SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Jesus, is the image of the invisible God (vs 15a)
(2). Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (vs 15b)
(3). Jesus is the creator God (vs 16-17).
(4). Jesus is the head of the church (vs 18).
(5). Jesus is the fullness of God (vs 19).
(6). Jesus is the saviour (vs 20).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• In the summer we went to Portugal for our family holiday;
• We spent three of those days in the capital city of Lisbon,
• As you drive into the city you cross two familiar sights;
• One is ‘The 25 de Abril Bridge’ that you cross as you enter the city,
• (It looks just like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, US).
• But there is another more dominating feature;
• It’s called, ‘The Sanctuary of Christ the King.’
• It was inspired by the ‘Christ the Redeemer’ statue of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
• This tall monument stands on a cliff overlooking Lisbon;
• And is situated in Almada, overlooking the left bank of the Tagus River.
• The monument is high above everything else and dominates the skyline.
• TRANSITION: The statue reminds you that Jesus Christ is supreme!
• He stands above all others, above all who ever lived in the past,
• And who ever will be born in the future!
The most important question that anyone can ask and explore is ‘Who is Jesus Christ?’
• So much rides on knowing the answer to that question.
• Both in this life and the next!
• Jesus Himself, when he walked on this earth;
• One day turned to His disciples and said; ‘Who do you say I am?’
• It was a critical question for the disciples 2,000 years ago;
• And it is life’s most important question today.
Background to these verses:
• The church at Colossae was being infiltrated with false teachers;
• False teaching that would later become known as Gnosticism;
• And one of their beliefs was that Jesus was not divine;
• They did not believe in the Godhead (Trinity)
• And Jesus was not the eternal Son of God who was born into our world as a man.
• Gnosticism taught that Jesus was himself a created being.
• And this false teaching was infiltrating the Church at Colossae.
• TRANSITION: Some people were wrong about Jesus then;
• And sadly over the last 2000 years up to today;
• There are still may false ideas as to ‘Who is Jesus Christ’.
• Just listen to what some of the different religions/cults teach concerning Jesus:
Other religions:
• ISLAM;
• Jesus is only a prophet of Allah who was superseded by Mohamed.
• BUDDHISM - Christ is not recognized as Deity.
• (Zen Buddhism also does not affirm the existence of the living God.)
• HINDUISM/NEW AGE :
• Jesus is one of many gods and a spiritual master
• JUDAISM:
• Jesus is not divine not the Son of God and not the Messiah.
Other cults/sects:
• JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES;
• Jesus was created as Archangel Michael, he is a lesser god; Not Jehovah God.
• MORMONS - Jesus was born in heaven as the spirit child of Elohim;
• (The Heavenly Father) by one of his wives,
• And Jesus' brother was Lucifer, who became Satan. Jesus was just one of many gods.
• SCIENTOLOGY – L. Ron Hubbard taught;
• That Jesus was a false memory implanted into humans;
• As a result of the Xenu space opera and that Christianity evolved from an R6 implant.
• Yes, I have no idea what he is on about either!!!
• CHRISTIAN SCIENCE:
• Denies that Jesus is God, the second person of the Trinity (S&H, 361:12-13).
• TRANSITION: Our world may be confused as to who Jesus is;
• But that apostle Paul was in no doubt;
• And teaches this Church at Colossae and us some important truths.
(1). Jesus, is The Image of The Invisible God (vs 15a)
“He is the image of the invisible God”
An image can be two things:
• FIRST: It can be a representation.
• The apostle Paul uses the Greek word, “eikon,”
• Which was used of the image of Caesar on a coin.
• The average person couldn’t see Caesar,
• But by looking at a coin, they could see what he looked like
• SECOND: It can be a manifestation.
• When the apostle Paul uses this word,
• This is what he means (Jesus is the invisible God).
ill
• This Greek word translated as image,
• Was the word used for a portrait in Greek, nearest thing we have for photograph.
• Paul is saying Jesus is the visual manifestation of the invisible God.
• ill: That is the equivalent of me saying; “Look at this picture of the invisible man.”
• Now what is impossible for human beings to do, God has done!
• In Jesus we get to meet the invisible God face-to-face;
Ill:
• Many old Churches in the UK now have stands with mirrors on for the tourists to use.
• (They look like a lectern or music stand)
• The idea is instead of getting neck-ache looking up at the decorative architecture;
• You simply look down into the mirror and swivel it.
• This way you get to see everything that is above.
• TRANSITION: People need not get a theological neck-ache trying to see God;
• The apostle Paul tells these Colossians (and us);
• “If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus!”
