Supremacy in the Church

Colossians 1:18–23 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. 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. 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.

INTRODUCTION It would be truer to say that the theme of this letter is the sufficiency, or adequacy, of Christ as Savior. This means no other spiritual power is necessary to bring mankind God’s full and final salvation.

What was happening in Colossae was that the Christians seemed ready to deny Christ's sufficiency for all their spiritual needs and, therefore, to deny Christ's supremacy to which they were already committed.

Scripture continually reminds us that we are a new creation in Christ. The Church is the new humanity. The Church is the new method that Christ uses to sanctify and glorify His people. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares that you are a part of his new creation. 

Our problem is that although we may say Christ is the head, we do not order our lives as if he were the head. If we did, then we would order our lives very differently. Our priorities would change, our motivation would change, and our affections would change.

We would live as if Christ is enough and sufficient as the Head of the Church to hold all things together. Instead, we live our lives with worry, doubt, and fear.Remember when speaking of the church, we are speaking of the Ekklesia of God, the organic church made up of all who have confessed and professed Him as their Lord and Savior. We only have one head of the church: Christ Jesus, our Lord.

The pope is not the head; your pastor is not the head; the Saints are not the head. However, many churches try to operate as if they are autonomous from the headship of Christ and free to make decisions based on their likes and dislikes. 

Author Darrell Johnson, drawing inspiration from James Sire and N.T. Wright says that every worldview is asking and trying to answer the following nine questions:

1. What is prime reality? What is the "really real"?

2. Who or what are we? What does it mean to be a human being?

3. Is there such a thing as "morality," right and wrong? If so, what is its basis; how does one know the good and the bad?

4. What is the meaning of history? Or, is there any meaning?5. What is wrong with us? Something is off—what is it?

6. Is there a solution; can things be fixed? By whom? How? How quickly?

7. Is there a God? If so, can this God be known? And is God involved in the world, especially concerning human suffering?

8. What happens to a human being at death?9. What time is it? "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven" (Eccles 3:1). Where are we in the flow of history?

“The Marvels multiverse has the one above all.”

What was Christ’s Relationship to His Church?

1.  Christ as Head Brings Authority and Growth to the Church

We have far too many churches today that act as if they control the church's day-to-day operations. They act as if they are the rise and fall of the church, as if they have anything to do with the church's progress. 

The church that does not hold to Christ's supremacy as head over His Church will submit to another supreme leader as its ultimate authority. 

Some have debated whether this expression of Christ's headship refers to His authority or nourishment. 

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Head: Term with many figurative uses in Scripture. Frequently, it designates prominence or authority.

The OT commonly uses parts of the body to refer to the whole person (e.g., Dt 6:5). Thus, the number of soldiers in an army or the inhabitants of a nation could be determined by a “head count” (Nm 1:2). The term was often used to show political, military, or family positions. 

In essence, the headship represented those who were subject to him. 

*Jesus as Head Requires Active Involvement from His People

As God’s people, we must relinquish control and fully submit to His control. We learn this in the context of the local body of believers. 

As God’s people, we must come to His church without any personal desires, programs, agendas, or controlling group of people who determine the direction of the ministry.

Misconceptions about Jesus as head of the Church.

1). Because Jesus is head I do not need to submit to human leadership.

If this were the case then why would Paul identify qualified leadership to lead the church in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. And why would the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 13:17a tell us to obey our leaders and submit to their authority.

2). Because Jesus is head I do not need another example to follow.

If this were the case then why would Paul tell believers in 1 Cor. 11:1 to follow his example as he follows Christ. The people, then, benefit by the visible, moving example of Christ’s life displayed in believers who faithfully follow Him.

3). Because Jesus is head I do not need to join a local Church.

Or we could say, “I don’t need accountability or community.”  The spirit of the Lone Ranger is alive and well, embodied by Christians who only think of the Christian life in “my personal relationship with Christ.”  They’re not joiners.

In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes the church in terms of the whole body with many parts. It takes all the parts working together to accomplish the task of the church. We see the individual parts of the body bearing fruit in the context of the local church. How are we to grow in the the gifts that God has given us to be used for the growth of the local church and submit to the people that God has placed in authority over us in the church if we choose not to be a part of the local body of believers.

