THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST
Col. 1:12-19
INTRO: Jesus the Central Figure (Subject) of the Bible
A. Is Promoting, Bragging about Jesus above All other deities,
too Gnostics, Skeptics & anyone else
1. Great battle going on, Attacks from all sides
a. Religions fight the Supremacy of Christ
b. Skeptics of today, Da Vinci Code & now this so called
Gospel of Judas
1. Brown the author of the Da Vinci Code admits it is Fiction. Not
true, not accurate nor reliable
2. Gospel of Judas is not Gospel no good news
a. As so many other so-called new findings will be proven unreliable
c. Yet there is the on going effort to discredit Jesus, to not
acknowledge Him as Lord of ALL
2. The Supremacy of Christ Preeminence Superiority
a. Who’s No 1? Jesus is, more than just bragging rights
**Bragging Rights 3 ladies were exercising their pride of their grown sons. 1st lady told of the extravagant birthday parties her son provided, "Why he even hired a full band for my last birthday." The 2nd lady bragged about her son gave her such lavish vacations. "just last month he sent me to Hawaii for the Fourth time." The 3rd woman was not to be out done. She piped up, "That’s nothing. My son has been paying a psychiatrist $150 a week for the last three years just so he can talk about me." IOW Win. 96 pg 19
A. Dear Son who Saved us v12-13
1. "Whom" Pronoun v14 is Jesus the Son of God
2. Saved (Saved) the Writer & assumed readers of Colosse
B. See Him in the typology, symbolism, Shadows of Scriptures
1. Ex. Rock, Lamb, Water, Bread, Word of God
C. His Name is the Sweetest, Loveliest, Mightiest of All names
1. Hear His Name is to remind us of His Love, Grace Power
in Salvation
a. God’s Names 1) Jehovah = Lord: The Existing One self
Existence Relationship between God & man
2) Elohim: Strength Authority Judge
3) Adonai: Lord Master, Sovereign, Owner
2. Only Name for Salvation is JESUS "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Ac. 4:12
Philip. 2:9-11
D. Name of highest Rank, Spot, Elevation, Prominence, Glory
Illustrious Preeminence First place in heart, adoration, life
1. Over Courts, Schools, White House Our Hearts
2. He is Supreme: Deserving for the Following Reasons
I. THE IMAGE OF GOD v15
A. Is the Image of God
*Made in the Image = model or replica, Not the Real Thing
1. Not "made in image" as man Gen 1:27
2. God in flesh a. See Jesus see God
1. Seeing Jesus as He actually is is crucial in finding God
**Not recognized At a reception honoring musician Sir Robert Mayer on his 100th birthday, elderly British socialite Lady Diana Cooper fell into conversation with a friendly woman who seemed to know her well. Lady Diana’s failing eyesight prevented her from recognizing her fellow guest until she peered more closely at the magnificent diamonds and realized she was talking to Queen Elizabeth! Overcome with embarrassment, Lady Diana curtsied and stammered, "Ma’am, oh, ma’am, I’m sorry, ma’am. I didn’t recognize you without your crown!" SOURCE: Today in the Word, November 16, 1995, p. 23., from www.sermoncentral.com
b. Nature of God: Essence, Divine nature, All Properties
1. Eternal, Immutable (Constant, Unchanging) Wisdom
2. Omniscient & Omnipotent LOVE
B. Go to God Through Jesus, as Flesh to Soul
II. CREATION v16
A. Explains v15 "Son of the First born"
B. Master Builder, Creator "by Him" Jn 1:1-5, 14
1. Purpose 2. of Pleasure "created by him, and for him"
Rev. 4:11"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
C. Whether they be earth, sun, moon or Angelic beings
1. All things
2. Reveals: Supremacy, Power, Authority over ALL
3. He does Not pay homage to any
a. But all Reverence HIM He is Worth of Worship Glory
III. EXISTENCE (Life, Permanent, Reality) v17
A. God isn’t Dead! "And he is"
1. Well, Aware and Worthy 2. In Control
B. Holds all together "Glue" "consist"
1. Nature resides in Him
C. No Worry
1. No Nuclear Destruction
2. Environmental Disaster to destroy the Ecosystem
3. Why? Why does God preserve life?
a. Redemption, Reconciliation of the lost, Time to save
IV. HEAD OF THE CHURCH, BODY v18
A. The Premier Institution, He is the Head, Maker, founder,
Leader, provider
1. He = Himself is emphatic
2. Not an angel or a Man No Pope
B. The Church, eternal, lasting, Persevere
1. Message, Mission for mankind
a. Not to please men, but to save men
b. Too often men run the church as if it belongs to us
1. Think we can change doctrines
2. Think can change Christ’s emphasis and mission
3. Think, run things without His leadership, no Holy Spirit Power
a. All programs and human abilities run it like a business or a
corporation
c. My church, my tithes My choice: Not if Jesus is Lord
2. He is Commander in Chief, master, In Charge
V. RESURRECTION v18 "first-born from the dead"
A. First born of a new creation, the church,
Ac 26:23 That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1. To be resurrected, never to die again
a. Not only Him but the first of all to follow: Our HOPE
2. Rapture, 2nd Coming Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
3. Jesus return for the rest of the family
a. Now is preeminent in the church
B. Living, mediator
Heb. 9:24"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:"
1. Now is preeminent in the church and ALL things
VI. PLEASES THE FATHER v19
A. The Father is Pleased with the Son "Thou art my beloved Son; in whom I am well pleased" Mk 1:11
1. For Who He is:
a. Christ the anointed one: Glorified b. Redeemer
2. For What He Did, Doing & Will Do
a. Doing the Will of the Father Philip 2:6-11
b. The Cross: Suffering, bearing our sin,
B. That we might trust Him, Call upon His name
1. Salvation is Possible, He is Preeminent of Our Salvation
VII. CROSS v14, 20
A. Purposely skipped: **Ultimate Reason Christ has the
Preeminence is Life shed that we might have life
1. Price Paid, **Evidence of His Claim Family of four lived in
small cottage mom, Dad, & 2 children. One evening the cottage caught fire. In few minutes the thatched roof and wooden timbers were blazing. the remoteness and lack of equipment left the villagers helpless. Suddenly a young man who had recently moved into the community. burst through the crowd and dashed into the burning house. A moment later he emerged with each of the small children under an arm. They were unhurt, for Andy had covered them with his coat, but he was terribly burned. As he got them away from the house it sickenly collapsed. Parents were lost. A kind elderly lady took Andy home and cared for his burns. Meanwhile the local council was trying to decide what was to become of the children. The day of the decision, there was two who claimed the little ones. The first was the town squire. He had money, Position and a home to offer the children. the second was Andy! When asked what right he had to little ones, without a word, he lifted up his hands, burned and scared for them. KMI pg. 144
a. Jesus lifts up His nail pierce hands and claims us
1. In Love he paid the price
2. Shed His Precious Blood
3. Worthy of Our Faith, Love, Devotion & preeminence
2. Desire of God is to Reconcile the world, YOU! Lost
3. Forgiveness
