Colossians- Week 2

Discovering Your Treasure

Colossians 1:9-20, 2:3

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Colossians 2:3 (ESV)

in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

We are going to focus on that hidden treasure and on that word “preeminence.”

Tonight, I want to help you to discover the treasure that you have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many years ago, the Spanish Armada was sailing off the coast of Florida. A hurricane struck, and those ships that were full with millions of dollars in gold and silver went to the bottom, in shallow water. People knew the treasure had been lost, but they didn't know where the ships had gone down. One ship went down near Vero Beach, near Fort Pierce, there in Florida. For many years people swam in that water swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, spear fishing right around that area. Then one day some explorers said, “The ship must be here.” They went out and they made the surveys; they tested, and they went under. And there it was: in shallow water, so shallow that any of us who could swim normally could have gone to the bottom. They brought up millions of dollars. There it was, but they didn't know it was there.

I believe tonight that many of us are yet to discover the full treasure we have in Jesus Christ. in Him—in Jesus Christ—“are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3) Think of that: all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! And it's all in Jesus!

Now, how can those treasures be yours? Well, there's a key verse, and I want you to see that key verse. It's chapter 1 and verse 18—look at it: “And he—that is, Jesus—is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead;— now here's the key phrase; watch it—that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Big words this week!! We don’t use that word much anymore. It means “first place”. He is above all things. He is first, in many ways.

(World Champs- basketball, not really the world, but we say that. “World Series” of Little League, - “we won the world series, well this is the USA, no the USSSA, there are countless...” so who is really in 1st place? Who is the best? No way to know!”)

But the preeminence of Jesus is unmatched. It really means first place.

I. The Sovereign Determination of His Preeminence.

Now the very first thing I want you to see is what I'm going to call the sovereign determination of His preeminence. That means it has always been God’s plan to make sure Jesus has first place.

Look, in verse 19: “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”

Colossians 1:18–19 ESV

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

What does that mean? It pleased the Father that in all things—verse 18—Jesus should have preeminence, for it pleased the Father that in Him—in His Son—should all fullness dwell.

God has one eternal plan—just one—and it is that his Son, the Lord Jesus, will have the preeminence. And Paul is going to tell us in Colossians that this is a part of the vast eternal plan of God. It is the purpose of history.

Why did God send the Holy Spirit? That Jesus might have the preeminence. Jesus said, “When he is come, He will not speak of himself; He will glorify me.” (John 16:13– 14) The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ.

you beware of any so-called Christian movement that has the Holy Spirit for a figurehead. The Holy Spirit—very God of very God—has as His office work to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. Why, the final judgment—even the final judgment—is that in all things Jesus will have the preeminence.

Why? Listen. God is going to judge the world. Why? “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)

Now, listen. If you want to get in on what God is doing, if you want to understand what God is up to, if you want to bring your life in line with almighty God, understand that Jesus will have the preeminence. you can never know the fullness of God in your life until the one single aim of your life is that Christ and Christ alone will be exalted.

In your life- is Jesus Christ preeminent?

Jesus Christ is not looking for a place in your life; Jesus Christ is not looking for prominence in your life; Jesus Christ deserves and demands preeminence in your life. Jesus Christ is not someone that you can tack onto your life.

Jesus Christ doesn't want to be the spare tire, dear friend; He's the steering wheel. Jesus Christ is to be Lord of your life. “It pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” And so the very first thing that I want you to understand, if you would discover your treasure, is the sovereign determination of His preeminence.

This is the mystery of history. All that God is doing is that His Son might have the preeminence.

II. The Sweeping Dimension of His Preeminence

What should He be preeminent in? Well, look again, if you will, in verse 18. It says, “that in all things he might have the preeminence”—“in everything (all things).”

Colossians 1:18 ESV

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

What are these things?

A. He is Preeminent in the Revelation of the Father

For example, see in verse 15, Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15)

Colossians 1:15 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

He is preeminent in revelation. (how God reveals himself to us)

God is unseeable, God is unknowable, and God is unapproachable, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. You will never know God apart from the preeminence of Christ.

You cannot know God through reason. You cannot know God through religion. You cannot know God through ritual. The only way that you can know God is through Jesus Christ.

The preeminent Christ has a monopoly on the revelation of God. I want you to listen to this verse in Matthew chapter 11 and verse 27. Jesus said...

Matthew 11:27 ESV

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

The only way—the only way— you can know God is for the Son to reveal Him to you. If you worship God any other way other than through Jesus Christ, you're worshipping an unknown God.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) He has cornered the market on revelation. (Mormons, etc…) He is preeminent in the revelation of the Father.

B. He is Preeminent in the Regulation of the Universe

Now, secondly, not only is He preeminent in the revelation of the Father—verse 15; but He is preeminent in the regulation of the universe—verse 16.” (Colossians 1:16)

Colossians 1:16 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

How is He preeminent in the universe?

*He is the Power of Creation

Jesus is the power of creation. It was all done by Him. Who created this vast, mighty world? Who was it that flung out the stars? Who was it that scooped out the seas? Who was it that heaped up the mountains? Who is it that paints the rainbow? Who is it, dear friend, that sculpts the mountains?

