The Supreme Question
On October 18, 2001 the Washington Post described a new church in the state of Maryland.
Using market research and focus groups, this denomination has designed weekly services that deliberately de-emphasize Jesus Christ. One of the founders of the church has said, “The sad fact is the name of Jesus Christ has become for many people exclusionary.”
Using Hindu and Zen, intermingled with a few verses from the Bible and recorded music by Willie Nelson, the leader of this group is quoted as saying, “We’re enabling people to discover God themselves, maybe through Jesus, maybe through Buddha, maybe through any number of ways.”
Most of us are appalled by this defamation of Christianity, and we should be. But before we come down too hard on them, I want to address a very dangerous and deadly disease running rampant in the church today.
At first glance it seems pretty harmless but its spores can infect an entire community. No, I’m not talking about anthrax. This malady is a mixture of practical wisdom and prosperity theology – God wants you to be healthy and wealthy. Abundant life comes from your faith in God and any path to God is just fine. Unfortunately this kind of theology makes God into a kind of divine butler. He serves us and we are supreme and this my friends is completely upside down.
Instead of calling people to faith, repentance and submission to the supremacy of Christ, many of us tell people that Jesus wants to give them a happy marriage or a stress-free life. While Jesus will certainly change our lives, our marriages, and our stress levels when we bow before His preeminence, we must move away from “What Jesus can do for me” to “Am I living in light of His lordship?”
We don’t simply “add” Jesus to our lives; we adore Him with our lives because of who he is! That brings us Colossians chapter 1 and verse 15.
There was much false teaching taking place in Colosse that had to do with the minimizing of Jesus. It’s not a whole lot different today.
Many people thought He was important but not essential. They had given Him a place in their lives, without recognizing that He demands first place.
Jesus was prominent to them, but certainly not preeminent.
Let’s talk about the supremacy of Jesus over all creation
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation...”
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.
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.
Colossians 1:15-20
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“He is the image of the invisible God “
Colossians 1:15
Jesus is God
Paul doesn’t mince any words here. Jesus “is the image of the invisible God.”
Listen carefully. Jesus is not just a symbol of God; He is God Himself. The word “image” in Greek is “eikon” and refers to “likeness, manifestation, or replica.” In that culture the “image” was a die or stamp that was able to make exact reproductions.
Passports in Paul’s day had a section called “eikon,” or “distinguishing marks,” which described something about the person that set him apart from everyone else.
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is the precise copy because He is God Himself. He both represents and manifests God to the world.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being...”
Hebrews 1:3
Little boy afraid of the dark… “I need someone with skin on them.”
That’s Jesus – God with skin.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“He is… the firstborn over all creation”
Colossians 1:15
Jesus is the “firstborn” over all creation
Jesus is not only God; He is the “firstborn over all creation.” Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that this verse teaches that Jesus was a created being and therefore not God.
Actually, the phrase “firstborn” is most frequently translated as “heir or owner.” In ancient time it meant the “ranking one, or supreme one.” Jacob was not born first but he was the heir.
In Psalm 89:27 where we read that God appointed King David as his “firstborn,” even though he was the youngest of eight brothers. This verse concludes by saying that David will be the “most exalted of the kings of the earth.”
“Firstborn” therefore is a title of honor or position, not chronological order.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“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.”
Colossians 1:16
Jesus is the creator of all things
Jesus is the image of God and the exalted one over all creation because He is the Creator. Lest anyone misunderstand what “firstborn” means, in verse 16 Paul explains that all things were created in, through, and for Christ: “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.”
These four classifications are used elsewhere in Scripture to describe the world of both holy and evil spirit beings.
Jesus has no rival. This verse also refutes the false teaching that Christ was one of many intermediaries and that angels were to be worshipped. The highest angelic princes are subject to Jesus Christ, whether they be seraphim or cherubim or whether they be demons or Satan himself.
Jesus is Lord of all. There is none like him.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:17
Jesus holds all things together
As our country continues to be under attack, it’s important to keep in mind that Jesus holds everything together. Look at verse 17: “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
To “hold together” means to prevent something from falling into complete chaos. Christ is before all things, both in time and rank.
He is not only the Creator of the world; He is the cohesion that keeps it all together. By Him everything came to be, and by Him everything continues to be.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 1:3 reminds us that He holds everything together by His powerful word. If He were to remove His sustaining power, everything would dissolve into disorder.
