READ: Colossians 1:15-20
This letter of Paul to the Colossians is primarily POLEMIC in nature. That is, Paul is writing to refute a particular error that was threatening the life of the church there at Colosse. Scholars call it "The Colossian Heresy". There is much debate about EXACTLY what the heresy was, and there are a number of theories, but the Apostle Paul, in typical fashion, doesn’t spell out the error — for two reasons:
(1) his readers already know all about it, and
(2) Paul’s clear belief was that the best antidote for error is TRUTH.
Rather than dwell on the heresy, Paul expounded the reality that would show the false for what it was. [There’s a great lesson in that for US!]
From what Paul wrote, however, we are able to conclude that the Colossian Heresy, whatever it was, it was a "mish-mash" of confused ideas; it included at least three separate elements.
(1) There was a Judaistic emphasis on law and ritual;
(2) There was a Pagan concept of Angel-worship; and
(3) There was a form of Christianity blended in as well.
This heresy did not DENY Christ, but it did DETHRONE Him — it gave Christ A place, but not THE supreme place.
So, "wolves" were trying to gain entrance among this congregation of young Christians, and were bringing confusion to the Christian gospel message they had received. Paul confronted this false representation by a positive setting-forth of the exalted nature and unmatched glory of Christ! The result is that Colossians is Paul’s full-length portrait of Christ; and what a marvelous letter it is for that very reason. Paul gives his readers a grand view of the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, and drives home the point that all we could ever need is to be found in Him.
“Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in Thee I find.”
To come then to the passage that we are addressing this morning (1:15-18 in particular) Paul outlines for us Christ and His relationships in three directions. We have:
1. Christ’s Relationship to God.
2. Christ’s Relationship to the creation.
3. Christ’s Relationship to the Church.
And the Apostle goes through all of this to make his ONE climactic point - his triumphant proclamation — NAMELY, that Jesus Christ is SUPREME (pre-eminent) over ALL creatures, in ALL respects!
Let’s look together at these three relationships and what they involve, and we will come to the same glorious conclusion as Paul. And we will see, as Alexander MacLaren puts it, that "There is no need for a crowd of shadowy beings to link heaven and earth. Jesus Christ lays His hands upon both. He is the head and fountain of life to His Church. Therefore, He is first in all things to be listened to, loved, and worshipped by men.
1. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD.
He is "the image of the invisible God" (verse 15).
The first point that we must have clear in our minds as Christians is this: outside of Jesus Christ, God is invisible. He is inconceivable to our sinful eyes and unattainable to our grasping but sinful hearts. This fact becomes very clear when you begin to study the other religions of the world — they are dark and shadowy; God is lost in the mists of ignorance.
In Romans chapter 1 we are told that the creation reveals that there is a Creator. (Cause and effect). As you see the wonder of the world around us, it is ludicrous to try and assert that there is no God - there must be a Creator! (Psalm 14:1 — “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God.”) [Men, of course, do attempt to deny the existence of God, and they come up with fanciful theories to explain away the creation — e-g. EVOLUTION.]
The Bible says that such men have become "futile in their thoughts, and darkened in their foolish hearts. Professing themselves to be wise these men became fools" (Rom. 1:21-22).
BUT, whilst the creation clearly displays that THERE IS A GOD, man cannot conceive of what kind of God He is; what He is like. The separation from God that sin brought about has cut Him off from our perception, and we have NO WAY OF APPROACHING GOD.
You see the frustration of the world’s religions? They know there must be a God, but they cannot know anything of Him!
This darkness is only removed in Christ! He ALONE is the image of the [otherwise] invisible God. NOTE: He is NOT merely the image of God as MAN is made in the image of God - He is far more than that. [READ: Hebrews 1:3]. Jesus is "the brightness of His glory” — THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON. The NIV translates it best — He is the "exact representation" of His Person. No mere man was ever spoken of in those terms!
In Christ, the INVISIBLE BECOMES VISIBLE! Now we can see what God is like. WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN HIM. "God of very God — light of light eternal". The Lord Jesus Christ!
Philip said to Jesus: "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus replied: "Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known Me Philip? He who has seen Me HAS SEEN THE FATHER; so how can you say, ’show us the Father’."
The world’s NUMBER ONE need — that which we are continually seeking after — is GOD! We search for Him in so many ways, but if we ever want to have the hope of finding Him CHRIST MUST BE PREEMINENT, because He alone bridges the gap.
So, Christ’s relationship to God is that "He is the image of the invisible God".
SECONDLY:
2. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE CREATION.
He is "the firstborn of all creation" (verse 15-17).
Before we look at this relationship, let’s first look at that word "firstborn".
