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COL 03 – Supreme Preeminence - Col 1:15-20 We have before us today one of the most important passagesever written – explaining WHO Jesus Christ is We’ve made it clear that in the Col church – just like today –there was an Errant teaching slipping into the church & that teaching was a subtle attempt to remove
the Preeminence of Jesus Christ The teaching Paul was refuting in Colossianspromoted ‘other’ ways to God“Higher knowledge” – Special spiritual knowledge & experience & Paul is addressing the Errant Teachings of 60 ADthe same way we want to address similar Errant Teaching today By holding up the Person of Jesus Christso we can understand clearly WHO Jesus is & THAT is the answer – The only answerto ANY Errant teaching that would slip into the church(no matter what century it’s occurring in) Col 1:1515 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. We start off today with Paul firing both barrels -Jesus Christ is the ‘Image’ of the Invisable God The word ‘Image’ means – The exact representation in every respect
LIT = “An exact or precise reproduction” & V.15 tells us - Jesus Christ is the Exact, PerfectRepresentation of God - - the IMAGE of the invisable God God has come to us - - in the person of Jesus ChristTo pay the penalty for our sin – & to make us right before God Jesus Christ came to us as the ‘Exact representation’ of Godbecause we could not reach God on our own There was an otherwise “Permanent Seperation”between us & God - - because of sin & there was no way we could be reconciled to God on our own God had to make a way - thru the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ
so that our sins could be paid for If there were some other way, any other way,God would not’ve had to make this ultimate sacrifice for us God came to us – in the Person of Jesus Christto pay a debt that we could not pay in HEB 1:3 - we see both the majesty of Jesus Christ –& the purpose of Him coming to earthHeb 1:33 [Jesus Christ] being the brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Jesus Christ – The Brightness of God’s GloryThe Express Image of His personWho upholds ALL things by the word of His power . . .He came to earth as a man – to pay for our sinsbecause there was no other way & we see just how far “Down” He had to comein the 2nd half of Col 1:15 Again – Col 1:1515 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Jesus Christ is not only the ‘Exact Image’ of the invisible Godbut He is also the ‘Firstborn’ over all creation The word ‘firstborn’ does NOT meanthat Jesus Christ was the 1st created being of the universe The word ‘firstborn’ meansThe Supreme – Preeminent - 1st Priority One . . . it means Jesus Christ existed;BEFORE all creation - & - He is ABOVE all creation Jesus Christ is NOT just “a way” to God –NOT just a prophet of God – NOT just a Good Teacher Jesus Christ is the Supreme, PreeminentCreator over all the Universe - - NO Other Title will doCol 1:15 – NLT15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, THAT – is WHO Jesus Christ is – but let’s continue . . . Col 1:1616 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. We cannot say we believe the Bible – AND say
there is any other being equal to Jesus Christ The Word of God does not give us that option – (not even close) The Bible clearly sets Jesus Christ apart – in all of creation again - V.16 - For BY Him all things were created that are in
heaven and that are on earth, visible & invisible The word “BY” is actually the GK = “en”which is (by far) most often translated - “IN” The word means both “The Location of” - & - “The instrument of” So V.16 – most LITERALLY says – IN Christ, & THRU Christall things were created . . . ALL things that are in heaven & on earth – visible & invisablewere created “IN” Christ - & - “THRU” Christ THAT pretty much takes care of Everything ! & then – to further define the – “All things in Heaven” part . . . (V.16B) . . . whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. These are references to a type of “Hierarchy”that exists in the Spiritual Realm Thrones, Dominions, Principalities, or Powers -They were ALL created thru Christ, & created for Christ Guys - Jesus Christ is Supreme & Preeminent above ALL creationin every realm, Earthly & Spiritual The false teachers in Colossea were sayingthere was Spiritual Knowledge higher than Jesus Christ But that CAN’T be – because ALL Spiritual THINGSwere created THRU Him - & FOR Him ! So how can there be anything HIGHER than Him ?? (16b) whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All things were created through Him and for Him. When the Bible says Jesus Christ is Supreme & Preeminentover ALL things – It means ALL THINGS ! That’s what Eph 1:20-22 says - NLT  Eph 1:20-22 - NLT20 [God’s power] raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Listen, Pls – you & I have the ability to be found “IN CHRIST”,& to be seated “WITH HIM” in the heavenly realms . . . WHY would we want to follow some other way –or run after some “new spiritual experience” How do you get higher than (Eph 1:21);. . . far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. When you have reached Christ – you have reached the top !there is NOTHING ABOVE Him& there is NO OTHER way to God So – In Review . . . so far ;V.15a - Jesus Christ is The Exact Image of the Invisible GodV.15b - He is Preeminent over all creationV.16a – All things in heaven & on earth, tangible & spiritual,have been created IN Christ - & THRU ChristV.16b – All things have been created THRU Christ & FOR Christ & we’ve only read 2 Vs’s – & we’re certainly not done yet Col 1:1717 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Jesus