Jesus: "Crown Him Lord Of All.”

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Jesus, is the image of the invisible God (vs 15a)

(2). Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (vs 15b)

(3). Jesus is the creator God (vs 16-17).

(4). Jesus is the head of the church (vs 18).

(5). Jesus is the fulness of God (vs 19).

(6). Jesus is the saviour (vs 20).

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

Real or fake famous landmarks.

• Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

• Sanctuary of Christ the King, Lisbon, Portugal

• Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

• Trevi Fountain, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

• Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France

• Arc de Triomphe, Shenzhen, China

• Statue of Liberty, New York, USA

• Statue of Liberty, Tokyo, Japan

• TRANSITION:

• The monuments might look impressive & like the real thing.

• But they are inferior and fakes.

• In religion there are a lot of false Jesus’ around.

• e.g. The Jehovah Witness say he is Michael the arch angel!

• e.g. Mormons believe Jesus was the spirit child,

• Of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.

• e.g. In Islam and the Quran, Jesus (known as 'Isa),

• Is revered as a prophet and messenger of God but no more!

• Those descriptions like the fake monuments,

• Might look impressive & like the real thing.

• But they are inferior and fakes.

• And in these verses the apostle Paul:

• Deals with the most important question,

• That anyone can ask and explores ‘Who is Jesus Christ?’

• So much, rides on knowing the answer to that question.

• Both in this life and the next!

The church at Colossae was being infiltrated with false teachers.

• Their false teaching would later become known as Gnosticism.

• And was penetrating the Church.

• Remember from last week:

• An atheist is one who does not believe in God.

• An agnostic is one who is unsure if God exists.

• A Gnostic claims special insight and knowledge regarding God.

• And one of the Gnostic beliefs was that Jesus was not divine.

• That Jesus is God the Son.

• What we refer to as part of the Godhead (Trinity).

• The Trinity is a Latin word meaning three,

• It is never mentioned in the Bible,

• (Bible languages are Hebrew, Greek & Aramaic).

But this central doctrine has always existed in Christianity,

• We believe in one God existing in three distinct persons:

• God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ),

• And God the Holy Spirit.

• This means that while there is only one divine essence,

• Each person of the Trinity is fully and equally God,

• Coeternal and consubstantial.

• The concept emphasizes both the unity and diversity of God.

• And separates true Christian doctrine from false teaching.

Ill:

• What is the trinity?

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/97aEQBwl-DI?si=pO8JjAt3-7HTYXPW

• TRANSITION: In this letter the apostle Paul,

• Teaches this Church at Colossae (and elsewhere).

• The truth of who Jesus is!

Now, Gnosticism taught something different:

• They that Jesus was himself a created being.

• And this false teaching,

• Was infiltrating the Church at Colossae.

• TRANSITION:

• There are still may false ideas as to ‘Who is Jesus Christ’.

• Note: You need to know this.

• Because the Jehovah Witnesses will attack you on this.

• And if you witness to any Moslem about your faith,

• They will certainly attack you on this point!

• I can almost guarantee it!

Now in these verses we see that Jesus is supreme!

• He is no created creature, he is no emanation,

• He is uncreated, he is supreme, he is #1.

• He is supreme in relation to creation.

• He is supreme in relation to Church.

• Now there is so much in this passage,

• It is hard to know what to leave in and what to leave out.

• So, I am going to share with you,

• Five reasons Jesus is supreme!

#1: He is the image of the invisible God (vs 15a)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God.”

Wow! Let that sink in!

• Jesus is the visual manifestation of the invisible God.

• Jesus is the only one who makes visible HE who is invisible.

• ill: On a human level that is like me saying.

• “Look at this picture of the invisible man.”

• That is humanly impossible.

• But nothing is impossible with God,

• And Jesus can make visible HE who is invisible.

Ill:

• Or, we might say,

• “If Jesus took a selfie photo with his phone, you would see the Father.”

• Didn't He say that in John chapter 14 verses 8-10?

• “He who has seen me has seen the Father.”