It was interesting when almost 5 years ago to watch two of the network news anchors handle the anthrax story when it hit close to home on their own staff. Tom Brokaw, at the conclusion of the NBC Nightly News on Monday night, signed off by saying, “In Cipro we trust.” And Dan Rather, looking a little disheveled and scared said, “…we can’t let this make us afraid…”
Friends, we don’t have to wig out or become unglued because Jesus is keeping everything from falling apart. He upholds everything by the word of His power. Remember that there is no crisis in heaven. He will be exalted among the nations.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“And he is the head of the body, the church”
Colossians 1:18
Jesus is head of the church
Paul uses a personal pronoun here that is very emphatic. It literally means, “He Himself is the head.” Only Jesus qualifies to be the head of the church. The word “head” means that Jesus is the authority, or source of the church.
We can relate to that. The head gives the body the ability to produce growth, and without it, the body would die. Many churches seem to forget this. If Jesus Christ is not supreme in a church, then there is no church.
That was part of the trouble at Colosse. They had lost connection to Christ and as a result they were experimenting with all sorts of false doctrine and sinful behavior. Jesus is the head of MCC, not me, not the elders, not the deacons. Jesus Christ is supreme over this church and we bow before His authority.
The Supremacy of Jesus over All Creation
“…he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead”
Colossians 1:18
This points at the resurrection. Jesus even has supremacy over death and the good news is that as the supreme one, His resurrection is the guarantee that we too will rise again.
We defeat death through the work of Jesus in the resurrection – and that by the way is why my faith is in Jesus – no one else has ever defeated death – no one!
I love verse 19. It gives God the Father great joy and pleasure to have all of “His fullness dwell in Jesus.” It greatly pleased the Father for the Son to have preeminence over creation and the church.
The phrase “all His fullness” is a technical term in the vocabulary of the Gnostic false teachers.
It was not around, upon, or under Him; rather it was in Him. The word “dwell” means to “take up residence” and points to the incarnation.
The Supreme Question of Life
“… So that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
Colossians 1:18
The Supreme Question of Life
Jesus…
Is God
The “firstborn” of creation
The creator of all things
Holds all things together
Is the head of the church
Is the “firstborn” from the dead
We’ve examined six characteristics about Jesus this morning but the supreme question is “Why?” For what purpose did God come in flesh to this earth he created? Why did he send his son?
Restoration and Transformation
“… 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.
Colossians 1:19-20
Unger’s Bible Dictionary defines reconciliation this way: “The restoration of friendship and fellowship after estrangement. It also means to change thoroughly from one position to another.”
Reconciliation happens when someone or something is completely altered and adjusted so that a relationship of peace can begin with the one with whom estrangement had taken place. Paul establishes four elements about the reconciliation of Christ in this verse:
The Focus is to “reconcile to Himself.” The focus is always to reconcile to God. The initiative and action must come from Him.
The Scope is “all things.” Reconciliation involves the whole universe.
The Result is “peace.” Through Jesus, our hostility with God can end.
The Means is “through His blood, shed on the cross.” Salvation is only through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross as our sin payment.
Contrary to what the leaders of that organization in Maryland have said (I can’t even call it a church): Jesus Christ is exclusionary and must remain so!
Because of His supremacy over all things, each of us must face a question this morning. Is Jesus supreme in your life? Is He supreme in my life?
The Supremacy of Jesus
“at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:10-11
I used to encourage people to “make” Jesus Lord in their lives but then I learned that Scripture never speaks of anyone “making” Him Lord, except God Himself in Acts 2:36: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” He is Lord of all. John MacArthur hits it on the head when he says, “The biblical mandate for both sinners and saints is not to ‘make’ Christ Lord, but rather to bow to His lordship. He is ever and always Lord, whether or not anyone acknowledges His lordship or surrenders to His authority.” (The Gospel According to Jesus, 1988, page 203).
Sooner or later, everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Let’s make it sooner.
Let’s make it so right now.
Confession and Close
Stand and say with me…
I confess that Jesus is God
I confess that Jesus is The “firstborn” of creation
I confess that Jesus is the creator of all things
I confess that Jesus Holds all things together
I confess that Jesus is the head of the church
I confess that Jesus is the “firstborn” from the dead
I confess that Jesus is Lord of my life and that he desires to restore my soul and transform my life.
