The most powerful and stirring songs of the Christian Faith draw our attention to Jesus Christ! Ancient Hymns like
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Gospel songs like
How Great Thou Art
Wonderful Grace of Jesus
Praise and Worship Songs like
Behold Our God
Jesus, Only Jesus
Our WORSHIP is directed to Jesus Christ
Today’s Passage is a HYMN of the Christian Church.
Colossians 1:15–20 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And 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. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
This passage contains Seven Attributes of Jesus Christ.
Seven is the number of God’s perfection, and it is not a coincidence that this Hymn lists seven statements describing the perfection of Jesus Christ
Concerning the grandeur of this passage, Norm Geisler writes: “No comparable listing of so many characteristics of Christ and His deity are found in any other Scripture passage” Norman L. Geisler, “Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 672.
Here, we will examine each of these seven attributes
1. HE IS GOD MADE KNOWN TO US. (15) The image of the invisible God...
a. Greek word the word from which we derive our English word icon. This word can reference a likeness of something, like the image of a Caesar on on a coin.
b. But the word meant something deeper to the people of Colossae in the first century.
c. Emphasis here is that Jesus is the perfect representation of God the Father.
d. John 1:18 "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known."
e. Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)."
2. HE IS THE RULER OF ALL THINGS. (15) The firstborn over all creation.
a. As FIRSTBORN, Christ preceded the creation of the physical world.
b. As FIRSTBORN, Christ is SOVEREIGN over the creation
c. Matthew 3:17 "and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”"
d. Hebrews 2:6–9 “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, ....... At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone."
3. HE IS THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE PHYSICAL WORLD. Col 1:16–17 "For 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
a. Creator: “all things were created in heaven and earth......
i. Christ’s creation of the physical world
ii. Christ’s creation of the spiritual world (angels)
iii. THROUGH HIM - he is the AGENT
iv. FOR HIM - he is the OBJECT
b. Sustainer “In Him all things hold together”
i. Written BEFORE humans understood the physics of the ATOM
ii. Written BEFORE the understanding of ELECTRICAL CHARGE
iii. Scientists speak of Four Forces at work in our world.
(1) Gravity
(2) Electromagnatism.
(3) Weak Force
(4) Strong Force
iv. The Strong Force is a power within the nucleus of each atom holding the positively charged electrons in place.
v. Without the Strong Force, the charge on the electrons would cause them to repel one another, just like two positive sides of a magnet would repel one another.
vi. What science cannot fully explain, the Bible sets forth in language unavailable to a First Century writer. When Paul writes about Jesus that “in Him all things hold together” he provides a statement that is consistent with scientific discoveries that would remain unknown for almost 2 millennia!
c. Critics mock Christians who proclaim that Jesus holds the world together.
d. How is Jesus doing this?
i. There are not “little Jesus’s” inside every atom
ii. IN THE BEGINNING - Jesus Created the molecular forces more powerful than electromagnetism.
iii. Scientists OBSERVE the WHAT but they do not know the HOW.
iv. Jesus is the HOW!
e. Sometimes we ask “Can Jesus Hold me together?” HE ALREADY IS!
f. Words to “Breath of Heaven”
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone
Be with me now be with me now
Breath of Heaven hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness
For You are holy
Breath of Heaven
4. HE IS OUR HOPE AND RESURRECTION. (18) The firstborn from among the dead
a. Jewish feast of FIRSTFRUITS. Leviticus 23:10–11 “When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, so that you may be accepted.”
b. A SHEAF of Grain was cut on PASSOVER. The Day after SABBATH, it was presented as an offering before the Lord.
c. Christ’s death was PASSOVER (Thursday, 14 Nissan, 33 AD)
d. First Sabbath was SATURDAY
e. The FIRSTFRUIT OFFERING was presented on SUNDAY, 3 days later!
f. Represents CHRIST’s RESURRECTION.
g. 1 Corinthians 15:20 "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
h. The first of the harvest, reminding you that the rest of the harvest will ripen
i. Hebrews 2:14 "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,"
5. HE IS FULLY GOD. Colossians 1:19 "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,"
a. Not a creation or a reflection of God
b. Our SAVIOR is the SUPREME RULER of the Universe
6. HE is Our RECONCILIATION. Colossians 1:20 "and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
SEVEN ATTRIBUTES of CHRIST
Three Show his Supremacy over CREATION
- God made known to us
- The Ruler of all things
- The Creator and sustainer of all things
Four Show his Supremacy in REDEMPTION
- He is the Head of the Church
- He is our Resurrection
- He is Fully God
- He is our Reconciliation
BOTH CREATION and HUMANITY had to be REDEEMED
Romans 8:22–23 "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
No matter what you are going through, Jesus is sufficient!
Our REDEEMER SUSTAINS US
He Is the Image of the invisible God
God is with you because Christ is with you
God is for you
