Colossians 1:15-20

a man by the name of Jesus…came into this world some 2,000 years ago

He lived an unsuspecting life…until 30 years old

then unnatural/supernatural events…at His command

in a boat when raging storm…calmed the sea by command of His word

forgave sins and was questioned…but later told paralytic get up and walk

Lazarus dead 4 days…until Jesus told him to come out of that grave

then entered Jerusalem…the whole city was stirred, “Who is this?” (Matt 21:10)

Jesus was a historical man (no one legitimately debates that)

BUT He did stuff that has never been done before or since

today you too must answer the question for yourself

Who is this Jesus of Nazareth?

we need fathers who lead families to answer this question RIGHTLY

some claim

Mormon—first-born child of Father-God and Virgin Mary (husband/wife)

Muslim—prophet (lesser than Muhammed) and surely not God

Jehovah’s Witness—1st creature; Michael before stripped of powers

theological liberal—nothing supernatural; God adopted

clueless American—good-ole-boy who told us to love / be nice; sad he died

NT paints a clear (& different) picture

one that we embrace at FCC

we believe in the Jesus of the Bible

do you believe the Jesus of the Bible (Col 1:15-20)?

on this Father’s Day we need men who lead their families (& this church family) because they are truly convinced of…

The Supremacy of Christ

just because He is supreme, doesn’t mean you have made Him supreme

Jesus is supreme in creation

pew Bible # 1168

He (refers to 1:13—the Son)

1:15-17

why is Jesus supreme in creation?

supreme

Taco Bell—nachos/taco/burrito supreme (sour cream, tomatoes)

supreme pizza (all the toppings)

enchiladas supreme (fajita meat on top)

what makes Jesus supreme in creation?

is He the supreme creature (created being)?

or is He supreme because He is something else totally?

He is the image of the invisible God (1:15a)

how can we see God if He is invisible?

if seeing is believing

how are we ever to believe in God who cannot be seen?

we can see the existence of God in creation (Rom 1)

but looking at a sunset or majesty of Grand Canyon 

isn’t same as looking at God Himself

what hope is there for knowing and believing invisible God?

Jesus!

John 14:8-9 (Philip to Jesus)

Paul (nor Jesus) are saying Jesus “looks like” the Father (physical)

Sam Storms “The Son ‘images’ the Father in terms of moral character, will, and the attributes of deity. The Father and the Son, together with the Holy Spirit, share a common divine nature, glory, and purpose.”

Jesus is everything the Father is without being the Father

Hebrews 1:3

we have stepped off into Trinitarian theology (7 statements)

purpose: recognizing man known as Jesus of Nazareth as GOD

back to Col 1:15

humans are made in the image of God

Gen 1:26; Gen 1:27

Jesus alone is the image of God

John 1:1, 14(tabernacled), 18

Jesus is the perfect manifestation of the invisible God

if being the “image” of the Father seems to confirm the deity of Jesus

the next phrase seems to destroy it…

He is the firstborn over all creation (1:15b)

is Jesus (as some believe) the first created being???

of or over???

oh prepositions!

of — literal

ESV, NASB, KJV (of every creature)

over — essence

NET, CSB, NKJV

real question is meaning of firstborn = πρωτότοκος

in English, only one meaning

“first to be born” — eldest

in Greek, another option “first in status” PREEMINENT

LXX—God says in Psalm 89:27

David youngest of 8 sons AND not first king, but preeminent in status

born or not born???

some have concluded that Jesus was a created being

just ask Arius (4th century) who argued that Jesus was created by the Father at some point

logic: if Jesus has a beginning, then He was created at some point

but was refuted by Alexander and Athanasius

argued: Jesus Christ is eternal, just like the Father

Nicene Creed

goes on to explain HS

one word stirred lots of discussion

one (same) substance—homoousios NOT homoiousious

not of a similar substance

but of the same substance

Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,

clearly not born or created

so firstborn HERE cannot mean what we mean in English language

think preeminent or supreme

why is Jesus “firstborn” over all creation???

Paul explains HOW & WHY Jesus is firstborn over all creation

He is the creator of all things (1:16a, b)

Gen 1:1, John 1:1-3

prior slide

by Him all things were created

in heaven and on earth

biblical merism—two elements function together to indicate a single whole

EVERYTHING—consider Genesis 1:1

massive galaxies billions of light years away

& particles of dust floating in the air

visible and invisible

see—beam of light

too small to see—proton

feel—summer breeze, gravity

touch—oak tree, book, baseball, son/daughter, father

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities

spiritual beings

every conceivable variety of angel, both good and evil, both hellish and holy

They were all Christ’s idea.

by Him all things were created through Him

Christ stands at the beginning of creation as the one through whom all things were created.

building a home analogy

architect—bluebrints

builder

maintainer

Jesus is all of these in 1:16

Jesus is utterly unique

distinguished from all creation

because He is eternally prior and supreme over it

why? He is the creator of the universe

Jesus is the architect, artisan, and aim of creation

He is the goal of all things (1:16c)

for him

all things are for Him that He might be glorified/praised/enjoyed forever

He is the goal/intent/aim/purpose/end/terminus/consummation and culmination of every molecule that moves

Does that please you and bring you joy

that all of creation is about Him…and not you?

