Christ is Preeminent

Intro

[Thank worship team]

Good morning Bethel Church, and good morning to our network of rural churches that are joining us live on YouTube. And if you are new here, I want to extend a special welcome to you. If you would, there are “i’m new” cards in the seat in front of you. If you would fill that out there or at the Welcome Center outside of the sanctuary. We even have a free gift for you if you are new to Bethel. We would love to get in touch with you and discuss how to get connected to our church family.

Announcements:

SOPHIE

Building Projects

As we grow as a church, we are experiencing “growing pains.” The need for more volunteers, the need for better utilized space. We are working on both!

As for space, here is one thing we’ve done, and one thing we are starting.

Parking Lot (estimated spots added: 50)

Gym renovation. Starting tomorrow. Replacing the busted sound paneling on the walls. Also fixing the cracked ceiling so we can place sound paneling on the ceiling. We want to start using the gym on Sunday mornings for *fellowship,* and that requires making it a place where you can have a conversation.

Today we will be continuing our study of In, But Not Of. If you are reading out of the Bibles in front of you, our passage can be found on page 983. If you do not have a Bible, please stop by the Welcome Center and take one. It is our gift to you.

TRANS: PRAY OVER CARE NEEDS, PUSH CHURCHCENTER APP & PRAYER GROUP

Opening Hook

What are the consequences when we ask the wrong question?

George Mallory famously tried to climb Mount Everest in the 1920s and died in the attempt. He was driven by the question, “Can we conquer the mountain?” Decades later, Edmund Hillary approached the same mountain but started with a different question:

“What will it take to bring us down safely?”

That question shaped his planning, team dynamics, and decisions — and in 1953, he became the first to summit and return safely.

The questions we ask set a course for us. They determine how we orient ourselves. When we start with the wrong questions, we will not be able to live a successful life.

To give another illustration, it is like being lost on a hike with nothing but a map in your hands. We might ask, “how do we get home?” But this is the wrong question to start with, because if we knew the answer we would not be considered “lost!”

The right question is, “which way is North?” Once we ask that question, the journey becomes clear.

Paul begins his first major section in Colossians with an orienting question. The question that will give clarity to the rest of life. It is the most important question we can ask:

The Most Important Question

“Who is Jesus?”

How you answer this question will dictate the rest of your life, and your eternity.

TRANS: The stakes are high, which is why Paul jumps straight into this topic starting in verse 15.

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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.

Christ is Preeminent

Jesus is greater than.

Colossians 1:15-20

Preeminent

Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” How can something invisible have an image?

One scholar notes that we might make a disconnect between the “image” of something and the thing itself. No person would claim that seeing a painting of a place be the same as being in the place. It might make you *feel* like you are there, but you are not there. But the ancients did not make this distinction.

Colossians and Philemon The Image of the Invisible God, the Firstborn over All Creation (1:15–17)

In Greek philosophy, however, the image has a share in the reality that it reveals and may be said to be the reality.

Paul was using common language for how his audience would have thought, but making a bridge to Jesus. It would have been absolutely preposterous to believe that a deity could become flesh, yet that is what Jesus did. He is the image of the invisible. He is God.

And Jesus is also “first.” Again, Paul uses what would have been common language for describing God:

Both Greek and Jewish religion sometimes describe God or supreme deities as “First” and occasionally called some deities “the firstborn”; the emperor also claimed to be “first” among equals, the “equality” part being a rhetorical fiction.

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 571.

But that phrase “of all creation” shows that Jesus is not merely a localized deity, having authority over one nation or people. Rather, Jesus is Lord over All.

We know that Paul can’t mean “the first to be made” because he goes on in verse 16 to say that “Jesus made everything.”

“Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.”

I want to pause and make an observation. Jesus made all things, what are these “Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.”? Paul echoes this language in Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Paul is saying, “you know those evil and dark spiritual forces at work today? Before their rebellion, even they were made by Jesus and for Jesus.” I’m making note of this because Paul is going to pick up on the spiritual realm a few more times in Colossians. But his points later regarding spiritual forces of evil build on this point he is making here: Jesus is greater.

For the fullness of God is pleased to dwell.

This is why starting with “who is Jesus” is critical. Look at what the Apostle Paul says here:

Jesus is…

The image of the invisible God

The firstborn of all creation

The creator of all things

The sustainer of all things

The head of the church

The beginning

The first to be resurrected

The fullness of God

He reconciles all things to himself

He makes peace

Anything that you could say about Jesus in regard to importance, status, power, etc… Jesus is greater than that. Yet our attention is often taken away from Jesus, and we begin to focus on lesser things. But we must avoid such distractions.

