Sermon Details:
Series Title: We Serve the SAME God
Sermon Title: We Serve the SAME Savior! (Pt.1)
Sermon Text: Colossians 1:13-20 [ESV]
Introduction:
Last week we looked at how we as the church are ALL called by God to serve! We are on the same team and we are expected to serve. I remember my high school football days… and NO Ben we did NOT wear leather helmets!
Speak about how the coach wanted EVERYONE involved in the gameplan!
Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “You shall be my witnesses…” he was speaking to US as the church! He was saying YOU SHALL GET IN THE GAME! Jesus led 12 men for 3½ years and discipled them to carry on when He was gone… he told them its time YOU get in the game! When we come to know Him as Savior, he tells us the same thing… it’s time to get in the game!
We are all on the same team…we may not play the same position, but we are on the same team. Your role in church is not the same as my role, but we all have a role! Jesus calls us to be his witnesses… but who is this Jesus? Why does He get to have say in the church?
Well this morning we are going to look at where in his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul gives possibly the most beautiful written description of who Jesus really is …Our passage this morning is Col 1:13-20 and you just heard Mrs Peggy do a wonderful job in reading it to us!
This Scripture reveals 3 reality of WHO Jesus is… this morning I want us to look at those 3 distinctive descriptions of who Jesus is and this morning I want us to explore what biblical truths we can gather from this passage and how to apply those truths into our lives!
The first distinctive is that Paul tells us that Jesus is our:
Deliverer (v13-14)
13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
You may ask the question:
What does being delivered mean?
The short phrase, “…delivered us…” in the Greek means to draw to oneself, to rescue, or to deliver. If we use it toward us it means we are drawn TO something by someone.
What Paul is saying here is that Jesus draws us TO himself… He does this because he desires to deliver us – it IS intentional! But, still what does it ‘mean’ to be delivered?
The first aspect of understanding the phrase ‘being delivered’ is realizing someone is seeking to deliver you… Jesus is seeking to deliver us… it has ALWAYS been God’s plan!
Jesus came so that we could be delivered. Jesus willingly set aside his glory and position in Heaven, so that he bring the redemptive plan of God for sinful humanity. Jesus is the one seeking to deliver us… He is the one who has set out to draw us to Him! Jesus came to rescue us who are held captive!
When we think about ‘rescue’ it could mean that someone stumbles across someone else in need of rescue and helps them. However, in this context we find Paul saying that Jesus was drawn TO us… he did not stumble across sinful man, but He knew sinful man from the beginning and was willing to come alongside of us and seek to rescue us from the sin that entraps us!
Illustration – Hosea: Hosea was called by God to marry a woman with a bad reputation in her community. He married this woman and her name was Gomer.
She was a prostitute, but God called Hosea to GO after her! God sent Hosea out to rescue/deliver her as his wife!
That is EXACTLY what Jesus did when he came to this world! He came to DELIVER us… Jesus said Himself in John 3:17 when he said, “17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” His mission was and still IS our deliverance!
Paul is painting a picture that reveals this Jesus who leads the search to find US and draw us TO Himself! He is intentional in His desire to deliver us!
However, there is another question to ask in regard to “who is Jesus”:
If we are being delivered, what are we being delivered FROM?
Paul says that Jesus delivers us FROM the “domain of darkness” – the Greek for ‘domain’ is ex-oo-see-us which refers to one in this world who has authority for a short season and that is Satan. His domain is this world and while we are here, we battle against the darkness in this world! Paul uses this phrase a descriptor for the enemy with authority… he rules over the ‘domain of darkness’.
What Paul is saying here reflects the darkness and blackness of this world and the One who has authority over this world right now! We are blinded by this darkness… we cannot see the light because of the blackness of our sin.
However, Jesus seeks to deliver us FROM that darkness… Paul says that Christ frees us from that domain…frees from the unholy authority of Satan’s rule! Jesus delivers us from the darkness that rules our lives!
We are delivered by Jesus FROM the domain of darkness… but there is still another question that comes to mind for me.
What does being delivered from the domain of darkness mean for me?
Paul tells us in v14 that being delivered from the domain of darkness means 2 very important things:
14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
There are 2 key words in this verse -- redemption and forgiveness
Redemption represents the freedom that come after a ransom has been paid… Christ paid the ransom that enables our freedom! We are a redeemed fellowship filled with redeemed people.
Forgiveness depicts a prisoner NOT getting what he deserves but is released all guilt/consequence. “In Christ” we are FULLY pardoned for any and all crimes against God and Jesus! Illustration – speeding ticket
The result of forgiveness leaves us as if these things had never been committed. When Jesus comes into our lives, he brings deliverance and that means sins are forgiven and we stand blameless before God.
