Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
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Title: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Text: Col. 1:15-20
PP: We must recognize that Christ is preeminent and deserves our lives as worship.
Sermon Points:
1. Worship Christ as Lord of Creation (vv.15-17)
2. Worship Christ as Lord of the Church (v.18)
3. Worship Christ as Lord of Reconciliation (vv.19-20)
Intro:
You know there are some things that that I find fascinating that I look at and think “wow … but I would never do that”
One of those is to climb Mt. Everest
Imagine how amazing that would be … breathtaking as you pull up to it … seeing it’s greatness … what can incredible thing that would be
I was reading about a man who climbed it
a man who pioneered the ascent on the west ridge and he was talking about a time where he saw a photograph of Everest … listen to the way he described that photograph
“far from the mountains in winter I discovered the blurred photo of Everest in Richard Halunburens Book of Marvels … it was a miserable reproduction in which the jagged peaks rose against a grotesquely blackened and scratched sky, Everest itself sitting back from the front didn’t even appear to be the highest peak”
The way he talks about photo is really interesting
Everest this great amazingly glorious mountain … and yet this photo as he records was a miserable reproduction of that glory …
…it was a photo that degraded the glory of Everest because all the other mountains around Everest looked taller than it …bc of the way the mountain was pictured
This made me think of … keeping what is great and magnificent really great & magnificent
As Christians we cannot afford to have a miserable reproduction … not of something great in creation …
but the greatness of a person … of the Lord Jesus Christ
We must not degrade him and think less of him … we must think rightly of him
When I say the Lord Jesus Christ? …what do you think of?
Is it a man
Is it someone did lots of good things for humanity
Helped a lot of people
Said a lot of wise things
Someone who did lots of miracles?
You see if your view of Christ is that of what the Scriptures tell us … that he is supreme … that is preeminent over everything there has ever been … well then you will give your life in worship and devotion to him
Today we’re going to look at a passage that will help us to rightly see Jesus in his majesty and supremacy
So if you got a Bible turn with me to Colossians 1:15-20
This passage is all about the exaltation and supremacy of Jesus
this give us what he is really like
in vv. 15-17 he is seen as our Creator
Jesus is the image of the invisible God
The greek word for image is the word icon (term used to refer to the shape or the form of something)
Icon is used like this today - icon is a picture on a desktop or phone represents a computer program
Gen 1:26-27 - God created man in his image …his icon … …created us to resemble and reflect God
image of God means we are created with a rational soul and conscience been given the ability to make moral choices so as we reigned and ruled over creation we were to reflect in our character God’s holiness, goodness, and love
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Due the fall, the image of God in man has been marred in man (distorted)
Humanity no longer resembles and reflects God
Jesus was not created in the image
He is the image
Does not just resemble or appear to be like God
He is God
Possess the same nature as God
…Therefore to see Jesus is to see the invisible God
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
By using this phrase Paul is asserting that Jesus is the ultimate one that reveals the character of God
This is God in human flesh
Not a created being
Heb 1:3 - he is the radiance of the glory of God … the Exact imprint of his nature - not some carbon copy …the exact imprint of his nature
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,
To think anything less of him is blasphemy
He is God
Firstborn -
So this term can refer to the first in order of time
Like in a family …first one born in a family
Heretical groups have used this verse as prooftext to their belief that Jesus was just a created being from God the F
that “Jesus was just the first one”
But this term is also used in the Bible to refer to one who is preeminent in rank or status
In the OT Jacob and Esau … although Esau was born chronologically first …it was Jacob who was the firstborn and received the inheritance
Israel as a nation was called God’s firstborn - not bc they were the First nation formed on the earth but bc they had a special place in God’s sight among all the nations
Ps 89:27 - of the messiah “I will make him my firstborn” so firstborn means the one who is ranked highest
And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
So what are we talking about here … not birth order but supremacy
Has given him supreme status
This is how Paul is using the term
He is saying christ is ranked first over all creation …
…he’s the one who has all authority over all creation …
…he is supreme over all creation
Firstborn is not chronological it’s positional
was not being born first it was given & bestowed
Our only proper response is to Worship Jesus Christ our Creator
1. Worship Christ as Lord of Creation (vv.15-17)
1. Worship Christ as Lord of Creation (vv.15-17)
Christ created all things (v.16)
Paul uses lots prepositional phrases in order to make us understand the scope of the creation
Heaven - all the galaxies and the stars and the planets (think interstellar)
Earth - everything on our planet
So from the biggest star in the universe to the littlest ant on an ant hill - Jesus made everything
Visible and invisible- Jesus created the very fabric of reality
Throne, dominions, rulers, authorities - not only the tangible physical world …but a spiritual world …with angels and demons of diff ranks
Christ created all angelic forces
Jesus Christ is supreme over all creation …everything in the universe … Jesus made it all
Astronauts and astronomers have no idea how many stars there are in the universe … Jesus knows them all … he names them …he knows exactly where they are
Every atom that makes up the entire composition of your body …he made it
Everything we interact with finds its origin in Christ
The pen you are using rn has it’s atomic origin in Christ
Eyeballs you are using rn were created and fashioned by God
There is not anything about you that is not his
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 was not any thing made that was made.
