The Supremacy Of Christ - Who Is Control Here?

The Supremacy Of Jesus Christ

The question of control often arises in the local church. Its hard to believe but all too frequently you hear about a church where a person or group of persons will rise up and take control of a church as though it was something that just anyone has authority to do.

(ILL) A met a pastor just this week who shared with me that a couple of people in the church where he served – decided that they were in control – so while he was on vacation they wrote a letter in which they told him that he had been dismissed and REPLACED and that he was not welcome to come back --- Then they went to his house and taped it on the door – so he would find it when he got back into town

Our text this morning helps us with this question of who is in control.

Colossians 1:18-20

18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Jesus Christ Stands Supreme Over The New Creation

Head

Jesus has “the” authority. Or, all authority.

Paul uses a personal pronoun in these verse in reference to Jesus that is very emphatic that basically says “He and only He is the head” meaning the Jesus and Jesus only or Jesus alone is qualified to be the Head

HEAD also is – the beginning - - the source

(ILL) People ask me why I came to Greeley. I always say, “I came to start this church.” But the truth is that I am not the source – Jesus Christ is.

First Born From The Dead

When Christ rose from the dead he laid the foundation for the new creation – the new life – the new hope and assurance that all believers rejoice in.

He is the head – the beginning of a new race – a new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

William Hendriksen

“He is the path-breaker, who holds the key of Death and Hades. He has authority over life and death.”

2 Timothy 1:10\but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

All of this is true in order that Jesus Christ would have “first place in everything”

Jesus Christ Alone Possesses The Fullness Of Diety

Notice the wording of verse 18 “so that He Himself will come to have first place...”

Jesus Christ possesses the highest honor by design. Verse 19 amplifies that idea with “For it was the Father’s good pleasure...”

Christ possesses the highest honor because he alone possesses the fullness of deity.

Why is Paul saying this.

Well, to combat the heresy of that day that said

(1) Christ couldn’t be fully God and fully man

(2) Deity was possessed in varying degrees by different angelic like beings.

Divine supremacy or sovereignty is not spread out among many different beings – NO! It is fully and totally and ONLY found in the Son – Jesus Christ.

Post modern thought – if it embraces the idea of God – likes to attribute all people with a measure of deity – “the god or goddess within”

The Bible makes it clear – God’s Word makes it clear that there is only One God – because All The Fullness – dwells in only ONE – Jesus Christ.

In Jesus Christ All Things Are Reconciled To God

Not only is Jesus Christ the creator of all things, but all things are also reconciled (restored) through him.

When sin entered the world – everything was ruined. Harmony between one creature and the other and harmony between all creatures and God was destroyed by sin.

Romans 5:12

12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Romans 8:19-22

19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now