Every believer is an active member that he has gifted and works through to accomplish his purposes. If we fail to be an active part of the local body we are in essence telling Jesus, that He is not the head of the Church, He is not the head of our lives, we are in control and He is not.

*Jesus as Head Must be First place in our Daily Lives

Christ does not stop being head when you are not physically with the body of Christ. We do not leave His headship at the door of our churches. Jesus as head of the body of Christ goes much deeper than merely the corporate body of Christ where we gather on Sundays, he deserves to be on the throne of our personal lives as the global church of Christ.

Look at the reminder we have from Peter as to how we are suppose to live among the pagan world. 1 Peter 2:9-12

1 Peter 2:9–12 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

This incorporates ever aspects of our lives as employees, students, neighbors, workers.

Those who Use and Abuse the Headship of the Church

It is evident in what we know about the Church at Colossae that the teachers in the church were exercising too much authority in the church. Seeking to misuse their positions within the church for their own gain.

Within the church, the misuse and abuse of authority has taken a devastating toll in broken lives and congregations. Yet the true nature of power often goes unacknowledged and unexplored. 

The problem of authority in the church today begins with those who feed off of people, using them to meet their own needs or make up for their own vulnerabilities.

Instead of Feeding the Sheep like Jesus told Peter to do after his resurrection, Wolves feed on the sheep. Ezekiel 34 warns us against shepherds who feed and clothe themselves rather than their sheep. Jesus speaks about the Pharisees in a similar way in John 10.

God's authority is ultimate. The pastor's authority is delegated and limited by the Word of God.

The pastor who understands his authority is a blessing to the church because he operates within the boundaries of God’s written word, he increases his people’s confidence in Scripture. 1 Peter 5:2

1 Peter 5:2 ESV

2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

2. Christ as Head Brings Resurrection and Reconciliation to the Church

Why is the Resurrection of the Church so significant?

Jesus unique resurrection not only places him as head of the Church but recognizes His future resurrection of the Church when He returns for His own. While others were resurrected during Jesus ministry he was the first to be resurrected as the permanent spirit of life.

Making Him the firstborn as far as the spiritual authority over all who have died and will one day be resurrected to new life.

*Christ Reveals the Father to us

Look at how Paul explains the Deity of Christ.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” The “dwell” language speaks to the reality of God’s inhabiting presence as when he chose to abide in the tabernacle and the temple in the Old Testament.

The Dwelling of God is with Man

verse 19 institutes the coming of God to dwell with man. It echoes back to the tent of meeting in the Exodus. After the tent was set up in the desert God would descend and dwell in His tabernacle. God’s presence in the Holy of Holies was the most tangible reality for the Israelites that God was dwelling with them.

God’s tabernacling presence on earth has now been more fully expressed in Christ’s incarnation than in the old architectural temple, and God was “well-pleased” to do so. The Spirit of Jesus continues that earthly presence in the church as the true form of the temple, since Christ’s ascension.

There was a sense of fearful trembling and awe as the people entered the tent of meeting where God dwells.

Now Christ is the inaugurated end time Temple that the fullness of God dwells. Revelation 21:3

Revelation 21:3 ESV

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

The former creation was subjected to destruction but, the new creation is being built into a permanent house that will not pass away.

It was only as God that Christ was able to give the suitable sacrifice that we needed.

He is the image of the INVISIBLE GOD. The physical manifestation of God here on earth.

Why is Reconciliation Necessary?

If we could some how fix what is wrong ourselves then reconciliation would not be necessary. The reality is that many whole religious belief systems have been built on attempting to reconcile ourselves to God. The natural instinct of man because of the fall is to try and fix the gulf that exists between us and God. (most of the men at Mighty Oaks this week when asked why they were at Mighty Oaks responded, “I want to fix what is wrong with me.”

The word reconcile (katalassō) means to exchange hostility for a friendly relationship. This implies a prior state of alienation and hostility between Creator and the creation which has now been restored

*Christ Reconciles us to the Father

Now Paul gives us the reason for why Christ is preeminent in everything.

Israel’s temple was the place where sinners could come and be made right with God. They could come and have their sins atoned for before a holy God.

