The power of His Word should not come as any surprise, since, by that Word, He spoke the worlds into existence and continues to sustain them.
When we think about how God created the world, we don’t generally think of Him in His three persons. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth,” and we tend to assume it is talking about God the Father. Even the so-called Apostles’ Creed starts off with this assumption: “I believe in God the Father, Maker of Heaven and Earth.”
However, when we examine Scripture, we see that it was God the Son who created the heavens and earth. Colossians 1:14-15 is obviously talking about the Son of God when it says, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” Then verse 16 continues by saying, “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth.” And we see in Hebrews 1:2 that the Father “hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.” These verses clearly teach us that it was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created not only the earth, but the entire universe. Colossians also shows us the extent of what is under the Son’s control, for verse 16 goes on to say, “whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.”
So the Lord Jesus is clearly the Creator. But what we might find even more amazing is how Christ sustains everything: “And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [or ‘are held together’]” (Col. 1:17). What must it take to keep the universe going? We can’t think on this too long because it boggles the mind. Every planet moving in precise orbit; every atom held together and functioning according to its unique characteristics. “How does He do that?” one might ask. He just says the word.
The Word in Creation
We know from Genesis that He spoke the world into existence: “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). In Hebrews 1:3 we read that He holds everything together “by the word of His power.” All He has to do is speak the word and it is done. What marvelous power! Truly God is an awesome God.
Stop and contemplate that kind of power. Men think they have power, making things on this earth. They construct mighty buildings and command other men. But no mortal man can speak something into existence. The first law of thermodynamics states that “Matter cannot be created nor destroyed.” Well, not by man. But God just says the word and it happens. “By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Ps. 33:6). With this knowledge of God, it is easier to understand how the earth will “melt away with a fervent heat” (2 Pet. 3:10). Christ, who sustains all things, only has to say the word and the laws of physics, as we know them, will no longer apply.
What power is contained in Christ’s Word! We see glimpses of it in His various miracles. He rarely performed the same miracle the same way twice. The Lord Jesus is much greater than that. He needed no formula for His miracles; He simply effected them in whatever way was best for the moment. But we do see a pattern in the raising up of the dead. At such times, the Lord simply called the person and commanded them to arise or come forth, and the person rose from the dead. We see this with Jairus’ daughter, the widow of Nain’s son, and with Lazarus. It has been surmised that if Christ hadn’t been specific in His call (e.g. “Lazarus, come forth!” John 11:43), every dead body within the sound of His voice would have arisen.
The reason Paul points out the fact that it is Christ who is responsible for the creation of the world and all that is in it, and that it is Christ who sustains and maintains the universe, was to combat error. Gnosticism had crept into the church at Colossae, denying the deity of Christ. This ugly heresy told people that they must attain a “higher knowledge” in order to reach God. The Gnostics claimed that Christ wasn’t the Son of God, but had merely attained this “knowledge” of God.
Paul addresses these errors front and center. He goes out of his way to state that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. He goes on to reaffirm Christ’s deity by saying, as we have here, that Christ is the creator and sustainer of all things.
We see this same error cropping up again today in books and movies, and the recent discovery of a manuscript purported to be the “Epistle of Judas.” Despite the lack of any historical veracity, these errors are receiving a lot of attention. But they are nothing more than the same myths and lies that Satan has been spreading for over two thousand years.
The world may argue against the truth. Unbelievers may try to re-write history or say that Jesus Christ was just a man. They cannot, however, argue against the might of His Word. They cannot escape its penetrating power. It cuts to the heart and into the conscience; it probes their thoughts and intentions (Heb. 4:12); it leaves them without excuse.
The Word in the New Creation
The power of His Word should not come as any surprise, since, by that Word, He spoke the worlds into existence and continues to sustain them. But not even those mighty acts reveal the full extent of the influence of His Word. For He came to earth and spoke the words of eternal life. And of all Christ’s wondrous words while here, perhaps the most notable words He uttered were when He cried, “It is Finished!” Such a profound declaration was that from the Son of God that the earth shook and dead men rose from their graves. With those words He gives to us a way to eternal life. And, just as with creation, His Word also sustains us. He rose from the grave and ascended to the Father’s right hand where He “ever liveth to make intercession” for us (Heb. 7:25).
The same Word that gave life at creation, which raised people from the dead, is still bringing eternal life today. Christ is still, and will always be, on the throne at the Father’s right hand. He is still maintaining the universe and is ready to show Himself strong to those who fear Him. All He has to do is say the word. So who other than His Son would God the Father send to secure our salvation? John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). The One who brought human life into being is the One who also brings eternal life.