The biblical truth does Paul shares about Jesus being deliverer is:
Jesus DISCOVERS us IN our darkness.
Jesus’ DRAWS us FROM our darkness and TO Him.
Jesus’ DELIVERS us in spite of our darkness
The first biblical truth is -- Jesus is our deliverer. Despite our dark hearts and sinful nature, the Bible tells us that God forgives and he can use us to do great things for Him!
We can see that Jesus is deliverer, but we also see that Jesus is:
Creator (v15-17)
Paul is uses some beautiful language to describe Jesus here…
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
First we see Paul proclaiming: “…image of the invisible God…”
Jesus IS God
In describing Jesus as Creator, Paul first equates Jesus to God. This is because the Torah begins with the words, “In the beginning, God created…” All knew God had created so Paul uses this opportunity to make this connection.
The paradox of the Trinity comes into play here. Paul is teaching what Jesus taught. Paul tells them in v15 that Jesus is the ‘image of the invisible God.’ Jesus was God’s bodily representation here in this world.
Jesus spoke to this issue too - In John 10:30: Jesus said, “I and the Father are ONE!”
In John 14:9-10: Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father before He went away and Jesus answered, “…have you been with Me so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?”
When we go back to the Joseph’s dream in Matt 1, he was upset that Mary was pregnant and he knew they had not been together! His natural reaction was to be gentle and quietly put this out of his life, but that angel changed his mind! The Angel told him:
“…Joseph do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins.” This fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah that says, “Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means God with us!)
Jesus came to this world as THE fulfillment of prophecy and Paul was teaching that Jesus WAS God among His creation! Paul makes this connection uses it to paint a beautiful picture of WHO Jesus truly is… first he reveals that Jesus is God -- He is Creator!
Next we find Paul seeking to establish Jesus as creator! Paul wrote that Jesus was ABOVE His creation… but came to save and redeem it. Not only is Jesus God, but we also find that Jesus…
Is above all things created
16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Here I believe Paul removes all doubt as to WHO Jesus was. Paul said that Jesus was NOT just a picture of God, that he was NOT some stand in that looked a little like Him, but he is God who created all things!
He created the universe, our world, the things we can see, the things we cannot see (micro-universe)… Many may think they have power… Kings, those who rule over vast domains… those who believe they have ultimate power and authority, but NOT one of those who have ruled like this has EVER created a thing!
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon knew God and experienced God’s blessings, but stood proudly and proclaimed, “Look what I have created!” and for his prideful heart and arrogant spirit God caused Nebuchadnezzar to lose his mind for 7yrs and live like a wild animal, until he came to the realization that God was creator!
Paul establishes that Jesus is God and that Jesus created all things… but here at the end of this verse we can see a bit of the Trinity played out again. This last phrase, all things were created THRU Him and FOR Him… He was the agent of creation as well as the benefactor of creation. What a great picture of who Jesus is for us today!
We tell people we have a relationship with Jesus… so many see only Him as a carpenter from Nazareth, yet we see here that Jesus is SO much more! When we say that Jesus is our Savior, we are saying that God has saved us, the creator of the universe has saved us!
But look what Paul says in v17, “17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Here Paul is revealing who Jesus is through…
Revealing His love in and thru creation
First Paul reveals that Jesus is God, then Jesus as creator. Now he paints the picture of a creator that cares deeply for what He has created! Look at the imagery Paul uses in this verse alone!
“17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Here Paul is revealing who Jesus is through…
Jesus is before all things is another reference to His eternal nature and a reinforcement of his argument that Jesus IS God. Jesus himself said this in Revelation 1:8 when he said: “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is and who WAS and who is to come…”
Then Paul states here that: “…and in him all things hold together.” This is where Paul reveals the love Jesus has for what He has created… You see Jesus, the God of the Universe, the Creator of all things… His desire is that His creation prosper! He is caring for His creation even to this day…
What Paul is stating here is that without Jesus this world would crumble and be destroyed because it cannot sustain itself. This is more imagery from Paul… this reflects our soul. In Christ our soul is sustained and saved, we are held together, but without Christ we are destined for destruction. We cannot survive without Him.
Jesus is deliverer
Jesus is God and creator
But in these verses Paul gives us yet another picture of WHO this Jesus is…
Jesus is Leader / Cornerstone (v18-20)
18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Firstborn from the dead… Paul uses a similar phrase in v15 (firstborn of all creation…) both are the Greek word proto-tah’-kos and also here in v18. This word connected to these phrases are very difficult to understand.
