Does Colossians 1:17 teach that Jesus is God?

The "Iglesia Ni Cristo" teaches that Jesus is not God. However, does Colossians 1:17 teach that Jesus is God?

When we look at the verse and its surrounding context, we see that it does indeed teach that Jesus is God.

Jesus pre-existed the world.

Colossians 1:17a (ESV) - 17a And he is before all things

When this passage says that Jesus is before all things, it refers to his preeminence. In speaking of his preeminence, it also speaks of his pre-existence. If he is truly before all things, he must exist before all things. This fits well with the previous verse that speaks of him creating all things

Jesus sustains the world.

Furthermore, this passage teaches that Jesus sustains all things.

Colossians 1:17b (ESV) - 17b and in him all things hold together.

This does not mean that because of Jesus, the Father holds all things together. Hebrews 1:3 directly says that Jesus upholds all things by the word of his power. He is capable of this in his own power.

Jesus is God.

The fact that Jesus holds the world together becomes all the more important when we realize that it is God who holds the world together.

Job 12:10 (ESV) - 9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

How could these things be said of Jesus if he is not God? They couldn't.

Conclusion

Colossians 1:18 clearly teaches that Jesus upholds all of creation, something only the one and only true God can do. Therefore, Jesus must be the one and only true God. The INC rejects the clear teaching of scripture when they say that Jesus is not God.

INC members should repent of their unbelief and submit their thinking to scripture. The true gospel is found in a Jesus who is powerful enough to save; a Jesus who is God.