Text: Colossians 1:15-23
Title:The supremacy of Christ
Introduction
“He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God” (v15)
Whatever God is…Christ is. In the Gospels God is love and Christ is love. God is holy and Christ is…holy.
Here in Colossians it is God is supreme therefore Christ is Supreme.
1.Christ is supreme over creation (v15b-17)
“…the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
3 things to see here
1.Christ created everything
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him…
•Everything you see and everything you don’t see Christ created.
John 1:3 “through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
2. Everything that Christ created He created for himself.
…all things were created by him and for him.
3. Christ holds everything in creation together
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
2. Christ is supreme over the church (v18a)
“And he is the head of the body, the church.”
A.Christ is the founder of the church
“I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” (Matt. 16:18)
B.Christ is the head of the church
Christ feeds and cares for the church (Eph. 5:29)
3. Christ is supreme over death (v18b)
“He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
A.The proof : his resurrection from the dead
Hebrews 3:14-15 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death – that is the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
a.Christ is supreme over the power of death
Death is powerful. 100% fall under its power
b.Christ is supreme over our fear of death
Proof: we don’t talk about death
4. Christ is supreme over salvation (v19-20)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Christ is supreme over salvation because
1.All things are reconciled to God through Christ alone
2.Peace with God is only possible through Christ’s blood shed for us on the cross
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
“Salvation is found in one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (v19)
Christ is God’s hand picked savior.
5. Christ is to be supreme over the Believer (V21-23)
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
Definition: I can say I have become a servant of Christ.
A. God’s part (v22)
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-
1.He has reconciled us by Christ’s physical body through death
2.He has remade us
Presents you holy in his sight without blemish and free from accusation
B.My part (v23)
"If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
To continue in your faith= In other words to continue at all times to believe that Christ is supreme.
To be established and firm in this belief (Christ is supreme)
To be not moved from the hope that Christ is supreme.
This is the gospel that is proclaimed to every creature; Christ is supreme!
If I really believe Christ is supreme there is only one response. I must serve him.
If something else is supreme in my life I need to replace it with Christ.
Conclusion
Maybe there is someone here today who feels alienated from God. In your mind you think of yourself as God’s enemy. You can take care of that today by trusting in Christ’s work on the cross.
Christ is not just to be my savior he is to be supreme.
