Exalting the Son

Colossians 1:1-29

Exalting the Son

Colossians 1:1-29

When I was younger peoples always told me that I look like . . .?

Or that I acted like. . .?

And as we got older and had children of your own people would say that child looks just like. . .?

Our kids look like us, we look like our parents.

And as we get older still the most awful things happen. . . we turn into our parents! Mannerisms, catch phrases, and even though we try to fight is sometimes, it is in the genes!

The Son of God looks like the Father, not because He INHERITED any attributes or characteristics but because he FULLY SHARES in the eternal existence and divine attributes of the Father.

That is why Jesus can say in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one”.

Today we are going to look at Three Function of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

The First Function is Eternal Creator Colossians 1:15-17

Paul wrote letters to the Galatians and to the Romans to expound the importance of Christ for salvation, but when it comes to the Church at Colosse he has to affirm the significance of Christ in creation itself. A false teaching was being spread that in essence lowered the function of Christ. So Paul starts off by showing Christ’s relation to deity in verse 15a, to creation in 15b-17, and to the Church in verse 18 to teach them the supremacy of Christ.

In regard to deity, Christ is the “image of the invisible God”.

How can there be an image of the invisible?

Not in material in the physical sense, but rather in His nature.

Christ is the visible and perfect representation of the invisible God. Christ is one with God the Father by nature, but distinct from him in person.

Nothing in the material world can represent God. Exodus 20:4 tells not to make any idols. But God became incarnate, Jesus Christ, fully God, fully human, who then can in the physical realm represent completely the invisible God.

“Firstborn over all creation”

So. . . Jesus was a created being? NO! look at John 1:1-3 and Genesis 1:1-5

If Jesus was before creation, what does “firstborn” then mean?

Psalm 89:20,27 David wasn’t God’s “firstborn”, he wasn’t even Jesse’s firstborn.

“Preeminent one”, the one who receives priority

He is the preeminent one over all creation

John 1:3 tells us that through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made and Paul expands it more so in Colossians 1:16 and nails it with the last 5 words of the verse, “by him and for him”.

Are you part of his creation? So you exist why? “for Him”, He wants us to glorify Him

He is preeminent and supreme and deserves first place in our lives, after my money of course, no? then after my job. No? ok before my job and before my money, but certainly not before my family. . . He wants to be Lord of All not Lord of what is left over. Those who say my life has no meaning, if they are looking inward, they are right. We only find fulfillment in our lives by making Him first in our lives and glorifying Him.

The Second Function is Head of the Church Colossians 1:18-20

In John’s gospel he tells us that Jesus was at the creation. In John’s first letter he tells us that Jesus was at the beginning of the Church.  I John 1:1-4

Paul tells us in verse 18 that Christ is the Head of the Church. So is he talking about the church universal or is he talking about the local church? If Christ is the head, who is the body? Individual members.  I Corinthians 12:27

There are Three Social Structures established by God

1. Marriage – Genesis 1:26-30,2:7-25, Ephesians 5:22-28 Who is the head? Husband

2. Governments and leaders – Romans 13:1-6, I Peter 2:13-17

3. The Church – Christ the Founder - Matthew 16:13-19 Christ the Head - Colossians 1:18

Can the body survive without the head?

Governments fail when God isn’t recognized

Marriages fail when both do not earnestly seek God’s guidance

Church was the only one established with God as the head.

THE CHURCH WILL NOT FAIL!

The church gets its mandate from Christ - Matthew 28:19-20

Christ mandates us to equip believers - Ephesians 4:12-13

The goal of the church is to reign with him forever – I Corinthians 15:50-57  II Timothy 2:12 Revelation 3:21, 22:5

He is the beginning – either time, but Christ is not limited to time, so it must mean preeminence

The word “firstborn” again – firstborn among the dead

Preeminence over all, even death, the resurrection, triumphant over the grave, never to die again I Corinthians 15:20

His resurrection guarantees ours!

And why did he do all this, Last part of Colossians 1:18, “so that in everything he might have the supremacy”

Colossians 1:19 all God’s fullness dwells in Christ – a completeness, totally Colossians 2:9

John 1:14 “became: a change of condition

“pleased” decree retention of full deity

“reconcile” a total work of God – sin means we are at war with God and we have no remedy. Only through Christ’s death could we be reconciled to him. And this reconciliation by His blood on the cross is “making peace” with God to set aside the war.

It is because of the reconciliation He has become;

The Third Function, SAVIOR AND LORD Colossians 1”21-23

Why was Christ’s death necessary? Our sinful condition

We cannot blame others or circumstance. It is our fault, failures, and sins.

There is no salvation, redemption, reconciliation, justification, forgiveness without the cross

Colossians 1:22 – HE RECONCILED YOU!

Works salvation is impossible. It is through his death that the gift of life is available – trusting Jesus for our salvation instead of works or merit

Why did He do all this? What was His goal? His objective? Look at Colossians 1:16 again, by Him and for Him! Now the reason becomes clear in verse 22, to present you HOLY in His sight, WITHOUT BLEMISH and FREE FROM ACCUSATION!

Holy – set apart, unique - Holiness is so important an entire book in the Bible is devoted to the subject with Leviticus 11:44-4 being the anchor verse – Be Holy For I AM Holy

Verse 23 say “if”, not doubt but rather confidence, it gives us the ability and desire to strive for the hope.

The Gospel that saves is also the Gospel that condemns – John 3:16-18

Now is the time of salvation – II Corinthians 5:20, 6:1-2