The Supreme Question Series

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.”