Life in Christ (3)

The Supremacy of Christ...

and what it means for us today.

This morning, we’re going to look at some of the most powerful Scripture on the deity of Jesus Christ.

What do I mean by “Deity of Christ?”

Paul doesn’t mince any words as to what he believes when it comes to Jesus Christ.

This morning, we’re going to look at

The Supremacy of Christ

Let’s get right into our Scripture this morning. We’re going to start with...

Colossians 1:15–17 NLT

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

He is the image of the invisible God...

Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

Jesus is the

“Exact representation and revelation” of the Father - Missler

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

He is eternal...

Colossians 1:15 (NLT)

...He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

Some translations use

Firstborn over all creation...

This can be confusing, and some cults have taught that Jesus was created, but this speaks to His position, and that Jesus is supreme over all creation.

John 8:58 NKJV

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

To a Jew, there was no question as to whom Jesus was talking.

When Moses asked God to tell him Who was sending him to the children of Israel,

Exodus 3:14 NIV

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”

Through Him all things were created...

Colossians 1:16 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

In Genesis 1, when the world was created,

God said, “Let there be...”

Jesus was there. Jesus was creating.

John 1:1–3 NKJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

This babe in a manger, this young man that confounded the religious leaders in Jerusalem when He was twelve or thirteen…This young man that humbled Himself to His parents,

Spoke the world into existence. He that spoke to the winds and the waves. He that said, “Peace, be still!”, created them.

Can you begin to comprehend who it is that we call Jesus?

Colossians 1:16 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Let’s put this into perspective. No king, no ruler that is alive or that has ever lived can compare to His majesty and greatness.

He has no peers. There is none like Him.

Not even satan. He is a fallen angel whom God created. God has already determined his final destination.

Don’t get me wrong, satan has power, but he is nothing in comparison to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Everything thing that God has made was and is created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things...

Nothing in all creation existed before Jesus.

We know roughly when Jesus was born.

We believe that He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Yes, Jesus had a human body, but He wasn’t an ordinary man.

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is eternal. He has no beginning and He will have no end. He is the King of kings, and He is the LORD of lords.

He holds all creation together...

What holds us together?

In Science, we are taught that everything happens by chance. Over billions of years, everything is random.

I believe in a creator that has the power to design all creation. He has set the laws of nature in place. He is not bound to them, so when He intervenes in nature, we call it miraculous.

You are one of those miracles.

Psalm 139:13–15 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

This morning, I’d like to show you a video that was produced several years ago. It’s Louie Giglio sharing about DNA and Laminin.

I believe that it will show us a glimpse of God’s power.

Video

As we continue to look at the supremacy of Christ, let’s read

Colossians 1:18–19 NLT

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. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,

He is the head of the church,

which is His body.

Without Jesus Christ, there is no church.

Matthew 16:18 NLT

Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

The church does not mean a building. It doesn’t refer to a denomination. It is those who believe that Jesus has died on the cross and has rose again. The church is all who have crucified the flesh and follow Christ.

Paul said, “I die daily.”

Galatians 2:20 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We, as the body of Christ, cannot live apart from Him.

John 15:5 NIV

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

This is what it means to be in Christ.

He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead...

Jesus is the A. He is the Z. The Bible says, “Alpha and Omega. The first and the last.

He is the first to rise from the dead and never die.

John 11:25 (NIV)

...“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NIV

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

“Death could not hold You. The veil tore before You. You silence the boast of sin and grave. The heavens are roaring the praise of Your glory. For You are raised to life again.” - Hillsong

It pleased God to have

All His fulness dwells in Christ...

When Jesus was talking to His disciples in the upper room, He said, “I am the way, the truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

John 14:8 NIV

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

John 14:9 NIV

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Jesus is supreme over creation…over time…He is supreme over His church…He is supreme over death…and

He is supreme over redemption

Colossians 1:20–22 NLT

and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

We can’t cross over the chasm that separates us from the God of the universe. We can’t wash even one sin away,

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We were enemies by our own evil thoughts and actions,

but God

Ephesians 2:4–5 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Because of Christ

Colossians 1:22 NIV

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

without a single fault.

Our righteousness is like filthy rages but we are made the righteousness of Christ.

Let’s close with

A warning...

Colossians 1:23 NLT

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.

You must believe and stand firmly in it.

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Why are we more than conquerors?

Romans 8:35–39 NIV

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let’s pray!