Do you find delight in knowing that God didn't create the world so He could have you,

but so that you could have Him?

He is before all things (1:17a)

how can Jesus who lived on the earth after Abraham say,

Truly, truly, before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58)???

before here means priority in time (Eph 1:4 - before the foundation of the world)

in reference to time, Jesus is preexistent (has no beginning)

hurricane Rita—moved from mobile home to EYE OF THE STORM

but never experienced earth shaking below my feet

earthquake in Colossae AD 60-61

catastrophic—much of city was destroyed; numerous lives lost

Colossians written around AD 60 (if Roman imprisonment)

thus reading this letter right before or right after

after being seriously shaken, Paul writes…

He is the sustainer of all things (1:17b)

not deist view

Jesus didn’t create, only to skip town

but Jesus is the “divine glue”

all because in him all things hold together

think—billions & billions of fusion reactions needed every sec (10 w/38 0s)

from the sun just so we don’t freeze to death

all of which are the product of the sustaining power of Jesus

without Jesus

electrons would not continue to circle nuclei

gravity would cease to work

the planets would not stay in their orbits

Paul wants Colossians (and us) to understand that things make sense

only when Christ is kept at the center (remember that dads)

if there is a shaking

it is because the Lord has willed it

no matter how widespread the destruction

no matter how disconcerting the loss

Jesus has not lost His grip on this world

as we see in 1:18-20, Jesus has a purpose

Jesus is bringing the universe towards a consummation

on that final day His glory will be radiantly seen

and His purpose will be perfectly attained

because…

blank screen

Jesus is supreme in redemption (1:18-20)

heavy on first because 1:18-20 feeding into 1:21-23

why is Jesus supreme in redemption?

because…

He is the head of the body, the Church (1:18a)

Church is certainly universal/global body of Christ

all believers throughout all of history

YES head of universal church

AND head of every local church (FCC)

Paul wants the Colossians (and us) to know

Jesus is reigning over His people

He is also the source from which we (His body) get our spiritual strength

John 15:5

He is the beginning (1:18b)

linked with 1:18b

He is the firstborn from the dead (1:18c)

Jesus is the head of the church

because He is her beginning (source of life)

why? being the first to rise from the dead, never to die again

Jesus is the beginning and founder of a new humanity (a new people)

God raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him in authority over the church

so that He would be preeminent in everything

we are not misplacing our worship from God to someone lesser because…

He is the possessor of all God’s fullness (1:19)

clearly pointing to the deity of Jesus

rejected by some mainline Protestant churches

dwell may be misleading

Jesus not a man that God chose to let His deity reside

not like HS indwells us as believers

all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

fullness

OT—the fullness of God was evidenced in the tabernacle/temple

NT—Christ replaces the temple as the place where God now dwells

tautology—unnecessary repetition

all the fullness—is there another kind of FULLness?

not unnecessary repetition

Paul means Jesus is not partially God, but wholly God

mix wine and water

end up with something different than started with

water is now somewhat alcoholic

wine is now somewhat diluted

new substance is different than what was in either before

But with Jesus

the divine nature did not swallow up the human

nor did the human dilute the divine

Hypostatic Union—fully God, fully man

mind boggling!

BUT if Jesus anything less or other than the God-man

we would still be in our sin

He is the agent of God’s reconciliation (1:20)

touch on this week

dig in next week

though all things were created through Him and for Him

all things no longer have the relationship with their creator that was intended

they (WE INCLUDED) are therefore in need of reconciliation

only the God-man Jesus

only by making peace by the blood of His cross

knowing who Jesus is (Creator of all who is supreme over all)

raises the realization of the price paid on the cross for our salvation

The Supremacy of Christ

Jesus is Lord of all the universe

How is that reflected in the way you live your life?

surrendered your life to Him?

Are you living as if He is really your Lord?

evidenced in speech and way live and lead at work and in home?

use of time, money, abilities?

not just on Sundays…Jesus is preeminent every day of the week

not just at the church house…Jesus is preeminent in all of your life

will you pray for our youth & leaders

that they make Jesus supreme as He deserves?

will you pray for fathers

that they surrender to Jesus who is Lord of all?