Since Christ is the incarnate tabernacle in flesh he is the only one to mediate the alienated creation before a holy God. The peace of Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross is putting the broken pieces of his creation back together again. The broken peace with God is restored through the blood of Christ on the cross. His blood was shed to satisfy God’s wrath against sin.

RECONCILIATION

Why do relationships have to be so complicated? Why do good friends get “wrapped around the axle” with each other? Why do family members become so alienated they may not speak to one another for years? It is because we are sinners who are, by nature, enemies of God and of each other. However, the message of the Gospel is the message of reconciliation (that is, putting together divided parties; Jesus’ bringing God and man together).

The word reconciliation speaks of God’s moving towards man. It implies that there is a need for an end to the broken relationship between man and God. Isaiah 59:2

Isaiah 59:2 ESV

2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

God is the one “chiefly offended” in all conflict. Yet it is so difficult for mere mortals to forget their own hurt and anger and to remember that the sin causing them so much suffering, is ultimately against their heavenly Father.

The problem lies in the fact that the communication of this reconciliation necessarily comes about as God works through human sinfulness and emotions to bring about the need for reconciliation. Obviously, there would be no need for reconciliation in the world if there were no conflict.

“Reconcile to Himself all things”

All things is not a call to Universalism, that all will be saved and reconciled to God.

The universal reality of sin’s devastating effects is described in parallel language with the comprehensive scope of Christ’s work in creation (v. 16; cf. Rom 8:19–22

Romans 8:19–22 ESV

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Just as all things were created “through him,” all things must also be reconciled “through him.” Paul summarized this same truth for the Corinthians: “In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself” (2 Cor 5:19

2 Corinthians 5:19 ESV

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

3. Christ as Head Brings the Glory of Christ’s Passion to the Gulf of our Sin.

We are all born with an incurable disease that nothing of this world can cure. We cannot fix the problem. Before the fall man and God had an unbroken relationship with God. Adam both by will and choice sinned and turned away from God creating an unimaginable gulf between us and God.

Jesus Christ at calvary removes the enmity and hostility between us and God and restores the harmony.

Jesus Christ was sentenced, punished, and judged in our place. The father sent Him to the cross laying on Him the iniquity of us all.

*The Cost of Our Reconciliation

While, thanks to “Christendom,” the cross is generally treated today as a warm and positive symbol, one to be worn around the neck, its original purpose was to signify shame and worthlessness, like the famous “scarlet letter.”

It was not invented by the Romans but became their most feared form of execution, reserved for slaves, traitors, and enemies of whom Rome wanted to make an example. Josephus calls it the “most miserable [or pitiable] of deaths”

The Roman statesman Cicero knows of the cross as the “tree of shame” (Rab. Perd. 4.13). In his Against Verres, he is even at a loss for words to describe how horrible and repugnant such a punishment was (2.5.61–68). No wonder Jews also associated it with covenant punishments from Deut 21:23

People often take for granted the cost of their reconciliation.

1). Lost of perspective on Sin and Separation:

We become familiar with the story of the cross.

We minimize the depth of our sin.

We focus more on the benefits than the cost.

2). We forget the nature of Jesus Sacrifice:

Emphasis on Free Grace without fully grasping the cost.

Detachment from the physical and spiritual anguish Jesus endured.

Event vs. Relationship - we may see the crucifixion more as a historical event than a personal act of love.

3). Desensitization to the Atonement:

Routine religious rituals may be performed without appropriate contemplation gratitude.

Lack of Discipline: thankfulness and remembrance may not be actively cultivated through our prayer and Bible Study.

Self Focus: to much attention may be directed at our own life instead of the price paid.

REDEMPTION: means to buy back at a price.

The Pascal Lamb

Just as in the Passover meal where the blood of the Lamb is placed over the doorpost of the houses as a marker for the angel of death to pass over their house during the final plague, taking the firstborn of every household. 

For the believer when the angel of death comes, and death does come to us all the blood causes the Father to say, when I see the blood I will pass over you.

*The Need of Our Reconciliation

Verses 21 and 22 speak of man’s depravity.

First Paul calls us aliens and strangers who are outside of the fellowship of God.