Christ IS before all things (this is critical)The “I AM” existed before all things Before there was a “before”Before time began . . . Jesus Christ IS In Jn 8:57 – The Jews said to Jesus;57 . . . “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” & they immediately tried to stone Him –because they knew He was saying he was God – The I AM Jn 1:1-4 says1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, . . . In the beginning – the Word aleady existed & LIFE existed “In Him” again Col 1:17  Col 1:1717 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Before there was a “THING”there was the Alpha – the beginning & all the things that “CONSIST” - - Consist IN Him . . . The word - “Consist” means LIT – “To Hold Together”So (V.17 reads) - in Him all things ARE HELD TOGETHER WILLIAM BARCLAY:“It is the Son who, as it were, holds the world together. . . The law of gravity and all the so-called scientific laws are not only scientific laws; they are divine laws. . . Every law of science and of nature is, in fact, an expression of the thought of God. It is by these laws, and therefore by the mind of God, that the universe hangs together, and does not disintegrate in chaos” This is exactly what we read earlier – in Heb 1:3[Jesus Christ is] upholding all things by the word of His power, . Not only is Jesus Christ BEFORE all thingsNot only are all things CREATED thru Him - & for HimBut all things ARE HELD TOGETHER by Him He is Supreme above all - & Preeminent above all as Rom 11:36 says36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. If you call Jesus Christ your Lord today – then you serve theabsolute, supreme, preeminent KING OF KINGS ! How in the world are people so easily drawn intothese crazy man-made ideas of “increased spirituality” When instead - we can place our livesIN the One Who Created it all IN the One Who holds it all together& to Whom it is all going some day & WITH Whom we can (unbelievably)be Joint-Heirs to all that belongs to Him To seek any other source for our Spiritual Lifecan only come from spiritual blindness So – we’ve seen clearly WHO Jesus Christ is WHO He is over all of Creation – in the heavens - & on earth But what exactly does that mean to us –where does that put us ? (& the answer . . . is in the next verse) Col 1:18  Col 1:1818 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Jesus Christ is the HEAD - & we are the BODY of the churchThis is the most common description of Jesus & the Church but then . . . Col 1:18 says - He is the beginningMEANING, He is the Beginning of the church This word “Beginning” means both;“Originating Source” - & - “First in Order” Jesus Christ is the ORIGINATING SOURCE of the churchit was His Plan & His Power – that gave birth to the church & Jesus Christ is the FIRST MEMBER of the church (first in order) So – if we are going to be part of His Church –then we are going to be following Him as the HEAD BUT - knowing the Supreme Preeminence of Jesus Christ& knowing He’s the Originating Source & 1st Member of the church Shouldn’t we be rejoicing that we are part of His body –Instead of looking for the Newest Spiritual FAD . . . ? & then next in V.18 it says;[Jesus Christ is] the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. Remember – firstborn DOES NOT meanthe first to be raised from the dead . . . It means Supreme & Preeminent over all who rise from the deadwhich is Exactly what V.18 is saying let’s read Col 1:18 in the NLT18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. Jesus Christ is - supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is
first in everything Jesus Christ is Preeminent in Everything – He is the Real Thing,& ALL the fullness of God dwells in Him Col 1:1919 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, Jesus Christ is filled with all the fullness of God Himself –All that God is – dwells in Jesus Christ THAT is exactly what this Vs means – Jesus Christ is Fully God ! The word “DWELL” means;“to make permanent abode, to be at home permantly” The emphasis of the word “dwell” – is Permanence ALL the fullness of God is “at home” Permanently in Christ;It was in Him BEFORE He came to EarthIt was in Him WHILE He was on EarthIt will continue in Him for ALL ETERNITY ! Jesus Christ possesses in Himselfthe perfect nature of God, in all His Being & Attributes Both the Father & the Son (& Spirit for that matter)possess the SAME perfect Nature & the great mystery of our salvation - - Is that BECAUSE ;
Jesus Christ was absolutely supreme & preeminent over all creation& because of His undeniable position in the universe . . . His Sacrifice was able to reconcile us to God ! let’s read Col 1:19-2019 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. It took the greatest sacrificeof the Supreme Preeminent Creator of all of creation For us to be reconciled to GodWe have peace with God - THRU the blood of His cross The sacrifice of the One Who was Supreme above allwas the ONLY sacrifice sufficient to reconcile us to God His sacrifice on the cross metALL the Righteous Holy demands of a perfectly Just God & thru Faith in HimHis payment for our sins - reconciles us to God Thru Faith – His sacrifice gives us Peace With GodBecause He has paid the full penalty for our sin He is Supreme – He is Preeminent& thru Faith in Him we can have Peace with GodWe can be made a Joint-Heir with Him for eternityWe can become a part of His body, the church & there are some Here - & some Listeningwho have never understood (or accepted)the Supreme Preeminence of Jesus Christ over ALL creation & maybe you’ve never made Him Lord – over ALL in your life,like He is Lord over ALL creation If you’ve never done that – I want to give you an opportunity