First we need to understand that Paul is NOT speaking of Jesus’ physical birth… Paul is NOT saying here that Jesus had a ‘beginning’… Paul is using this word firstborn as an illustration to clarify WHO He is!
Paul’s statement here refers to 2 separate realms… the realm of creation and the realm of the church! We also know that those 2 realms are interwoven over history as God’s salvation or redemption for His creation is ONLY found in Jesus Christ!
Here Paul used this phrase as a metaphor for the resurrection! There had been SO many others raised from the dead, but ALL those people had to die again! Jesus was the first to raise from the dead to eternal life!
We cannot know salvation, we cannot be part of the church without knowing and accepting the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus. In His death, we have forgiveness of sin and in His resurrection…eternal life! Jesus IS the source of the salvation we can know! This is true because he was willing to come and lead the way to our redemption.
Paul says that I am telling you this so that in ALL things you will know that Jesus is preeminent! Preeminent means above all things… before all things… the foremost of all things! The Greek word used here simply means to hold the first position! Jesus is truly #1!
Once again Paul returns to a reference to the Trinity as in v19 he says, “19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…” This verse reflects God’s intimate involvement in the redemption of His creation. He initiated redemption! In Jesus, God set the redemption plan forth so that we can be redeemed!
Jesus leads this redemptive plan! Everything about Jesus IS directly & intimately tied to this redemptive plan… God planned this and Paul reveals here that He was pleased with Jesus’ willing obedience to His plan! In other words, ALL of who God is was IN Jesus… Jesus WAS and IS God on earth!
In addition, because Jesus was and is God on earth… it was God’s plan to use Jesus to initiate His plan…
Paul continues his portrait of Jesus in v20: “20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross…”
“…through him to reconcile to himself all things…” The actions of Jesus were for one purpose only… it was to lead the plan God had for humanity and that plan was to reconcile God’s creation to Himself!
Paul states it like this… “…thru Him (Jesus) to reconcile to Himself (Jesus) all things…” Jesus led the plan of God for the reconciliation and redemption of all creation! He is the LEADER in our redemption.
But Jesus is not just a great leader that God approves! There have been MANY men on this earth that have lead the people to God and have been faithful to God and God has approved them… Jesus was NOT just our leader, but He is the CORNERSTONE of our redemption! Without Jesus the foundation of our redemption cannot stand!
Peter teaches us that, 1 Peter 2:6 (ESV) “…behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame…” Peter is quoting Isaiah… Isaiah was prophesying about the Messiah!
In the book of Hebrews the writer says this in ch12…
2 …looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Jesus is our leader and Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith! Without Jesus all of Christianity FALLS apart!
Conclusion:
Paul wanted these believers to understand unity and teamwork and He also wanted them to understand WHO they were serving! Jesus was not just a good man, Jesus was not just a really good motivational speaker, Jesus was not just a great teacher…
Jesus was and IS our deliverer… drawing us to Him and saving from the blackness of Satan’s grip
Jesus was and IS our Creator GOD! Speaking the world into existence and holding all of creation together until the time is right…
Finally, Jesus was and IS the very CORNERSTONE of our faith! He leads us and guides our steps to serve God and build His kingdom!
If you are a believer today ALL of these characteristics of Jesus and WHO He is should appeal to your sense of service TO HIM! But you may be asking the question, how do these things apply to me? How can I take these biblical truths about Jesus and apply them to my life?
Jesus as Deliverer should evoke thankfulness on your part. Knowing where you were and where you are now because of Jesus should bring out a heart and life filled with thankfulness toward God. So often we get caught up in what we believe God IS NOT giving us… that we don’t live thankfully for what He has already done!
Jesus as Creator should evoke a sense of awe and reverence on your part. Knowing that the One who spoke the world into existence… the One who knew YOU before you were born… He loves YOU and desires a relationship with you! The thought of the God of the Universe wanting to commune with me…staggers me!
How often we do look to the sky and shake our fist at God and say WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN or WHY DID YOU LET THAT HAPPEN… We should respond like Job and sit in awe of WHO God is… not complaining on who we THINK he should be!
Jesus as Leader/Cornerstone… this should evoke a sense of empowerment in your walk with Him. Here is the ONE who started it all and he wants to use me? Here is the One who KNOWS it all and he is calling on me to serve?
How would you feel, if you could meet George Washington… we know him as the Father of our Country! What a sense of AWE I would have to meet him! Well as a Christian, we have an even GREATER One to look to… Jesus! And here is the kicker…we WILL meet him one day!
Believers you should live out your Christian walk each and every day KNOWING and UNDERSTANDING just WHO Jesus is… our deliverer, our creator and God and the cornerstone and leader of our faith! Give evangelistic invitation here…