You would be surprised how many Christian believe that they no longer struggle with sin because they have been saved. How do we reconcile what Paul says in Romans 7:15-17

Romans 7:15–17 ESV

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

He goes on to drive this point home in Romans 7:24

Romans 7:24 ESV

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

What I want to do I do not do,” he describes the believer’s ongoing struggle with sin. Yes, Paul has been freed from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14), but there is still a battle to be fought. Christians have been liberated from the penalty and power of sin, but we continue to live in the presence of sin.

As a result, there is an internal battle between our sinful flesh and the Holy Spirit: “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”

Secondly, he calls them ‘enemies’; this speaks of hostile opposition dwelling in their fallen hearts and minds.

Thirdly, he talks of ‘wicked works’. Here we see the fruit of sin and alienation; by hostile deeds sinners reveal their wicked hearts. The gospel proclaims that men are sinners by nature as well as by deeds.

*The Fruit of Our Reconciliation

Reconciliation is rooted in Christ’s body. The root of the Greek word reconciliation is actually change or exchange. God has done what the great reformers used to call “the great exchange.” There is a series of exchanges that take place.

We exchange our enmity with God for His friendship. John 15:14-15

John 15:14–15 ESV

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

We exchange the life of the old Creation for the new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We no longer live for ourselves as we used to do. (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:15).

*The Removal of Wrath

Believers are now presented as Holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

“If Indeed you continue in the Faith”

Perseverance proves faith’s genuine character and is the fruit of reconciliation: ‘… if you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel.

What did Jesus mean in Matthew 24:13

Matthew 24:13 ESV

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus told the twelve in Matthew 24 that the temple would be destroyed. The disciples were asking Jesus when this would happen and what the signs would be. Their question had two parts and required two answers. 

Some of those prophecies were fulfilled with the temple's destruction in AD 70. In the second part, Jesus declared that they would be handed over by wicked men to be persecuted and eventually killed. He said that nations would hate them because of him. 

From God’s viewpoint outside of time, the end times began as soon as God poured out His spirit on the people of God.

They are all “the last days.” He then warns that, as persecution increases, many who considered themselves His followers will reveal their true spiritual condition when they turn away from the faith. This had already happened during His ministry (John 6:66) and would escalate until the end. Deception, false prophets, and the increase of wickedness would test true Christian faith. Not only will there be some who turn away, but Jesus foretold that “the love of most will grow cold.”

We are already seeing this happen with the explosion of hyper-grace teaching and the prosperity gospel in recent years. Millions are being deceived, with Bibles in their laps, because the words of the false prophets are ego-soothing, exciting, and more desirable than Scripture’s focus upon self-sacrifice and surrender.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

CONCLUSION

JESUS MUST BE FIRST PLACE IN OUR WITNESS

God’s word commissions us to be agents of reconciliation to the world.

This final aspect of Christ’s supremacy means that Christ must be first in our witness. Because of Christ’s reconciling work in our lives, we are called to carry this message of reconciliation to the lost world around us. 2 Corinthians 5:20

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Musical artist John Mark McMillan produced a song titled “Death in His Grave,” articulating profoundly this theme. The chorus has these four lines: “On Friday a thief, on Sunday a King, laid down in grief, but awoke with the keys, To Hell on that day, first born of the slain, the Man Jesus Christ laid death in his grave.” Jesus, the only innocent man in the world, was condemned by sin and death and plunged into darkness. Yet, by virtue of the resurrection power of God, he conquered death itself.

McMillan explains this further in the second verse: “So three days in darkness slept, the Morning Sun of righteousness, But rose to shame the throes of death and overturn his rule, now daughters and the sons of men would pay not their dues again, the debt of blood they owed was rent when the day rolled anew.” The theological trajectory of these latter lines fits well the direction Paul was heading in Colossians. If Christ is the firstborn from the dead, and “death” is the greatest enemy, then there is no debt left for Christ’s adopted brothers and sisters to pay to death.

Where is your urgency church? Has the power and wonder of the reconciliation of Christ become cold in your life and actions?

Do you daily pray for open avenues to share the gospel?

Do you take every opportunity that is given to share the good news with those who come across your path on a daily basis?