for the planet to sustain life, the Anthropic Constants. Gravity, oxygen, the transparency of the atmosphere, rotation of the planet, etc. These are what the foundations of the World are.. (Job 38).

Jesus was with God, when all that work was done, which is why He is also referred to as the “faithful and true witness”. Jesus saw it all in real time (Revelation 1:5, 3:14).

“and the Word was God” John 1:1

Jesus in fact is God the Son, He is part of the Godhead, which is made up of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Which is also referred to as the “Trinity” though they are separate and apart from each other, with God alone having “Asiety” which is to say that God is self-sufficient in and of Himself. God the Father alone needs nothing or anyone to sustain Him.

“The same was in the beginning with God” John 1:2

This shows a distinction that the same Word (Jesus) was “with” God in the beginning. Not the same person here, but two distinct persons, God and Jesus.

“All things were made by Him” John 1:3

This refers to God Himself. We refer back to (Colossians 1:16; Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 45:5–7, 18, 21–23; and Hebrews 11:3).

“and without Him was not anything that was made” John 1:3

This refers to the fact that Jesus was with God when God made everything. Some would argue that Jesus made everything, or that God made everything through Jesus. What is more supported in scripture is that God made it all and gave it to Jesus.

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence” Colossians 1:18

Having preeminence in all things is to be first in rank and influence, having position of preference by God in all things. “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell” Colossians 1:19

All things run through Christ, but the Father is the one running it through Christ. That is a distinction. In rewards (2 Corinthian 5:10; 1 Corinthians 3:13–15) The beginning of judgment (Revelation 5:1–7; Matthew 25:31–46) and Power (John 14:12–14, 16:24–27; Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:9–11; Hebrews 1:1–4; Luke 10:19).

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things” 1 Corinthians 8:6

This means that God is the one who created all things. “and we in Him” The reconciliation of man by Christ is “to God”. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7

The scriptures in the Bible move at a very rapid tempo at times, and scripture references go back and forth within its references. It is easy to confine oneself to a viewpoint one way or another, or to fall into a belief of what you heard many years ago. Just because it’s an old saying does not make it right, no matter how comfortable or spiritual it sounds.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness is a biblical sounding phrase, but it’s “NOT” in the Bible. When we get into areas of biblical teaching that sounds vaguely familiar to us, we are apt to be more vulnerable to being manipulated as to what scripture really says, because most people will not open their Bible to see if what someone said was true or not. In this regard its easy to assert that Jesus is the one who created all things.. because those who assert this position may not have done the requisite work in interpretation (exegesis) and easily make this assertion. “all things were created by Him” Colossians 1:16

If teachers are at a pulpit wearing a collar, robe, or a big hat, we tend to give them the benefit of the doubt. We must be careful not to fall into such a lack of discipline if we are to learn what God truly has for us in His word. Any teacher should welcome all questions and be able to defend the faith at all times. There is nothing worse than a teacher who can’t answer a question about something they just said. The simple answer to the question of creation is that God the Father is the creator, He alone has life in His very words, God the Father is the only being with Aseity.