God-centered resources from the ministry of John Piper

All Things Were Created Through Him and for Him
Sermon 1 in the series "Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ"

In Colossians 1:16 Paul wants us to know that all things were created for Jesus Christ, to magnify his glory. And of all the possible examples he could have used to illustrate this point, Paul deliberately mentions "thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorites"--that is, evil supernatural powers (see Ephesians 6:12). But why?

Paul asserts Christ's creative authority over evil supernatural powers--as well as his design to get glory through them--so that believers would be braced in their battle against evil and rejoice in Christ's incomparable wisdom and might.

• Listen to the excerpt on why the weakest of Christians should take heart at Paul's words.
• Watch an excerpt on how comprehensive Christ's glory is--and will be--in his creation.