"The Preeminence of the Savior"
Colossians 1:18
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Introduction: A. W. Tozer said, A. W. Tozer said, "The most important thought anyone can have is a correct understanding of God's attributes."
COLOSSIAN PHILOSOPHY: "BORROWED" FEATURES
I used to collect basketball cards. This was way back in the early 90s, though I still have held on to them. Basketball cards took off well after baseball cards, and each brand over time had its own unique features. Some were UV coated, others had gold foil on them, some had extensive stats, and some just had the best 'insert cards' or special cards that you'd find with varying odds per pack. When I started collecting, there were only a few major brands -- Fleer, Topps, Upper Deck. However, in the next few years, new brands started to branch off of the old, and some new competitors came into the forefront, as well. After a short while, there were TONS of brands. Many of the brands would take one good feature of another brand and then change everything else to make it unique. It was like a smorgasbord of questionable usefulness, and it was often very confusing to choose given the vast number of trading card brand options. Anyway, this is similar to the way philosophies were in 60 AD, in the time of the boom of the Colossian church. Many simple philosophical theories would be 'borrowed from,' and other more complicated and sometimes completely different philosophies would branch off. In Colossae, there was a smorgasbord of empty philosophy, and many held eclectic beliefs about existence and the world around them.
(From a sermon by Sterling Franklin, Jesus Christ, the Preeminent One who Reconciles, 10/26/2010)
In many churches and in the lives of many believers Christ has a place or at best he is prominent but he is not preeminent! Everything that Jesus is can be summarized in the word preeminent. This morning I want to remind all of us about what the Scriptures say about Jesus.
First: Jesus is the preeminent revealer of the Father. We cannot know God apart from Him.
I. Jesus Reveals the Father
a. The words of the Savior
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, (God only begotten) which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. This word (declared) fitly closes the Prologue in which the Logos is pictured in marvellous fashion as the Word of God in human flesh, the Son of God with the Glory of God in him, showing men who God is and what he is. Robertson's Word Pictures
Luke 7:19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
John 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
b. The words of the Scripture
Notice if you will the word "...image..." in verse 15. This word comes from a Greek word that is translated icon. Everyone who has a multi-media device knows what an icon is. Here the word icon means an "exact replica." Jesus is the extra representation of God the Father. That's why Jesus could say, "If you have seen me, you have seen the Father."
c. The witness of the Sovereign
At his baptism:
Luke 3:21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
At his transfiguration:
Luke 9:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Second: Jesus is the preeminent ruler of the universe. He stand alone as Lord of all!
II. Jesus Rules the Future
a. He reigns over the universe
His power is the power of creation. All authority is given unto Him. There is another important word in verse 15. It is the word "firstborn" The word does not mean having a beginning as it is twisted by the Jehovah's Witness. It speaks of the place of honor and priviledge. The first born has the highest place of honor. Paul is saying that Jesus is over every creature. Listen to verse 16...
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
The most honored position is at the "right hand" of the Sovereign. Over and over Jesus is given the most highly exalted position.
Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
NAPOLEON BONAPARTE ON JESUS
It was Napoleon Bonaparte who wrote "Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him."
(From a sermon by Denn Guptill, The Nature of Love, 6/13/2010)
b. He regulates the universe
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
The second law of Thermodynamics, in basic lay-people terms says that, the most probable state for any natural system is one of disorder. All natural systems degenerate when left to themselves. "Things fall apart." According to this law, the universe should fall apart -- but it does not! What this verse says is that Jesus is the glue that holds it all together. Jesus did not create the world, and then exit, leaving us to our own devices to keep it together, no, he created the universe, and he sustains it!
The writer of Hebrews declares that Jesus is:
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
c. He rewards the godly and brings retribution on the ungodly.
As the ruler of the universe Jesus is also by position and prerogative the judge of the universe. He is the rewarder of those that love Him and he will bring retribution on all those who reject Him.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Third: Jesus is the preeminent redeemer of all mankind. There is no other way to God except by and through Him!
