In Christ Alone
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Why did Paul write this letter to the church in Colossae and intend it to be read aloud also at the church in Laodicea? What was going on in those churches that Epaphras was worried about that he needed to go to Paul to seek guidance?
Some people within the Colossian church were being led astray by certain philosophies and other spiritual beliefs that were outside Christ’s teaching. That Christ was not enough...
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Some within the church were teaching that in order to grow in spiritual maturity, you needed to follow certain rules and practices.
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
They were diminishing Jesus Christ and elevating manmade philosophy, human tradition, and rituals. Worshipping other spiritual beings. These things had the appearance of being spiritual, but they were not Christian practices. They were actually leading people away from Christ.
You might use the word, syncretism: a merging together of different religious beliefs and practices. In their own wisdom, they might be grabbing bits and pieces of other religions and merging them with Christianity. This is very prevalent in New Age thought, but we see it showing up in so-called “Christian” churches everywhere.
I’ve heard it said from one church leader, “Christianity is one path of many to God.”
Charles Spurgeon: “The gospel cannot be woven into the fabric of old traditions without unraveling its purity. A Christ-centered faith cannot co-exist with idols, for they are enemies of the cross.”
When you add to Christ and His work, you devalue Christ. That’s why this letter points to the supremacy of Christ in all things.
Paul tells us what his concern is at the end of the section:
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 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, 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.
Don’t get knocked off the rails. Be “stable and steadfast” - hold tight to Christ. Don’t shift your focus from the “hope of the gospel.”
At the beginning of this section in your Bible you might see, The Preeminence of Christ as a heading. Declaring Jesus as supreme in position and authority over all things.
We can divide these five verses into two section:
Jesus is supreme over all creation: All things were created by, through and for him.
Jesus is head of the church
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.
This letter is not merely for some ancient church in what we call modern day Turkey. It’s as relevant now as it was back then. We, too can be enamored and led astray by seemingly wise philosophies from others who appear wise. Maybe they speak eloquently. Maybe they have a degree or a PHD. Maybe they can speak in a persuasive manner.
This happens all too often outside of the church as well. People get caught up in dangerous ideologies like racist movements or incel groups; get rich schemes; you name it. There are smooth talkers everywhere.
The internet is swarming with false teachers and charlatans - so-called Christian and non-Christian. Vipers preying on people.
The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
Let’s pray that we are prudent; wise; sober-minded
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
Let’s pray...
Protect us from those who would lead astray.
Protect us this morning.
May we look at the text and read what it says. Help us to understand it.
The Text
The Text
Understanding the context of the letter - why did Paul write this letter to the church in Colossae? - helps us to understand why he was so careful to point to Christ. After reading these words, the church in Colossae should have no confusion over where their devotion should lay. Who they should worship. Who is their saviour.
v. 15 “He is the image...”
Let’s make no mistake who Paul is writing about
Referring to the “beloved Son” (v.13)
Jesus is the focal point of the passage - make no mistake!
In reading this passage, we should see: How is Christ preeminent? In which way is Christ preeminent?
Look at the words used:
v. 15 “firstborn of all creation”
v.17 “before all things”
v.18 “He is the head of the body… He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent”
Of what is he preeminent?
The Greek word translated to all or every is used 8 times in these five verses:
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—
all things were created through him and for him. And
he is before all things, and
in him all things hold together. 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. For
in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him
to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
What is Christ preeminent over? All things! Everything!
Image
Image
“image” - What does it mean that Jesus is the “image of the invisible God”?
The Bible tells us that God is invisible
No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
But in Christ, God has made himself fully known:
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
An image refers to something we see, something we can perceive
Jesus is the full revelation of God to humanity - to you
If you want to know God, look to Jesus
If you want to know God’s wisdom, look to Jesus
If you want to know God’s power, look to Jesus.
He who healed the lame & blind
He who cast out demons
He who rejected every temptation
He who obeyed the law perfectly
He who took the weight of all our sins on himself and was crucified and was raised from the dead.
If you want to know God’s wrath - His hatred of sin that must be paid for.
His love for you - undeserving as we are
Jesus perfectly reveals God to us.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Firstborn
Firstborn
Firstborn does not mean that Jesus was the first being created or born. Not in a human way.
It expresses status, rank, position
In ancient times the firstborn son of a family had a greater status than any of his siblings
Double portion of the inheritance / family leadership
The firstborn was considered to belong to God
Israel was considered to be the firstborn son among the nations
And I will make him the firstborn,
the highest of the kings of the earth.
JWs (and others) believe that Jesus was created by God and is a lesser god or a prophet. Some would say that he was merely a wise man.
That’s not what Scripture tells us:
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.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus, during His earthly ministry claims that He is God and that is why the Jewish leaders want to kill him
There is no refuting that Scripture tells us that Jesus is God
Jesus is the “firstborn of all creation” - “over” all creation
He is the King of kings and Lord of lords and we should view him as Lord of our life
By Him, Through Him, For Him (v.16-17)
By Him, Through Him, For Him (v.16-17)
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Just as John stated:
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.
Jesus was active in creation
By Him - Through Him - For Him
All things:
Heaven and spiritual realms that are unseen to us - anything metaphysical that we cannot perceive
Remember that the Colossians were being persuaded to worship angels or other spiritual beings
Jesus is their creator
All the visible universe - anything that we can see and beyond in the physical universe
Anything that can be detected or learned through our limited understanding of science
Thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities
Angels, arch angels
All of human history - OT history and otherwise
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
declaring the end from the beginning
and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
“in Him all things hold together”
Not only is all created in and through Jesus, but it is by His power that all life and existence is sustained.
We are utterly dependent on Him for each moment we are alive
Paul is telling us that not only is Jesus the creator of all things - that all was created through Him and that he upholds all things - he sustains all things...
but that He is the purpose for all things: All creation, seen and unseen; all history, known and unknown. “He is its rationale, its rhyme and reason.”
The eternal, triune God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness has determined to create and set into motion all the heavens and earth - and place Himself at the center of it in the person of Jesus, the eternal, only begotten Son - so that everything and everyone would find Him at its center.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Outside of Christ, there is no purpose to life - there is no purpose to the existence of the universe. Outside of Christ there is no purpose to what you do as a parent, as a son or daughter, as an employee.
[vv.15-17]
What can be added to Christ? In what way is Jesus insufficient in your life? In what way are you lacking that Christ cannot fill up?
Know this: If you are not clinging to Jesus, you have no hope...
Paul says:
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 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, 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.
You have heard the gospel.
You have heard from God’s word who Jesus is.
If you haven’t yet, lay the weight of your sin down on His shoulders. Be set free in “the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.”
Woe to those who reject Him. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.
Will you be among those who “share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” (v.12)
Place your faith not in yourself, but in the one in whom all creation finds its existence and purpose - whose name is Jesus Christ.