“Created in heaven and earth” …reminds you of Genesis 1:1
Everything created by God
Jesus is the agent
Not only that but he is still involved … (v.17b)
He is the cohesive element that keeps it all together
He holds it all together
he sustains all things (v.17)
Right now in this moment Jesus is sustaining the universe …he’s maintaining that delicate balance so that life can continue
Jesus is absolutely necessary for the fabric of the universe
Without christ holding all the particles and the atoms tog they would fly apart and our universe would explode
Your bones …cartilage …ligaments …molecular makeup of your body is held together by Christ
The moment Jesus says I am not holding it together … your body falls apart
And the aim
All things were created for Christ
The purpose of creation is to bring him glory
The universe is not about us … we’re not the center
“All things” - puts him in a category of creator vs. creation
John 1:1-3 he’s the agent …Jesus and the creation distinction - two categories
1 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 was not any thing made that was made.
Everything that exists …Exists for him
Everything that has been created … is for him
… You are his
Everything in the universe Jesus says “this is mine”
Everything that has ever existed his is the owner of … …he has ownership of it all
The galaxies were made by him and for him
We’re going to be looking at the stars in Joshua tree; telescopes and everything …we love that … so does Christ
When nasa discovers something we didn’t know before … he already knew … he made it
We love those discoveries … Jesus says I’ve been loving it
Agent and aim -
Is this how you view all of creation?
For him! Your existence for him!
Bc if not then we will make creation for us
Us the ends of creation … “everything made for me”
Until you have creator on your resume … it’s not for you!
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Do you worship him this way?
Are you stealing worship from christ?
His glory
worship that belongs to Christ and to christ alone
Worship him as lord over all creation
“he is before all things” (v.17a)- Existed before anything was created
his preexistent (existed before there was anything)
In John 8 Jesus was talking to some Jews and he says “Before Abraham was … I AM”
He was claiming to be God … claiming to be eternal
The jews knew what Jesus was saying bc they picked up stones to stone him
So how can we worship Christ as Lord of Creation?
Remember we were created to bring Christ worship … to honor him
Just think about your body …
our minds
our eyes
our tongues
our hands
our feet
Using and investing your God-given capabilities to worship Christ as Creator … to bring him glory
your voice (to sing praises to God - at church … in the car … in the shower)
art (ex: painting, photography, poetry, embroidery)
sports and hobbies (surfing, pickleball)
utilizing technology (programming and engineering)
your classes in school … your physics class … your stats class … do it all to his glory of God
those seemingly meaningless classes you take
Utilize your creativity and intelligence that God has given us
and Point to the glory of Christ
Focus your life and energy - purpose to do that
work (barista making coffee … work with kids … fast food … a server … hair stylist)
Is your work targeted to bring glory to the Lord Jesus?
Do you see your work that way?