(2). Jesus is the Firstborn (vs 15b)
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
Quote: Augustine’s Reflections
• Saint Augustine, was an early Christian theologian and philosopher
• He is accepted by most scholars;
• To be the most important figure in the ancient Western church,
• Fifteen centuries ago,
• Augustine tried to capture the mystery of the Incarnation in a poem:
“Maker of the sun,
He is made under the sun.
In the Father he remains,
From his mother he goes forth.
Creator of heaven and earth,
He was born on earth under heaven.
Unspeakably wise,
He is wisely speechless.
Filling the world,
He lies in a manger.
Ruler of the stars,
He nurses at his mother’s bosom.
He is both great in the nature of God,
And small in the form of a servant.”
• TRANSITION: Great insights from Augustine;
• That the eternal Son of God would become part of his creation.
Ill:
• Now if you ever talk to Jehovah Witnesses then this title of Jesus;
• Is one of their favourite ‘proof’ verses.
• Which is kind of ironic!
• That the enemy would take the very passage;
• That the apostle Paul wrote to extol the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ;
• And twist it to try and pull Him down.
• Jehovah Witnesses will say that the expression “Firstborn”;
• Is proof that Jesus is a created being,
• In fact he is the first created being of Jehovah.
Note:
• The Greek word ‘prototokos’ word translated into English as ‘Firstborn’
• Can mean a number of different things.
• e.g. It could refer either to something or someone that is first in order of time,
• Such as a firstborn child,
• e.g. It could refer to someone who is preeminent in rank.
• We see examples of this in the Bible:
• #1: “This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son”
• (Exodus chapter 4 verse 22)
• Israel was not the first nation but is given that prominent title.
• #2: David is called the “firstborn king of Israel” (Psalm 89 verses 20&27)
• Yet, he was not the first born son in his family;
• And he was not the first king.
• We know Saul was the first king.
• Here the name clearly means someone who is preeminent in rank.
• Note: the context of where this expression is used;
• Because context determines meaning:
• Jesus as firstborn clearly means that He is preeminent over creation;
• And not that he is a created being.
• This can be seen from the verses that follow (vs 16-17).
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”
• Jesus is clearly called the Creator of all things.
• Consequently He could not have been the first thing created!
• Notice that expression, “all things” is repeated twice for emphasis,
• Once at the beginning and once at the end of this verse,
• Jesus is clearly called the Creator of all things.
• And he could not have been the first thing created!
• So the expression “Firstborn” does not mean the first created being.
• Paul is informing us that there is no-one more honoured or important as Jesus.
• And he gives him the title that depicts his position & importance.
(3). Jesus is the Creator God (vs 16-17).
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Ill:
• I like the story of the little girl;
• Who was sitting on grandma’s knee having her hair brushed.
• The girl looked in the mirror at grandma’s wrinkled skin and said:
• “Grandma, did God make you?”
• The old lady replied; “Yes he did!”
• The girl then said “Grandma, did God make me?”
• The old lady replied; “Yes he did!”
• The little girl looked at her smooth skin; then replied;
• “Don’t you think he’s doing a better job these days!
• TRANSITION:
• The apostle Paul reminds this Church that Jesus is the creator of all things!
• Notice the three things he says:
FIRST: The Son is the origin of creation: “For by him all things were created”.
• The Gnostics (false teachers) taught that angels were the agents of creation.
• And that Jesus was actually a superior angel not God.
• Jehovah witnesses today believe the exact same thing).
• But the apostle Paul knocks that idea on the head by saying;
• “Jesus Christ is no created angel, in fact he created angelic beings in the first place”.
SECOND: The Son is the goal of creation: “all things were created by him and for him.”
• Creation was created to be his,
• And that creation was made to worship and honour and bring joy to him.
I love the all-encompassing scope of how the Son’s creation is described in these verses:
• As I mentioned earlier we have the words, “all things”
• Repeated twice for emphasis (once at the beginning and once at the end of this verse).
• Then the apostle Paul brings out another incredible truth:
• “The things in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and invisible.”
• “Heaven” corresponds to the invisible and “on earth” to things visible.
• And just when you think the apostle has covered all the bases;
• He goes on to say (not just heaven & earth, things visible & invisible) but,
• He then includes; ‘thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers’,
• Which are references to the invisible world of angels, both good and evil.
• The apostle Paul lays stress on the hierarchy of angelic powers to stress
• Even the cosmic powers and principalities,
• Which these false teachers were promoting;
• The apostle Paul says all of them, were created in Christ.
• Good or bad, and they all are subject to him as Creator.
THIRD: The Son is the sustainer of creation: “In him all things hold together”.
