What does it mean that Jesus is the image of the invisible God?
God is invisible, and the Trinity—the Old Testament Elohim—is an invisible Godhead, spirit. From that invisible Trinity, one person stepped out, took on flesh, and became visible. The Son, the Lord Jesus, is therefore the image or visible appearance of the invisible God, existing before anything else was created.
Les explains that the pronoun “who” refers to the Son whose blood was given for redemption and forgiveness. Verse 15 asks who is the image of the invisible God. Les teaches that God is invisible; the Trinity, the Elohim of the Old Testament, was that invisible Godhead, spirit. Out of that invisible Trinity stepped one person of the Godhead, and He took on flesh and became visible. Paul is talking about this God, the Son, Lord Jesus, as the image or visible appearance of the invisible God. Les also notes He is the firstborn of every creature, meaning He is before anything else has ever been. Verse 16 adds that by Him, God the Son, all things were created in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers—everything was created by Him and for Him. Les warns against bringing this person of the Godhead down to the level of mankind’s other gods, calling it blasphemy. He is the Creator, and one day every human being will know Him as such; the lost will meet Him at the great white throne.
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
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How do we know that Christ is the image of the invisible God?
We must take by faith that Christ is the visible manifestation of the invisible God, because it cannot be proven by laboratory experiment but is stated in Scripture.