Don’t just chase a paycheck
…Chase something greater … something far more important … more significant… more worthy … the glory of God
Be known as someone who does things to the glory of God … Glorify the Christ of Creation
Now another thing to point out is that we have a Sovereign OmnipotentCreator
… who’s authority and supremacy is unmatched
as we read v.16 we get the big scope of Christ’s supremacy
i want to think if you are a Christian … what kind of feelings arise when you read this … what thoughts arise
…“wow that’s my God - everything really is under his control … he’s in charge
look this world can cause us to be anxious and fearful
sin … illnesses and diseases … uncertainty of life … the daily news …death … unexpected catastrophic events
and yet this is all under the purview of God
this should be a comfort to us
we can be confident that our Creator has designed this all out and he alone is in charge
we know we are in God’s hands … in Christ’s hands
don’t fear what is created … if your creator reigns supreme
Listen to Rom. 8 - Esp. v.39a “nor anything else in all creation”
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He’s sovereign over those things
This creator loves you
When I make peace with God through repentance and faith you have nothing to fear
Your life is in his hands
Be able to say “if God is for me, who can be against me”
Paul goes on to say in v.18 that Christ is the “head of the body, the church”
Head means he is the authority
If someone is the head of your school means they are the authority
Think of your yourself … your body gets its direction from your head
You chop off my arm and I can still live life
You can’t exist apart from the head
He is the authority
This gives us our second reason we should worship Christ
2. Worship Christ as Lord of the Church (v.18)
2. Worship Christ as Lord of the Church (v.18)
The word church is the greek word “ekklesia”
two words in the greek - ek = out or out of
And word that comes from the word “kaleo” = called
The Church are people who have been called out of their sinful life to serve Christ
When we say church we are not talking about 120 west, east, 140
It is those that are in this world …and in this building … that repented of their sins and trusted Christ
Your the church …we’re the church … if you in christ
not a building
This is what Christ left behind …that you and I are would participate in … to participate in the very life of Christ
The body of Christ is this organization lead by pastors and ministry leaders that is a visible manifestation of God
Look God has died … and left but for now God is changing people from the inside out … making them new creations and gathering them tog in diff locations all over the globe
Jesus says I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
He is so organically connected to the groups of people that gather all over the world … that he says this is my body …
so we at CBC are one outpost of that
Now at this point … it’s important to understand Why Christ is the head of the church?
you say well bc he’s God … yes but here we read of a specific act that gave validation and credibility to his authority
He is the Beginning -
God is creating a new redeemed humanity …bc of the fall …humanity has not lived the way it should have …
… but in the work of christ, the 2nd Adam, God began a new work and is creating a new creation
What is this new humanity built on?
Firstborn from the dead
The resurrection
Rom. 1:4 -
and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Christ miracles would proclaim “this is who I am … I’m God …but the greatest miracle was his resurrection
stamp of approval that he is God in human form … that he is lord over heaven and earth … over life and death
This is what the church is all about … this is our emphasis
Not just anyones resurrection
The resurrection of christ
Firstborn was already see in v.15 we said that it refers to first in rank
Jesus was not first to be raised from the grave
His friend Lazarus in John 11
Only Jesus could say “I am the resurrection and the life”
Jesus resurrection is the supreme resurrection bc … without his resurrection there can be no other resurrections
Jesus is the beginning of a new humanity that God is building through the resurrection and the church is built upon the resurrection of Jesus
Bc he is alive we can also have hope that we will also live with him (1 Cor 15:12-20)
What’s fascinating is that you and I can participate in this thing called the church
We ought to take seriously our participation in Christ’s church
If christ died for the church and will one day come back for her then it should be high on our priority list
the church is something we have preoccupy ourselves with
Invest yourself in Christ’s church
Give your time … resources … energy that Christ deserves
Purpose to be invest in the church
How?
1. Go to main service (attend)
(there is an active participation when we gather, when you are missing, there is a member of our body missing)
yeah if you are sick don’t come … but when you can don’t miss church
For our generation this can become so easy … especially with so much christian content online …
How’s your attitude toward church? - is it a drag for you to go to church
How’s your attendance been over the past 6 months?
2. Be part of a small group (connect)
If you are here … this is great … your going to go to a small group after this …
How’s your participation in small groups? …
Are you a passive spectator or an active participant?
Do people know you in your small group?
Are willing to be known? - not to everyone but to some
As christians we need community … …we cannot live the christian life alone … get some mature … godly christians around you and be committed to small groups
Serve God’s church
Now imagine your thumb one day said I am going to decide to not work today
You wouldn’t be able to type … text … do your work
It’s foolish … it does not make sense
Someone who is saved wants to serve other people that God has saved
Well if you take my little example… if your thumb decided to not do its job today … you would get though the day … but it would not be how it should be
Maybe you’re ok with skipping your serving post one week … the a few weeks after … then after that … becomes a habit
Look your body would still work … other people would step and fill your role … but it would not be the same … it is weird
Don’t get into the habit of making excuses to serve … Do your job in serving the church … Christ’s church
Respecting the church
If we could go back and review our comments about the church
How would they be? How many negative comments would there be? - speaking ill of her, trashing her, disrespecting her
If I said something about your body … you’d be like yo bro Look the church is not perfect, sure maybe some hair in between her eyebrows … few pimples … but this is the the body of Christ
Don’t just point out the flaws in her … think how can I make her better Also don’t talk negatively of the church
This includes other local congregations … churches in our area
Preeminent - to come to have first place
this is to put Christ First in Everything
Everything must be influenced and driven by the fact that Christ is preeminent
Look so many of us know this .. but there is a knowledge that is just head knowledge and knowledge that leads to transformed living
Bc this is something I hear junior highers say “pray that I would put Christ first in everything”
Let’s be specific …
Jesus must be first
in your desires (what’s your ultimate purpose … what pushes you … what drives you
in your studies
work
in your decisions
relationships
friendships
in dating
This is not second level christianity … where eventually you get to this point where Jesus is preeminent
look the reality is that he is either preeminent or he is not
let everything about you be governed by his preeminence in your life
Fullness (v.19) - the sum total of all the divine attributes
to be at home permanently, this shows us something of the eternal rel. of the trinity …that God the F is pleased to have all the fullness of his attributes dwell in his son
dwells in his son for a purpose …
to reconcile
Jesus Christ accomplished reconciliation for you!
