Jesus First

Introduction

“The Poisonous Mushroom”

Prior to the Second World War, children in Germany were given a book to read that, when translated to English, is titled “The Poisonous Mushroom.”

In it, children were taught:

“Just as it is difficult to distinguish between a poisonous mushroom and an edible mushroom, it is difficult to distinguish between a good Jew and a lying, thieving Jew.”

“Whenever you see a crucifix, think of the horrible murder of Jesus by the Jews.”

“The Jewish nose is wide at the end and looks like the number six...”

The connection then was made to Satan and explained the evils of the Jews.

With this wicked story being told to children as the reality of life, it is no wonder so many followed the Nazi regime.

“Wrong doctrine always leads to wrong living. Right doctrine should lead to right living.”

Wiersbe, Warren W. 1996. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

When we speak of doctrine and theology, there is a part in which we speak of it in a proper sense - as a study for intellectual purposes, but we must also remember that even then it has a practical purpose - to shape the story of our lives, and when necessary, to correct it.

While it may not be the book, “The Poisonous Mushroom,” we are inundated everyday with stories trying to describe and define the world for us. This was the problem for the Colossians to whom Paul is writing this letter, and it is a similar problem we face today.

As a reminder from last week, Paul is writing this letter to a church in the city of Colossae - a church he did not start.

It was likely when Paul was in Ephesus that a Colossian named Epaphras heard Paul, believed the gospel, and traveled back to his home town of Colossae and planted a church.

At the time of Paul writing this letter Paul is in Rome toward the end of his life when Epaphras visits him and explains that this church is beginning to hear some teaching that is different from what Paul knows to be true.

We don’t know what these were specifically - Jewish mysticism, gnosticism, etc? But we do know that Colossae was a city that allowed for many different ideologies and views - Some of which may persuade.

Colossians 2:4 (ESV)

4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

The unity of the Letter to the Colossians is the person and preeminence of Jesus.

This should be what unifies our life!!

“The next six verses (15-20) of the letter are generally, and rightly, reckoned among the most important Christological passages in the New Testament.:

Wright, N. T. 1986. Colossians and Philemon: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 12. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

We are going to see two aspects of who Jesus is that make the case for how we should live in light of who Jesus is.

Jesus is Supreme over all Creation (15-17)

Jesus is Sufficient for all Redemption (18-20)

This structure is evidenced by the two nouns:

He is the image of the invisible God. . .

He is the head of the body, the church.

Some say this may have even been and early hymn declaring the greatness of Jesus.

Jesus is above everything around you (15-17)

Jesus is supreme over all Creation

Colossians 1:15–23

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

image = εἰκὼν

Jesus displays God

Not only does he display God — He IS God

Col 1:19 - “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell”

John 1:14–18 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

So Jesus displays God and is God

“firstborn of all creation”

Not only was Jesus God but he was also human

100% God and 100% human

Firstborn not in humanity but in relationship

Arianism is a Christological doctrine first attributed to Arius, a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt. Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was begotten by God the Father and not co-eternal with God the Father.

Docetism is the doctrine that the bodily existence of Jesus was a mere semblance without any true reality. It is the belief that Jesus only seemed to be human.

Adoptionism was an early Christian non-trinitarian theological doctrine, which held that Jesus was adopted as the Son of God at his baptism, his resurrection, or his ascension.

Apollinarianism is a Christological heresy proposed by Apollinaris of Laodicea that argues that Jesus had a human body and sensitive human soul, but a divine mind and not a human mind. It was deemed heretical in 381 and virtually died out within the following decades

16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus above creation

heaven

earth

visible

invisible

There is nothing in the physical world greater than Jesus.

There is nothing in the spiritual world stronger than Jesus.

Everything owes its existence to and currently exists for Jesus.

Jesus gives existence to everything

Jesus gives meaning to everything (or meaning of everything is found in him)

Jesus

---------------

*Jesus is above everything around you - Surrender to Him.

Jesus is sufficient for all redemption

Jesus is greater than anything within you (18-20)

18 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. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

“The church does not exist to meet the needs of its members or to insure its institutional survival, but to fulfill the redemptive purposes of Christ, its head.”

Colossians and Philemon (The Head of the Church, the Firstborn from among the Dead (1:18–20))

“I didn’t like worship.” “That’s ok, we weren’t worshipping you.”

Francis Chan

Jesus, as the firstborn from the dead - resurrected - Is the head of the church - redemption.

This Jesus, Lord over Creation, is the one we are worshipping right now.

He is the one over the church.

His purpose is to reconcile all things.

There is nothing in you that Jesus cannot redeem and reconcile. He is Lord over creation.

Jesus > ______________

Jesus is Creator and Redeemer

He created everything so there is nothing that he can’t redeem

*Jesus is greater than anything within you - give it to Him.

Jesus is first because he lasts (21-23)

Notice the shift to the second person.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Jesus is working not just in the church generally but in you personally.

For what purpose? to “present you holy and blameless and above reproach.”

Jesus is playing the long game, are you?

Jesus is greater than all creation because he will outlast creation!

Why first? Because he’s the only one that lasts Jesus first, because Jesus lasts

Your job will be given to somebody else perhaps ai

Your money will be distributed to other people

Your kids will grow up and leave the nest

Your marriage will not last through eternity

Only Jesus remains

We become so distracted by the shiny distractions of this world, that we neglect, glorious riches, the kingdom of Jesus

Illustration – like a child playing with wrapping paper

Jesus ≠ _______________

Make Jesus preeminent; not simply prominent (18b)

Make Jesus first; not simply alot.

If I could have a value that we would embrace as a church for this season it would be this: Make Jesus first; not simply most.

Colossians 1:18 (ESV)

18 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.

Preeminent = first

Only used one time in the NT

ILLUST - The relationship that many Christians have with Jesus treat him more like a Facebook friend than Lord of all Creation! In their minds they’ve clicked ‘Accept’ to a universal request to follow Jesus, expecting to check in once a week or so, to see what Jesus is up to. If they get into a bind, they can always message him (it says he’s always active), and expect that since they are friends, surely he’ll respond well.

Jesus does not call us to simply accept him — He calls us to follow him.

Before you think that this is not what Paul means when he describes jesus as preeminent, just listen to how Jesus himself describes the call to follow him:

Luke 9:23–24 (ESV)

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

Luke 9:59–62 (ESV)

59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 14:26–27 (ESV)

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33 (ESV)

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Jesus + ______________ ≠ disciple or __________ + Jesus ≠ Good Christian

Jesus + ______________ (any thing, person, etc) ≠ disciple of Jesus or Christianity

Jesus can not be an add-on to your life. He must be everything.

It’s not that Jesus should be first — He IS first - the only question is if you are aligning your life to that reality or resisting it?

Jesus is above everything around you.

Jesus is greater than anything within you.

Jesus is first because he lasts.

So. . .

Make Jesus preeminent over everything in your life; not simply prominent in your life.

These words were written by a man who will soon die a martyrs death for Jesus - you can be sure that he was sure of what he was saying about putting Jesus first!

How to make Jesus preeminent:

Daily surrender

Constant reminder

Priority of prayer

What area of your life have you not yet surrendered? Jesus is already LORD!

What is something in your life that you need Jesus to be greater than?

What is something in your life that you have given permanence to that is not Jesus?

What is one area / situation in your life this week that needs to come in second? Where does Jesus need to be placed first this week?