Who is it? It is Jesus Christ.

that little baby of Matthew chapter 1 is the mighty God of Genesis 1.

There are some today who try to tell us that they believe in evolution.

if that is true, you've got three problems.

Number one, you've got a problem with the Bible—with the Scriptures—for the Bible tells us that “the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) And if this book is not sufficient to tell me where I came from, it's not sufficient to tell me where I'm going,

If I don't understand that Jesus made it all, then not only am I going to have problem with the Scripture, but I'm going to have a problem with salvation.

You see, if man just simply evolved, if there was no Garden of Eden, if there was no fall in the Garden of Eden, if we are not by nature sinners, if we're just evolving onward and upward, then we don't need to be saved; we don't need to be born again.

But the Bible says, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22) And if Genesis 3 is a myth, John 3 is a farce: we don't need to be born again.

But not only will you have a problem with the Scriptures, and not only will you have a problem with salvation, but you're going to have a problem with society.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: You teach people that they came from animals, and before long they're going to be living like animals. That’s where we are today.

*He is the Preserver of Creation

Not only is He the power of creation, but He is the preserver of creation. Look in verse 17: (Colossians 1:17)

Colossians 1:17 ESV

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus Christ holds it together. Jesus is the glue of the galaxies. Jesus Christ is the One who regulates the universe. Jesus Christ is the One who fuels the sun so that it can burn. Jesus Christ is the One who veils the moon with beauty. Jesus Christ is the One who guides the stars and the planets in their mighty orbits.

Can you imagine what would happen if Jesus let go of this place? Just let it go? We wouldn’t last a day. If it weren’t for his mercy and grace we would be dead meat!

Jesus is the One who regulates the universe. He is preeminent in the revelation of the Father. He is preeminent in the regulation of the universe.

*He is the Purpose of Creation

Look again in the last part of verse 16...

Colossians 1:16 ESV

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

You want me to tell you why this mighty universe exists? Because of Jesus.

Did you think it was made for you? it was made by Him;

—and that word “for” is a preposition, and it means “movement toward an object.” It means that this universe is coming to Him. It was made for Him, and it is coming to Him.

People say, “What’s the world coming to?” It is coming to Jesus. It is all for Him, and life would be meaningless if you didn’t understand the purpose for creation.

C. He is Preeminent in the Reconciliation of the World

Continue to read in verse 18:

Colossians 1:18–20 ESV

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross.

I want to say with all of the emphasis of my soul; I want to underscore it; I want to put an exclamation point behind it; and I want you to hear me, : There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ!

He is preeminent in salvation. He made peace with the blood of his cross. There is no way to heaven apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, if there is some other way other than Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ is none of the ways at all. If there's some other way apart from Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ is a fake, a fraud, a liar, and a deceit.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) If there's another way other than Jesus, then the apostles are false witnesses, for the Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

If there's another way other than Jesus Christ, then I lose my respect for the One who is called God. And I'll tell you why: I mean, dear friend, if God allowed His Son to die that agonizing, excruciating, death, and there was some other way, I'd hate to meet that God in a dark alley.

He is preeminent in the revelation of the Father. He is preeminent in the regulation of the universe. He is preeminent in the reconciliation of the sinner. And he made peace by the blood of his cross.

What a Savior we have! There's none like the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for the Lord Jesus!

III. The Sacred Demands of His Preeminence

now, thirdly, I want to talk to you about the sacred demands of His preeminence. What does this mean to me?

What does it mean to you?

Well, it means,, that in my heart and in my life He must have the preeminence. There are two things that demand that Jesus have first place in my life.

A. His Deity Demands It

Number one: His deity. He’s God!

And verse 18 says, “And he is the head of the body, the church.” (Colossians 1:18)

Colossians 1:18 ESV

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Now Jesus Christ is God, and He is head.

He is King, and therefore He has a right to demand of me His preeminence. Because of His deity, He is God.

This is not some preacher; it is God who speaks. There can be no rival.

There can be no refusal. There can be no rebuttal.

Christ is God, and because of that—because of His deity—He demands preeminence.

B. His Death Demands It

But not only because of His deity, but because of His death. Verse 20 says...

Colossians 1:20 ESV

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

When you put verse 18 through 20 together, then you understand why I must bow the knee to Jesus Christ.

Number one: He is God, and He died for me.

Number two: because of His deity, and because of His death.

“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Paul was talking to the carnal Corinthians. They had forgotten the preeminence of Christ. And Paul told them in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, you are not your own?”

He bought you. He bought me, and I have no right to my life. I must turn it over to Him completely. This is the sacred demand of His preeminence.

C. How do I respond today?

Now, how is that going to work out in my life? If Jesus Christ is Lord—and He is if he died for me, and He did; if God has determined that in all things Jesus Christ should have the preeminence, then what does that mean to me?

I say it and I mean it: that Jesus Christ deserves and demands preeminence. And when you begin to give Him preeminence, then you're going to find the treasure that is hid in the Lord Jesus.