3. Worship Christ as Lord of Reconciliation (vv.19-20)
3. Worship Christ as Lord of Reconciliation (vv.19-20)
2 Types:
Cosmic reconciliation
Individual reconciliation
What does it mean that he reconciled the world to himself mean?
5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
The author of Hebrews is making the argument that Jesus is better than angels
v.5a - the idea being communicated is that of rulership
vv.6-7 - so this should take us back into our minds to the beginning of Genesis where God creates the world - has the rulerships and rights over what he’s created … he then entrusts delegated authority to man who was made in his image … and they were to “subdue” … to rule over the created order … this is man
IOW since the beg. God’s design has been that all things be under the rule … under the delegated authority of man made in his image
If these verses sounds familiar it’s bc it’s a quotation from Ps 8 which is all about what God had entrusted man back in Genesis
Uhh question … how’s man rulership gone? … how’d it go when God entrusted it to man? … (this is Genesis 1-2)
Gen 3 … man forfeited his rule … he sinned Now Rom. 8 - creation has been subjected to futility and mankind has been separated from God -
so there is this cosmic separation
So in Heb. It says that’s what mankind was created in the image of God but then in v.9 - Jesus!
Drop down to v.9 - we’ve just seen what happened with mankind when they were created in God’s image
Read This is the image!
Jesus when he takes on flesh in the incarnation now rules over the creative order as a man the way God designed it to be
The incarnate god man is now doing exactly what he should be, ruling over all things
IOW cosmic reconciliation is everything coming under the rule of Jesus Christ the way that It should be!
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Right before he charges his disciples with the great commission he says “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”
This is reminiscent of the davidic king promised in the OT that was to rule over all
Jesus after his substitutionary death on the cross steps into this
Our text says that he reconciled to himself all things to himself … how? … making peace by the blood of his cross
Cosmic reconciliation … everything coming under the rule of christ
Col. 2:15 is the result
15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Now individual personal reconciliation
humans are still found to be separated from him … we are all in need of reconciliation
See it is different for the creation (Rom. 8) that didn’t do anything and was subjected to futility … but humanity (we) sinned against God …
There is hatred, enmity, hostility between you and God and … so we are in desperate need of being reconciled
we all come out separated from God (spiritually dead)
God calls us to be reconciled … and you know what? … the offended party provides the mean
Turn with me to 2 Cor. 5:14-15, 17-21 to see how personal reconciliation for sinners who have offended a holy God is accomplished
READ
What’s the means? Two things … his life and his death
how do you come? by grace through faith!
What we need is the perfect righteousness of God to be credited to our account … there is no other perfect one
Jesus absorbs the wrath of God and is punished on the cross as he lived my sinful life and your sinful life
and you get treated as if you lived Jesus’ perfect life always obedient to the Father
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This is incredible! This overwhelming!
this is the love of God … this is grace … this is mercy
Have you received this?
I am implore you on behalf of Christ … be reconciled to God
every wrong … every mistake … all your faults … paid for by someone else taking your punishment
repent and trust
If you have been reconciled …
how’s your worship
Christ has accomplished cosmic reconciliation
But also offered this individual persona relational reconciliation through the righteousness that only comes through the cross of the lord Jesus Christ
Because Christ is Lord of
… Creation
… …of the Church
…and of Reconciliation
Let’s be spurred to live our lives in worship to Jesus!
My prayer is that because of his absolute supremacy he would preeminent in our lives!
LET’S PRAY