Christ, Supreme Over Creation

Intro

Story about students

Colossae, rich in pastures, smaller city, claims to have enjoyed perfect harmony with the gods

Why write Colossians?

Errant philosophy had arisen in the church.

Maybe denied the supremacy of Christ

Maybe led to angel worship

Counter with a clear picture of Jesus Christ as supreme Lord of the universe, head of the church, and the only one through whom forgiveness is possible

Proclaims sovereignty and supremacy of Christ

was present and active in the creation of the universe and who remains active in sustaining and reconciling all things.

7 point argument

The image of God

The firstborn over creation

creator of the universe

head of the church

firstborn from the dead

fullness of God

the reconciler of all things

Epistles

To teach, exhort, and model oru identity as the church and how we are to live in the community of God’s people by making godly choices in a myriad of practical areas in order to fulfill our purpose.

Ask: What does this passage tell us about our identity in Christ and specific choices we should make to underscore that identity or enhance our unity and ministry as God’s primary means of ministry in the world?

Christ, the Eternal God

Colossians 1:15 CSB

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

Christ’s supremacy is first shown in His relationship with God the Father. Christ is the exact visible representation of God

2 Corinthians 4:4 CSB

In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 1:18 CSB

No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

Hebrews 1:3 CSB

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Second, Christ’s supremacy is shown in His relationship to creation. He is the firstborn.

Not created but supreme over all

Existing before. The eternal God

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons each believe Jesus is a created being.

Christ, the Creator

Colossians 1:16 CSB

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

Christ is supreme over creation because he is the Creator.

Greco-Roman thinkers believed all things came from nature and would return to nature.

This means he cannot be a created thing

Created by him, through him, and for him.

Who is Jesus to tell me what to do with my life? He is the owner

You weren’t just made by him, but for him

The telos of everything you see is not properly identified until it is attached to Jesus

What is its purpose towards Jesus?

everything happens for a purpose.

Christ, the Sustainer

Colossians 1:17 CSB

He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

The Son of God is the Conserver as well as the Creator of all things.

All men and women, whether they recognize it or not, are totally indebted to the Lord Jesus as Creator and Sustainer. For not only has he made every person who enters the world; he also sustains their lives daily, giving life and breath to each one.

Why thank God when an atheist doctor heals someone?

By every way we establish ownership, Christ is the owner.

Inherited all things

Created all things

Sustains all things

Aquinas

“For the philosopher takes his argument from the proper causes of things; the believer, from the first cause—for such reasons as that a thing has been handed down in this manner by God, or that this conduces to God’s glory, or that God’s power is infinite.”

Students, do you see God as being relevant to your life?

Christ, the Head

Colossians 1:18 CSB

He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

The attention shifts from the realm of creation to Christ’s relationship with the church and his lordship in reconciliation.

He is the leader of the church. His authority and empowerment enable the body of Christ to grow and mature.

Headship points to a close and personal and living relationship with the Church

He rules over his people in the way that the head of a body exercises influence

Headship also refers to their total dependence on him for life and power

Are we dependent on Christ? Do we think we can do it our own?

Church is an assembly gathered around Christ, not some random thing scattered throughout the world.

Christ, the Reconciler

Colossians 1:19–20 CSB

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

Christ is Lord of the Church because of his divine attributes, his power to govern the universe, and what he has done for the church.

Divine fullness is permanent. He is all that believers need.

The resurrection of “the Head” involves consequentially that of the members.

It also “the Head” is the inspiring, ruling guiding, combining, sustaining power, the mainspring of its activity, the center of its unity, and the seat of its life.

His resurrection resulted in the fulfillment of God’s purpose for Christ.

Christ would reconcile all things to himself on the cross.

Reconciling all things does not mean universal salvation

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible (Chapter 1)

If convinced that we were enemies in our minds by wicked works, and that we are now reconciled to God by the sacrifice and death of Christ in our nature, we shall not attempt to explain away, nor yet think fully to comprehend these mysteries; but we shall see the glory of this plan of redemption, and rejoice in the hope set before us. If this be so, that God’s love is so great to us, what shall we do now for God? Be frequent in prayer, and abound in holy duties; and live no more to yourselves, but to Christ. Christ died for us. But wherefore? That we should still live in sin? No; but that we should die to sin, and live henceforth not to ourselves, but to Him.

Closing

Colossians 1:21–23 CSB

Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.

Twofold reconciliation

Justice has been satisfied at the cross

sinful man is reconciled in that enmity towards God is changed to one of friendship

Remain grounded in the faith

Intellectual: Do you believe true things about God?

Test: doubt

Emotional: Demons believe and tremble, we are to believe and love.

Test: Perseverance - will you keep following even when you don’t feel like it?

Volitional: Action and pursuing Christ

Test: obedience/sacrifice - will you put it all on the alter?

Your primary calling in life is to be a follower of Christ.