Christ, The Preeminent One
Text: Col.1: 18
Intro: I have heard some very well meaning people make the statement, “The Lord is a big part of my life.” We all know what is meant by that statement, and certainly would find it somewhat commendable. But too often that statement is very literally true in many Christians’ lives. They tend to view Christ as only a part of the whole. He is only a part of their life.
The fact is; Christ does not wish to be merely a part of our life, but to be the essence of it—to be the life itself. Paul even says as much in Colossians 3: 4a, where he refers to Jesus as, “Christ, who is our life.” Put another way, we might say that Christ is not satisfied with being a part of our life; He wants to be preeminent in our life.
But what does it mean for Christ to be preeminent in one’s life? The Greek word translated “preeminence” in our text, means, “to be first,” and carries the idea of supremacy and superiority (W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, New Tappan, New Jersey; Vol. III, pg. 203). In essence, Christ should be before all and above all in our life—first, foremost, and supreme in every aspect of our life.
In this message I not only want to explain the preeminence of Christ, but by so doing, give glory and honor to Jesus for Who He is. He is the Preeminent One.
Theme: Christ is:
I. PREEMINENT IN HIS PERSON
A. Christ Is Sovereign.
NOTE: The word “sovereign” means, “above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme” (Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, and David B. Guralnik, Editor in Chief Emeritus, Webster’s New World Dictionary Of American English, published by Webster’s New World Dictionaries, New York, New York, copyright 1988; pg. 1283).
1. His very name is given royal preeminence.
Phil.2: 9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
NOTE: [1] Your name should be one of your most prized possessions, since it says something about who you are. Robert E. Lee, of Civil War fame, understood the importance of a good name.
After the American Civil War the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name in their scheme. They promised that if he did he would become rich.
Astounded, Lee straightened up, buttoned his gray coat, and shouted, “Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war. I lost my fortune in the war. I lost everything except my name. My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here, I’ll break this crutch over year heads!”
Source Unknown.
[2] There may be many names that are held in honor; but none of them is worthy of the honor and reverence due the name of Jesus. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil.2: 10-11).
2. Christ is sovereign in His royal position.
Rev.19: 16 “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
NOTE: [1] Folks, there is none higher than Jesus. If you’re upset with the way the world’s going and you’d like to talk to the owner, Jesus is it. Abraham Kuyper, while speaking in Amsterdam, concluded:
There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, “This is mine! This belongs to me!”
Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency, pp. 146-147.
[2] Many people in our world today use the word “Lord” rather flippantly. The truth of the matter however, is that “Jesus Christ is not valued at all until He is valued above all” (Augustine).
3. In judgment, Christ possesses the sovereign right to preside.
Rom.14: 10 “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why doest thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
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12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
4. Jesus Christ is sovereign over every person.
Rom.14: 9 “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.”
B. Christ Is Sinless.
1. Satan couldn’t find any sin in Jesus.
John 14: 30b “…the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
NOTE: According to one commentator, the words “hath nothing in me” basically mean the following:
…Satan has nothing in Christ which is rightfully his own, which he can claim or lay hold of for his own interest. Christ is sinless and victorious over evil.
Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, Editors, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 1106.
2. Pilate couldn’t find any sin in Jesus.
Luke 23: 4 “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.”
3. The dying thief couldn’t find any sin in Jesus.
Luke 23: 39 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.”
C. Christ Is The Savior.
1. Jesus was God’s sacrificial lamb for man’s sin.
John 1: 29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
2. Jesus’ sole purpose in life was man’s salvation.
Luke 9: 56a “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…”
Luke 19: 10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
3. Jesus is man’s sole means of being saved.
John 14: 6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
NOTE: Let us not forget that our lost world still needs the Savior. Education will never meet man’s greatest need. Prosperity will never heal all of mankind’s ills. Our world needs Jesus.
D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, “I don’t like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example.”
Stearns replied, “If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?”
“I certainly would,” said the stranger without hesitation.
“All right then,” said the preacher, “let’s take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?”
The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. “Why, no,” he said. “I acknowledge that I do sin.”
Stearns replied, “Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!”
Source Unknown.
II. PREEMINENT IN HIS POWER
A. Our Lord Has Creative Power.
Col.1: 16 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:”
NOTE: Even more exemplary of the power of Christ in creation is the fact that the book of Genesis tells us that Christ created merely by the word of His mouth. Jesus simply said, “Let there be,” and there was.
B. Our Lord Has Controlling Power.
1. He controls and holds everything together.
Col.1: 17 “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
2. He controls Satan and the demons.
Job 1 & 2- (Satan had to get God’s permission to touch Job.)
Matt.8: 16 “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:”
NOTE: The child of God doesn’t have to live in fear of the devil, because Jesus defeated him at the Cross of Calvary.
Writing in Moody Monthly, Carl Armerding recounted his experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. “As I stood there,” he said, “an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage.”
He observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure.
Armerding remarked to the attendant, “You certainly are a brave man.”
“No, I ain’t brave,” he replied as he continued to sweep.
“Well, then, that cat must be tame.”
“No,” came the reply, “he ain’t tame.”
“If you aren’t brave and the wildcat isn’t tame, then I can’t understand why he doesn’t attack you.”
Armerding said the man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, “Mister, he’s old—and he ain’t got no teeth.”
Our Daily Bread.
C. Our Lord Has Curing Power.
1. Jesus healed many who had physical sicknesses.
a. He healed a leper—Matt.8: 3.
b. He healed a withered hand—Matt.12: 13.
c. He healed a man with palsy—Luke 5: 18-26.
d. He raised the dead—John 5: 21.
2. Jesus is able to heal sin-sickness.
Col.1: 14 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
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21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”
D. Our Lord Has Comprehensive Power.
1. Christ’s power extends to everyplace.
Matt.28: 18 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
2. Christ’s power extends to eternity.
I Tim.6: 16 “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.”
III. PREEMINENT IN HIS POSITION
A. Jesus Was The Divine Prophet.
1. No man spoke like Jesus did.
John 7: 46 “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”
Matt.7: 28 “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
2. Jesus was powerful in word and deed.
Luke 24: 19b “…Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:”
B. Jesus Is Our Divine Priest.
1. He is sympathetic with the saints.
Heb.2: 18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
NOTE: [1] The word “succour” means “to come to the aid of anyone” (W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, Vol. II, published by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey; pg. 214).
[2] Sympathy is a wonderful thing—especially when it comes from the Lord. His sympathy will never diminish. Bill Vaughan once said,
One of life’s major mistakes is being the last member in the family to come down with the flu—after all the sympathy has run out.
Bill Vaughan, Nana
2. He is continually making intercession for the saints.
Heb.7: 25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
C. Jesus Is The Divine Potentate.
NOTE: The word “potentate” refers to “a person having great power; ruler; monarch” (Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, and David B. Guralnik, Editor in Chief Emeritus, Webster’s New World Dictionary Of American English, published by Webster’s New World Dictionaries, New York, New York, copyright 1988; pg. 1056). The question you must consider today is: Is Jesus Christ the ruler and monarch of your life?
I Tim.6: 14 “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
15 Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”
Theme: Christ is:
I. PREEMINENT IN HIS PERSON
II. PREEMINENT IN HIS POWER
III. PREEMINENT IN HIS POSITION
