CHRIST CAME AS OUR KING (Outline)
January 4, 2009 --
CHRISTMAS 2 --
Colossians 1:13-20
INTRO: The purpose of a king is lost on us in today’s modern world. We know very few kings. Some kings we may know or recently remember are often kings in name only. Other kings have been very self-serving. Others were simply not very good kings at all. God gave kings in Scripture very specific purposes. Biblical kings were to provide for God’s people and also protect God’s people. These purposes fit exactly the purpose of Christ the King. "’The days are coming,’" declares the LORD, ‘when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land’"(JEREMIAH 23:5). Christ did come as the King who did “what is just and right in the land”. Today’s verses help us to appreciate the very important fact that:
CHRIST CAME AS OUR KING.
I. Christ provides forgiveness.
II. Our King protects us forever.
I. CHRIST PROVIDES FORGIVENESS
A. Earthly kings are only concerned about earthly things. Christ is concerned only about one thing.
1. Verse 13. Christ the King rescued his people from darkness. His subjects are saved.
2. Even more important is the fact that Christ brings people into his Kingdom.
3. The believers are not only rescued they are given a place of protection in his kingdom.
B. Verse 14. Redemption is the rescue. Redemption is defined as “forgiveness of sins”.
C. Verse 20. The King saves, redeems = forgives, by himself for his subjects by making peace.
1. The peace of God is far, far greater and more valuable than any earthly, human peace.
2. God’s peace comes at the price of his Son’s blood, shed on the cross. Christ provides.
D. Christ our King provides for us because we cannot provide for ourselves. Not one of us can ever pay the price for one single sin. All the wealth in the world does not even come close to being able to even make a down payment for one single sin. Nor can anyone earn or merit God’s forgiveness. Not one of us deserves to be forgiven. All our righteous acts are like filthy rags. All our thoughts and our words and our actions are tainted by sin. "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him--the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough--that he should live on forever and not see decay"(PSALM 49:7-9). None can redeem but Christ. The blood of Christ purifies us from all sin!
E. Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament teaching concerning the duty of the king. The king was to provide for his subjects. Our King, Christ, goes far beyond the realm of physically providing for us. Our King, Christ, provides for us perfectly. Our King, Christ, provides for us what we neither could nor can provide for ourselves. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understand-ing"(EPHESIANS 1:7,8). This word redemption is given the explanation (definition) “the forgiveness of sins”. (Very often Scripture defines those long or hard or important words in the same verse or nearby verses.) In wisdom Christ provides his forgiveness for us lavishly – in abundance. In wisdom God gives us his free grace that we cannot earn, nor deserve, nor buy for ourselves by our own merit or worthiness.
F. Christ our King has changed our lives forever. We look to our loving Lord to provide for us and he does – freely and lavishly. Our King came not to be selfish but selfless. Christ came to provide not for himself but for us. For us is and always will be the purpose of our King, the Christ. Our reaction is that we live lives of thankfulness for the King who provides so very, very generously for us. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed"(1 PETER 2:24). He who is the King, the Christ, our Savior forgives our sins.
CHRIST CAME AS OUR KING. Christ provides divine forgiveness for all of mankind. As believers we appreciate God’s gift of forgiveness through his Son. We also know and believe our King protects us.
II. OUR KING PROTECTS US FOREVER
A. A king can only provide protection for his people depending on the amount of power he has.
1. Today’s verses reveal the absolute power possessed by Christ, our King.
2. Verse 15. Christ became flesh. The invisible God was seen in the image of Christ.
B. Verse 16. Jesus was there at the very beginning. Jesus was involved with his Father at creation.
1. The triune God created all things and thus has absolute control or power over all things.
2. Even all authorities, powers, rulers, and thrones are subject to the Christ, the King.
3. At this time some began to worship angels. God reveals that Christ alone deserves worship.
C. Verse 17 reminds the believers that Christ, the King, is eternal. Christ rules the entire world.
1. Even more importantly is that Christ, the King, is the head for the church, verse 18.
2. Verse 19. There is to be no misunderstanding. Christ and the Father are one in power, glory.
D. The Christ as the King is nothing new. The Old Testament told the people to expect their Savior to come as God’s chosen King. True, God did not live in a palace like any earthly king. Jesus did not have an earthly kingdom defined with specific borders. For Christ, the King, was unlike any earthly king. For this we are thankful and rejoice. "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this"(ISAIAH 9:7). Isaiah reveals that our King is eternal. Our King provides peace. This is God’s peace, forever.
E. Earthly kings depend on force to protect their kingdom. They establish armies and stockpile weapons to defend themselves. God’s power is far greater than any earthly power. Our King protects us by his absolute power that made everything out of nothing. At creation God spoke and it was done. Today God speaks and the world and everything in it is kept safe. "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven"(HEBREWS 1:3). Yes, the powerful word of God is the ultimate, absolute power of Christ, our King, who protects his creation. Consider how the planets, stars, and universe all are kept in their places by God’s word. That is power! It is that very same powerful word of God that sustains us day in and day out. We hear God’s word and our faith is sustained, eternity is protected for us. We read and study God’s word and eternity is sustained.
F. The apostle Paul faced all kinds of persecutions and imprisonments for his faith. But he knew that the Christ, his King, was on his side. This is the same Savior who still protects us as our King today. Our King protects us by keeping evil away from us. Our King protects us by having defeated Satan, sin, and even death itself. "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen"(2 TIMOTHY 4:18). We will see our King in heaven.
CONC.: Last week we learned Christ came as our brother. We are all made members of his family. In these verses we learn how Christ came as our King. Members of the King’s family makes us princes and princesses. Thankfully Christ is far different from any earthly king. Our King is selfless and does everything, absolutely everything for us. "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers"(REVELATION 17:14). Rejoice and celebrate CHRIST CAME AS OUR KING. Christ our King provides what we truly, dearly need -- forgiveness. Our King protects us forever with his forgiveness that guarantees our eternal inheritance. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min.(Sat) / 12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun) / 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) & 7:00pm @ Hays, KS = Living Savior
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
CHRISTMAS 2 rdgs.:
MICAH 5:2-5a;
HEBREWS 2:10-18;
JOHN 7:40-43;
(PSALM 148)