• Not only is Jesus the beginning and end of creation,
• During time as we know it, Jesus is the one who holds the world together.
Ill:
• Some people hold a wrong idea;
• They say that after God created the heavens and the earth;
• He kind of sat back and watched his creation evolve.
• They likened that idea to a watchmaker,
• Who having made a beautifully engineered watch;
• Simply wound it up and set it going, the sat back as an observer.
• TRANSITION: That is not the view of the Bible;
• God is not absent from his creation,
• This verse is one of many that remind us;
• Every living thing is absolutely dependent on God for life, health, and vigour.
• The Lord provides sunshine, rain, and oxygen;
• So that all living things can continue to exist and thrive.
(4). Jesus is the Head of the church (vs 18).
“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Four simple truths are again expressed in this verse:
(a). He is the head of the body.
• ill: Our bodies are guided by our heads,
• Jesus is described here as the one who guides and controls his church.
(B). He is the beginning of the church.
• The Greek word used for beginning means much more than first in the sense of time.
• ill: A is the beginning of the alphabet, 1 is the beginning of a series of numbers.
• ‘Beginning’ means first in the sense of source, from which something came.
• The moving power which sets something in operation.
(C). He is the firstborn from among the dead.
• Christ as “the firstborn from the dead”
• This points to His resurrection as the first of its kind,
• Which was supreme over all other resurrections.
• Because although other resurrections from the dead are reported in the Bible;
• All of those people died again.
• Jesus alone has been raised with an indestructible resurrection body!
• He is the first and because of that;
• We have confidence that we too one day will also have new bodies;
• Bodies that will not be subject to disease, aging, or death.
(d). He is supreme in all things.
• By his resurrection he has shown that he has conquered every opposing enemy,
• There is nothing in life or in death that can bind him.
• He is the Lord of all.
• The one who must have supremacy!
(5). Jesus is the Fulness of God (vs 19).
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him”
• This verse ties up with verse 15:
• “The Son is the image of the invisible God”
• And the apostle will again mention it in chapter 2 verse 9:
• “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,”
• The obvious understanding is:
• You want to see the invisible God, then look at Jesus!
The word translated as “fulness” in verse 15:
• This word emphasises that Jesus is:
• “The sum total of all the divine power and attributes”
• The apostle Paul uses this word ‘fulness’ eight times in this short letter;
• And note that the little word translated as ‘dwell’ is also important,
• It means far more that simple ‘to reside’.
• The form of the verb means; ‘to be at home permanently’.
• The fulness of God is permanently in Jesus;
• His very essence is divine.
(6). Jesus is the Saviour (vs 20).
“and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
• Because Jesus is God;
• He can do what no other human being or created creature could do,
• He is able to reconcile us to God!
The Christian gospel is about reconciliation:
• The reason Christ came into this world was to bring reconciliation.
• He came to heal, to the breach and bridge the chasm;
• Between a holy God and sinful people.
• Note: The initiative in reconciliation was with God.
• When we had no thoughts concerning him, he was concerned with us!
• The New Testament never talks of God being reconciled to people,
• But always of people being reconciled to God.
The basis of reconciliation was the blood of his Cross (vs 20b).
“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross”.
• It was not the incarnation of Christ that accomplished reconciliation;
• Nor was it his example as he lived among men.
• Nor was it his teaching, the greatest ever given by an individual.
• Nor was it his miracles, that again were matchless.
• Paul tells us it was through his death on the cross;
• That peace was made between God and man.
• For us to be reconciled to God it cost the sacrificial death of God’s son.
In Conclusion:
• Then title I was given for this talk was; “He is…”
• And it is part of your series called:
• “Who is Jesus? What does it mean to follow him?”
Well the answer to the question from these verses ‘He is…’ is:
• (1). Jesus, is the image of the invisible God (vs 15a)
• (2). Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (vs 15b)
• (3). Jesus is the Creator God (vs 16-17).
• (4). Jesus is the head of the church (vs 18).
• (5). Jesus is the fulness of God (vs 19).
• (6). Jesus is the saviour (vs 20).
And the response to the main title: “What does it mean to follow him?”
• The answer is twofold:
• It means to make Jesus our saviour and Lord.
• Saviour (verse 20;
• As we trust in his death on the cross for my sins and for your sins.
• We realise we could not save ourselves, but God has saved us in Christ.
• Lord - It means to put God first in our lives - Verse 18:
• “So that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Quote: Isaac Watts got I spot on in his hymn; ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’
“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=dULjNaY4b70R6KsBvMc4rlfm1ILokDkJ
