THE SUPREMACY OF JESUS CHRIST
COLOSSIANS 1:15-23
GREENMOUNT AND O’LEARY CHURCHES OF CHRIST OCTOBER 30, 2016
[Sermon 3 of __ in series on Colossians]
Audio Link to hear the preaching of this message: http://chirb.it/JHqyG5
INTRODUCTION:
1.) Today there are many who have a great deal of trouble with Jesus, and who He is.
2.) It is ok to say we believe in and worship God, but many become upset when we begin to speak of or to acknowledge Jesus His Son.
A.) There are times in public events when ministers are even told they cannot pray in the name of Jesus.
o Perhaps part of the reason for this is that the term “God” has become kind of a generic term that has come to mean whoever or whatever you want it to mean or to worship.
Today when people say “God it can refer to the true and living God, or Buddha, or Allah, or someone else.
o When we speak of Jesus it makes people uncomfortable because He has himself demanded total allegiance and worship even to the exclusion of all others.
3.) Today as we continue to look at Colossians 1, we will look at the Supremacy of Jesus Christ.
A.) As we see Jesus in Colossians 1, we will see Him as He truly is.
B.) It is when we see him on par with the Living God, that we can understand some of what that means,
ba.) It is when we see Him in this light that we comprehend why His name is so intimidating and despised by the world.
I) THE SUPREMACY OF JESUS CHRIST IN PHYSICAL CREATION IS PROOF THAT HE IS GOD.
1.) He is the image of the invisible God.
A.) “God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him.” (1:19).
B.) It is when we recognize Jesus the Christ as an absolute equal in every way with Jehovah God that our view of him is in line with the Word of God.
ba.) When Paul spoke to the church at Colossae he proclaimed the identity of Jesus the Christ.
C.) What exactly did Paul mean when he said that Jesus is the image of the invisible God?
caa.) Certainly there would be reference to that sinless state of purity that had existed in Eden before man had entered into sin.
.01) It was a time when man existed in perfect fellowship and harmony with God His creator.
.02) Certainly Jesus, the second Adam could be described in this manner. He had never sinned, so was in perfect harmony and fellowship with God the Father.
cab.) I believe there is also a second and much higher understanding of what Paul is saying as well.
.01) From at least the time of the fall of man, God has been separate from His creation because of sin.
.011) Sin has placed between the human race and our God a barrier that man could never cross over.
.0111) What that means is that man can no longer see the face of God, nor can we stand in His presence without the greatness of His glory destroying us.
.0112) God told Moses that no man can see the face of God and live (Exod.33:20)
.02) As the image of the invisible God, Jesus brought God to this earth in a human body.
.021) Even though we cannot see the face of God the Father and live, Jesus has brought the fullness of the person of God to this earth in himself.
.0211) It is exactly for this reason that the name and person of Jesus is so rejected and despised today.
.0212) It is far easier and more desirable for man to picture God as we would design or envision Him than to see God as He really is.
o The world’s image of God is only love, He is pictured as a kind and loving grandfather image who does not demand holiness, and will condone sin without accountability or judgment.
o This is not the God of the Bible, nor who is seen in the person of Jesus.
.022) Jesus himself stated: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
.023) Yes truly, Jesus came to this earth giving man a vision of the person of God.
.0231) There is also another side of the person of Jesus.
2.) He is the firstborn over all creation.
A.) As the image of the invisible God, he came to earth as God.
B.) Jesus was 100% God, but He was also 100% man.
ba.) As the God-man, Jesus lived and worked on this earth as a man, even though He was God.
bb.) Jesus is the firstborn over all creation.
ba.) As the second Adam, he was the firstborn of creation.
bb.) This man who was also fully God is perfect having neither sin nor moral flaw.
C.) The term first-born can have two meanings in our English language:
ca.) In can be a term in reference to time of compared to others.
cb.) It can also mean to be born with a role that is superior to others.
cba.) In this passage the view of Jesus as fully God and fully man shows that it refers to a place of superiority over others of the
human race.
