Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ Col.1:16

Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ Col.1:16

Posted on June 4, 2014 Posted By: Bryan Boatman Categories: Audio, Sermons, Text

Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ Col. 1:16 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

This passage of scripture glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ in seven ways; each element adding another reason for his preeminence.

POWER – By him were all things created… (vs 16)

  • Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things. Paul just told you the Creator of the stars, galaxies, trees, animals, places of government, oceans, fish, weather patterns, and planets has holes in his hands.
  • He created some things only he sees; for his glory.  Science is trying to find things Adam saw and Noah saw.  We think we’re discovering things, but in reality they simply got lost in the declining knowledge of humanity.
  • The Bible tells you that Jesus Christ is God
    • Titus 2:13 – glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ
    • 1 Timothy 3:16 – God manifest in the flesh
    • 1 John 3:5, 8 – he came to take your sin away
    • Hebrews 1:1-3 – express image of God’s person
    • Defined by prophecies in the OT (see last page) – the Creator said He was coming!
  • What did others say about him?
    • The centurion who watched him die – Matthew 27:54
    • John 20:28 – Thomas called him Lord and he accepted it
    • Even if you don’t believe the Deity of Christ you will have to observe the reality of it because everyday a date is stamped on a newspaper it is a record of the time God came in a body to save his creation from the penalty of sin
  • What the Lord said about Himself
    • John 14:9 – seen me, seen the Father
    • John 5:18 – claimed to be divine
    • Zechariah 12:10 – God claims to be Jesus Christ
    • Matthew 28:20 – claim of omnipresence
    • Matthew 28:18 – claim to be all powerful
    • Mark 2:7, 10 – power to forgive sins
  • Now he says of the mind of God that thought to condescend in the first place, Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

PURPOSE – all things created for him… (vs 16)

  • Purpose is a basic human need.  Bertrand Russell, the atheist said, “Unless you assume there is a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.”
  • Jesus Christ answers the “Why” question.
  • You have been given gifts, a calling, blessings in Christ that all revolve around the purpose of God in Christ for you.
  • Solomon wrote an entire sermon on this search apart from Jesus Christ and called it vexation of spirit.
  • You ever thought about why tools are designed the way they are?  Why does a hammer look like a hammer?  Or nowadays a nail gun?  The way a tool is designed has to do with its purpose.  Apply that to the design of God’s creation of mankind.
    • Ears to hear the Lord; Solomon said of his ears he would prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure; I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? – there was no fulfillment
    • eyes to see the Lord, Solomon said in Eccl 2 whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them – there was no satisfaction
    • hands to serve,
    • heart to love the Lord,
    • mind to meditate on the Lord.
  • There is no significance without Jesus Christ; it is vanity.  Revelation 4:11
  • Purpose is also an active word.  It means the intent to do something.
    • Daniel purposed in his heart.  Sennacherib purposed to fight against Israel.
    • Its the reason for the movement; why am I going in this direction?  Why did we get in our cars tonight to come to church?  Why do we get up on Sunday morning and again Sunday evening?  Why do we write checks that say to Bible Believers Baptist Church?   Why do we open our mouths?  What do we put in our ears?  What enters our eyes that were created for the purpose of beholding Him?  He is the purpose.
    • If the end of whatever you’re doing doesn’t have the pleasure of Jesus Christ in view, it is a vain thing.

PLACE– he is before all things… (vs 17)

  • First place – is to go before anyone else.  If you’re before all things, that means you’re the leader.  Following Jesus – Luke 14:25-35
    • Our problem is not that we don’t understand the definition of hate, our problem is we’ve underestimated the importance of following the Lord Jesus Christ.
    • Our other problem is we don’t understand our enemy.  If we put something before Jesus Christ, the devil will use that to hold us hostage to negotiate disobedience.  How about a relationship between two young people?  How about a family relationship?
  • You and I need to understand Jesus Christ is wiser and more loving than we can ever be and when he says it is that important that you follow me, that means it is THAT important.
  • Foundation – is to lay before anything else.  It comes before the building.
  • Cause – is to move before anything else.  If you come before everything, In the beginning was the Word, before Abraham was I AM, then he is the initial cause.

PRESERVATION – by him all things consist (vs 17)

  • Active participation and sustaining his creation.
  • If you’re serving Jesus Christ, its because He’s giving you and me everything we need to serve him.
  • He gives the scoffer the breath to curse him.  He gives the gossip the breath to speak and the ears to listen.
  • The day is coming where there will be a reckoning and account given of what was done with what He gave us.

POSITION– in all things he might have the preeminence (vs 18)

  • He has no peers, no equals.  The devil may try to usurp his place, but even the devil is just His creation.  He has nothing that wasn’t given to him by Jesus Christ.
  • This exalted position means he has a better view of what’s going on.
  • But he isn’t just high and mighty, he condescended lower than anyone ever did.  He has a position that he obtained through humility.

PERFECTION– in him should all fullness dwell (vs 19)

  • Man is obsessed with what he’s missing.  In Christ you are made complete, nothing missing.
  • That means when you receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior you are no longer lacking anything.
  • It is the introduction of the Lord Jesus Christ into a life or a problem, a weakness, a crisis that fixes and completes what is lacking, not the removal of the thorn.  Paul’s thorn was allowed in order to complete the grace of God in his life.

PEACE– by him to reconcile all things (vs 20)

  • The ability to stand between two parties and make peace.  But he doesn’t stand between two, he becomes one party so he can bring them to where he is.
  • We have peace with God.  You want to know a cure for depression?  Peace with God.
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