III. Jesus Redeems the Fallen
a. His way is exclusive
The exclusivity of the Christian faith is not a popular claim in our culture. We are told we should consider all religions equally valid. Barbara Walters had a special on television this past Tuesday about heaven. In it she interviewed several "religious experts." But the ones she is drawn to are those who say that people from all faiths are going to heaven.
But the question should not be whether Jesus' claims are tolerant or exclusive, but if they are true. If Jesus' claims are true, then they are the most hopeful words ever spoken and the most inclusive. They provide us an opportunity to be saved and they are for everyone.
C.S. Lewis -- "Christianity is a statement, which, if false is on no importance, and if true is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is just moderately important."
Now some do not like the claim the Christ is the only way to God and you may be one of those that thinks that all religions are the same.
ILL - Anyone who claims that all religions are the same betrays not only an ignorance of all religions but also a caricatured view of even the best-known ones. Every religion at its core is exclusive.
Ravi Zacharias, Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message, p. 7
There are some folks in religious and even some in evangelical circles that have embraced a view that there are other ways to God. This is called "pluralism." But the Word of god makes it plain that there is only one way to know God and that is through Jesus. If you are one of those who has moved in this direction please remember that Jesus himself declared that "I am the way, the truth and the life..." and "...no man comes to the Father but by me..."
There is another way in which Jesus is exclusive.
b. His way is elective
An elective is something that we have to choose, right? Salvation is that way too. There is no such thing as "universal coverage" One of the most powerful words in all the Bible is "whosoever."
Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
JESUS- NOT HATE BUT HOPE
"Jesus."
It's a little name. A small word.
Say this little name in public, however, in a way other than an obscenity, and stand back and watch the fireworks.
This little name is like a tiny detonator that triggers a nuclear warhead.
You can say "God," and you won't get a squeak.
You can say "Our Father/Mother in Heaven," and few will flinch.
You can say "Great Spirit," and people will nod in approval.
You can say "Allah" and you will be deemed tolerant.
But say "Jesus" and just wait for the sonic boom.
Articles will appear in the paper. Reprimands will be posted from the home office. Suits will be threatened by the civil liberties block.
So don't say Jesus.
Jesus is divisive, and now is a time for unity.
Jesus is an extremist, and that must mean right wing.
Jesus is exclusive, so His name amounts to hate speech.
Keep His name to yourself. Cloister it in your church. Lock it in your prayer closet. Close it between the covers of your Bible. But for God's sake, don't voice it in the public square!
It's immodest. It's immoral. It's unloving.
Only one problem.
Jesus is God.
Only one problem.
Jesus alone brings salvation.
Only one problem.
All other gods are nothing.
So speak His name aloud.
Shout it from the mountain.
Whisper it in the dark.
Write it in the sky.
That's not hate, it's hope."
SOURCE: From The Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY, Newsletter, http://www.southeastchristian.org/. CITED IN: "The Question That Condemned Jesus - (Whose Line Is It?)": Matthew 26:57-68 by Jeff Strite.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=55872.
ILL - D. L. MOODY AND THE CHICAGO CAMPAIGN
In 1893, the World Exposition was held in Chicago, and more than 21 million people visited the exhibits.
Among the features was a "World Parliament of Religions," with representatives of the world's religions, meeting to share their "best points" and perhaps come up with a new religion for the world.
Evangelist D.L. Moody saw this as a great opportunity for evangelism. He used churches, rented theaters, and even rented a circus tent to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
His friends wanted Moody to attack the "Parliament of Religions," but he refused.
Moody knew that Jesus Christ was the preeminent Savior, not just one of many "religious leaders" of history. He knew the power of the Gospel. He knew the preeminence of Christ.
The "Chicago Campaign" of 1893 was probably the greatest evangelistic endeavor in D.L. Moody's life, and thousands, thousands came to Christ.
(From a sermon by J. Jeffrey Smead, It's All About Jesus, 11/17/2010)
Gleaned from an outline by Dr. Adrian Rogers entitled "Who Is Jesus?"