.01) Jesus was a superior man in that he was able to keep himself free of sin.
.02) Jesus was also a superior man in that God had given him a mission to save the human race from our sins.
3.) He is the creator and sustainer of all things.
A.) Again we go back to Jesus in that role as the image of the invisible God.
aa.) Paul goes back and forth showing us Jesus both as God and as man.
aaa.) In Jesus we see two distinct sides and yet He is still one.
.01) When the world looks to Jesus and sees Him as an image of the Invisible God He loses his popularity among the world.
II) THE SUPREMACY OF JESUS CHRIST IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM DECLARES THAT HE IS GOD.
1.) He is the head of the body – the Church.
A.) He is the beginning and the firstborn from the dead.
aa.) So that in everything He might have the supremacy.
ab.) I would like to say that Jesus still has the Supremacy in the Church but unfortunately in many churches this is no longer the case.
aba.) Today in many churches the opinions and thoughts of man have replaced Jesus Christ and the Lordship he has over the church.
abb.) There are many churches that have compromised on the Word of God and have brought in practices, beliefs, and doctrines which are contrary to those in the Word of God.
abc.) Perhaps this is nothing new. I suspect there have always been those who have claimed to be of Christ, yet have not been willing
to accept the authority of Christ.
.01) None the less those are true to Christ will also acknowledge the Supremacy and Lordship of Jesus Christ just as Paul had
presented Him to the Church at Colossae.
2.) He has reconciled to Himself all things.
A.) Whether things on earth.
aa.) That is man in all of his sinfulness, and fallen nature.
ab.) When Jesus came to this earth He took on himself the body and attributes of the human race in every way except that he kept himself pure from sin.
B.) Or things in heaven.
ba.) That is God in all his perfection, purity, and holiness,
bb.) The very purpose for which Jesus came into this world was to bring reconciliation between man and God.
bba.) It had to be Jesus to bridge this gap.
01) Because of sin, man could never have come into the presence of God.
.02) Likewise, because of God’s sinlessness, and his complete state of holiness He could not enter into the presence of sin.
.03) The only way this reconciliation could ever take place was for the perfect holiness of God to come down as a man, and yet to retain his holiness as a man without ever sinning.
.031) Jesus was the only one who could bridge that gap, and bring reconciliation between man and God.
3.) The means by which this reconciliation has taken place:
A.) He made peace:
aa.) Through His blood.
aaa.) Even in the Old Testament, God established that life was in the blood of a being, and that blood was the only payment for the sins of man.
aab.) The blood of animals was offered throughout the Old Covenant but never completely removed sins from people.
.01) This blood could never take away sins because it was an imperfect sacrifice.
.02) When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him he recognized him for who he is.
.021) Led by the Spirit of God, John pointed to Jesus and introduced him as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
ab.) On the cross.
aba.) It was here on the cross that Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
4.) What it means to have that peace:
A.) Once we were alienated from God.
aa.) Perhaps you remember that feeling you had of being alienated from God before coming to Christ.
aaa.) It is not a pleasant memory to recall that uneasiness of soul apart from salvation in Jesus Christ.
B.) Now we are reconciled to God.
ba.) What a difference that makes!
bb.) What a peace that gives!
C.) We have been declared holy in His sight.
• What we could never have accomplished on our own, Jesus did for us on the cross.
• We now can stand before Christ:
ca.) without blemish.
cb.) Free from accusation.
D.) As great as this state of holiness is, Paul reminded the church at Colossae it is conditional.
da.) We must continue in our faith.
daa.) Colossians 1:23
dab.) We must be established and firm in our faith.
CONCLUSION:
1.) May we be encouraged today by the reality of Jesus Christ and His supremacy.
2.) The Supremacy which Jesus has shown in the Physical world proves that He is God.
3.) The Supremacy which Jesus has shown in the Spiritual realms again proves that He is God.
4.) Leave here filled with praise because Jesus has demonstrated His supremacy and in we find the true and Living God.