I want to state unequivocally this morning that it does NOT mean (as the Jehovah’s Witnesses would assert) that Jesus is the first being that God created. JESUS IS NOT A CREATED BEING — HE IS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE ETERNAL GOD! The word "firstborn" here speaks of "PRIORITY OF EXISTENCE" and "SUPREMACY OVER ALL". The title "firstborn" in the Old Testament is given to Israel (Exodus 4:22, Jer. 31:9) — and as such it is clearly used to speak of PRIORITY OF POSITION. Israel was first in priority amongst the nations when it came to God’s dealing with man. ALSO, it’s interesting to note the same word in ROMANS 8:29 — here it’s speaking about people of the "new birth", believers who are being "conformed to the image of Christ". Now Jesus had no need of being "born again", but here He is called the "firstborn" amongst the new-born ones. It’s not saying that Jesus was the first to be born again, but that HE IS THE SUPREME MODEL OF SONSHIP TO WHOM WE ARE ALL BEING MADE LIKE UNTO.
SO, the word "firstborn" is another way of saying what this whole passage is stressing - Jesus is PREEMINENT. He is FIRST and FOREMOST in importance (and also in time — for He is eternal!).
NOW, to come back to the relationship of Christ to the Creation. Our passage leaves us in no doubt that Jesus IS THE AGENT OF ALL CREATION. The world was created "by Him". This is confirmed for us by John [READ: John 1:3]. Jesus Christ was the Word of God by whom the world was fashioned out of the void.
Now here’s where we come to a vitally important and relevant point! Jesus is the agent of creation, AND HIS CREATION IS IN TWO PARTS. In our passage we read "For by Him all things were created ...
a. THAT ARE IN HEAVEN,
b. THAT ARE ON EARTH."
Jesus brought into being BOTH the earthly creation AND THE HEAVENLY CREATION! ("both visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers"). What a marvelous thought that is! Do you think that the forces of darkness could ever back Jesus into a corner? No chance — He created them: He knows them completely, and their days are in His hands.
Furthermore, we are told that the purpose of ALL that was created (including all heavenly principalities and powers) is "FOR HIM". All the universe was created to be the Kingdom of Christ, and all its inhabitants were created to be His subjects! The demonic hordes can make all the noise they want to — THEY WILL BRING GLORY TO CHRIST. There is nothing they can accomplish that Christ can’t turn around for the glory of His name, for the benefit of His Church, and for the extension of His Kingdom!
Of course, Paul’s intention here is to counter the ANGEL-WORSHIP that was being brought into the church by false teachers. NO-ONE AND NO-THING IS TO BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE PLACE OF CHRIST AS PREEMINENT! (We need to be careful not to have too highly an exalted view of angelic being — either good or fallen).
Chapter 2:18 is very interesting in the New International Version; let me read it to you. "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility AND THE WORSHIP OF ANGELS disqualify you for the prize. SUCH A PERSON GOES INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT WHAT HE HAS SEEN, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.”
Church, this morning, be careful about teaching that is based on what people have SEEN or EXPERIENCED. Experience is no basis for belief or doctrine. ONLY THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION — and I don’t care what people have seen to the contrary! Even the devil can appear as an angel of light. (We don’t interpret Scripture by our experiences — rather we interpret our experiences, in the light of the Word of God).
SO, then, we see Christ’s relationship to the Creation - HE is the Creator of it all, both earthly and heavenly.
FINALLY,
3. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH.
He is "the Head of the body" (verse 18).
Paul talks in a number of places about Christ being the "Head of the body", what does he mean? Well, he’s using the illustration of a human body, and so Jesus is all that our head is to us. Firstly, Jesus is in charge — He is Captain and Commander-in-chief. He is the sovereign of the Church. Secondly, He is the guiding principle (guiding light). He is also the source and centre of the Church’s life.
Church, we don’t look to anyone else as our sufficiency — we look to God. I often meet people who are disillusioned with Christianity because of his focus on people!
Don’t look to people, don’t look to preachers, they’ll let you down - JESUS NEVER WILL! He is our source. I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to others for counsel or help, but that should never take the place of going to God. No ministry is valid unless it points you to Jesus Christ!
Christ is all in all to us, His people! “He is our Prophet, Priest, and King - Who did for us salvation bring. (And while I’ve breath I mean to sing — ‘Christ for me!’” HALLELUJAH.)
CONCLUSION:
SO, Paul concludes that (on the basis of these three relationships — His relationship to God, His relationship to Creation, and His relationship to the Church), CHRIST IS FIRST AND FOREMOST! The Father has set Him in that place — "that in all things He may have the preeminence" (the "supremacy").
And, furthermore, all things exist IN ORDER THAT He may be first!
The ONLY truly contented and successful place in the world is to be in the place WHERE CHRIST IS ALL-IN-ALL TO YOU! Living with Jesus on the throne of your life.
What about it? Is there ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE which is detracting from His preeminence? Money, career, family, ministry, doubts, disillusionment’s, fear?
OH, THAT CHRIST MAY BE PRE-EMINENT in our lives!
Amen.
