Colossians 1:17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
The Lord Jesus Christ “In whom we have redemption”, “Who is the image of the invisible God”, and “by him were all things created” (Colossians 1:14-16) “is before all things” that He Created. Many doubted that He is God, that He is One in the Triune Godhead (I John 5:7); so, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58). Some doubted His Eternal Existence; so, He said “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). And, He tells John, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22:13). Paul also tells us that Jesus Christ “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” (Philippians 2:6). The Psalmist said of Him, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalms 90:2). His people were chosen in Him “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4). In His sovereign mind and purpose, He “saved us, and called us … before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9). Furthermore, He determined and set the Eternal “inheritance” (Ephesians 1:11) for His “Elect” (I Peter 1:2) “before the world began”. Knowing that He is indeed our Eternal Lord and Savior, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” (Psalms 95:2)!