The Supremacy Of The Son Of God.
Colossians 1.15-23
Is life nothing more than a roulette wheel? Are the life circumstances you and I face nothing more than random, chance events bouncing into our lives like a ball randomly spins on a roulette wheel? A roulette wheel is driven by chance. In fact, if it’s not, they say the wheel is rigged. -Is life on planet earth rigged, with an overlying purpose and sense of meaning, or is it nothing more than a random, purposeless roulette wheel, where the ball arbitrarily stops wherever it happens to?
I believe the apostle Paul answered these questions and more from this evenings text. The Book of Colossians begins with exhortation for all of God’s servants.
And rather quickly, Paul begins speaking of the excellence, and magnificences of the, I Am.
Paul makes it clear that what the Father does the Son does also.
John 10.30, Jesus and the Father are one.
Colossians 1:15-23NIV “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
I intentionally read the entire text up front, so I can go back and read and study them farther.
Again Paul states, in verse 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
This statement tells us that nothing in the universe is self-sufficient, but everything relies on God through Jesus Christ for it to continue working.
What do Christians believe about the world? Really it’s quite simple: We believe that the universe is God’s world. God created it, He made humans in his image, He called his creation good, He gave us the ability to choose, and He actively holds the universe together.
That’s why God is your advocate, He will always go to bat for you. P.H
So here we go, again after Paul’s acknowledgment of his brothers and sisters in ministry, Paul goes into the supremacy of God.
Colossians 1.15AMP He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
Jesus is God in human form, the visible image of the invisible God. The unseen God became seen, in the form of Jesus.
Here’s another Biblical example of the wordage of, Colossians 1.15.
John 1:1-3,14ESV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is called, the Word. So the Word became flesh. Acts 10.38NKJV how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Jesus the Word went about doing good.
Mark 1.40-41NKJV Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Matthew 14.14NKJV And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
One leper, or a multitude of sick folk, Jesus is moved with compassion.
One need or a hundred, Jesus is willing.
Colossians 1.16AMP For by Him all things were created in heaven and on earth, [things] visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [that is, by His activity] and for Him.
Ephesians 1.21Aramaic Bible in Plain English 21 Higher than all Principalities, Rulers, Powers, and Dominions, and higher than every name that is named, not only in this universe, but also in the one that is coming.
Colossians 1.17AMP And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]
Remember this song. He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got you and me brother, in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands.
No political party is that strong, No political party has the whole world in their hands. -But God does!
Colossians 1.18AMP He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will occupy the first place [He will stand supreme and be preeminent] in everything.
What is the apostle Paul essentially teaching, “If you have God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Ghost you have it all.”
This refers to the entire body of born-again believers, (whether past, present, or future), not a local congregation.
Vs 18, The first born from the dead. Jesus Christ is the first to be resurrected with an incorruptible, immortal body. -Others who were raised had to die again.
Colossians 1.19AMP For it pleased the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence, all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the Son),
Jesus is the source and the head of the physical creation. Because of his triumphant resurrection, he is the source and the head of the new creation, the church. As head, he is the sovereign ruler.
Jesus is not a mixture of God and angel, but has in himself the full nature and power of God.
Colossians 1.20AMP and through [the intervention of] the Son to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in heaven.
I love that song, ‘Say The Name’ of Jesus, O say the name so precious Say the name of Jesus, say the name of Jesus Say the name of Jesus, no other name I know Say the name of Jesus, no other name I know That can calm your fears, and dry your tears And wipe away your pain. Say the name.
Colossians 1.21AMP And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities,
Upon the cross, Jesus reconciled ‘you’ back to Him. PH
At once you were enemies of the cross, Philippians 3.18-19KJV (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
But Jesus. Say that after me, But Jesus!
Colossians 1.22AMP yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
Jesus is the Master reconciler. And we are to be also! PH.
Colossians 1.23AMP [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed [a]in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.
I want to give you several truths about the Scriptures.
Jesus is enough.
Jesus is over all dominions.
The fullness of God dwells in Jesus.
Jesus is the head of the Church.
Jesus is the firstborn from the dead.
The shed blood of Jesus brought peace.
We were once alienated from God, but now, reconciled!
The fullness of God dwells in Jesus Christ.
We are called to continue in our faith.
You are now holy in his sight without blame
Benediction.