Avoid Distractions

Leonardo da Vinci took a friend to criticize his masterpiece of the “Last Supper,” and the remark of the friend was, “The most striking thing in the picture is the cup!” The artist took his brush and wiped out the cup as he said, “Nothing in my painting shall attract more attention than the face of my Master!”9

How we all need to be careful of distractions! Our focus should be upon Jesus Christ, first and foremost.1

9 Walter B. Knight. Three Thousand Illustrations for Christian Service, p.379.

1 Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Practical Illustrations: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2001), 30.

TRANS: Jesus is “greater than.” But this is not just a mental exercise, Paul gives clear instructions on how this should change us:

Colossians 1:21–23 ESV

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.

Do not drift, cling to Jesus.

Colossians 1:21-23

Paul discusses what Jesus has done for us. He reconciles sinners to a holy God. And notice that Paul does not say, “well, they can only be reconciled if they behave.” Absolutely not! Jesus declares sinners to be righteous “in his body of flesh by his death.” He took our place, he died for our sins. When we, by faith, receive him, then what Paul says here is true of us. We are

Holy

Blameless

Above reproach

At the judgement seat, we do not try to make any attempt at claiming “i’ve done more good than bad,” because this is a hopeless endevor. Our claim is “Jesus forgave me. My hope is in Him alone.”

Paul clearly is concerned about the Colossians drifting away from their faith.

Two major interpretations:

If you drift you were never saved

If you drift you lose your salvation

The practical result is the same… so Paul’s heart is not to explain how it works, but to give the warning and prompting: keep going. *How* you keep going is by clinging.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 1

Christian perfection is not sinlessness, but maturity—growing up unto Christ in all things (

Seeking Godliness is not legalism. Acknowledging that the Scriptures give moral commands is not tantamount to self-righteousness or being judgmental.

First, we must be forgiven by Christ. Then, we must live like Christ. The second cannot happen without the first. And the second cannot happen if the emphasis is on *us* to complete it.

Forgiveness happens by coming to Jesus, and growing happens by clinging to Jesus.

TRANS: Do not drift, Cling to Jesus. And this “clinging” may not always be easy:

Colossians 1:24–29 ESV

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Suffer with Christ for His Church

Colossians 1:24-29

Two phrases: “Rejoice in my sufferings” and “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”

“Rejoice in my sufferings”

Earlier this year, we saw the same attitude in the book of 1 Peter. Any hardship we might face is worth it, and better than that, it is something to rejoice in because of Christ. Notice Paul does not say “I rejoice in my sufferings.” He would sound like a crazy person. Who does that? Who wants sufferings… and then rejoices?

No, he expresses the “why” in the next phrase, “FOR YOUR SAKE.”

This is lost on us as modern Americans. We have the belief, “all pain is bad, and should be avoided.” Yet the early church believed that suffering for your faith was one of the dearest markers of being unified with Jesus. Jesus suffered for us, he was flogged, embarrassed, wrongfully convicted, mocked, forced to drag his own instrument of torture and death through the streets, publicly hung on a cross for 9 hours, and died. He did so in pursuit of reconciling sinners.

When we experience unjust sufferings for our faith, you’re in good company.

But then Paul says something strange:

“I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”

Now here is what Paul is not saying, “Jesus could have suffered more. So I’m filling in the gap.” No. Paul is making a comment about the people of God in an ultimate sense: Jesus suffered, and the church has more suffering to go through.

Then he talks about how he is a minister to such a calling, to such a message.

The mystery has been made known. The riches of this mystery, that “Christ is in you” is the hope of glory. We must proclaim, we must share, we must move forward, no matter the cost.

TRANS: [text]

In, But Not Of

Beware of what causes drifts.

There are many warnings about falling into sin in the New Testament. These warnings are not just for the world, but for people who follow Jesus. Here’s why, sins are not just a choice, it’s a direction.

Sin leads you down a path.

Financial Audit - Sin Leads You Down A Path

There was a guest on a financial podcast where they were walking through his finances. He was a 27 year old married man with two kids under the age of 2. He was very overweight, and his credit card statements showed a key reason why: over $1,500 a month in eating out.

This man, because of financial strain, got another job. But at the end of the long day, he would spend $40-50 to have food delivered to his house. Which was the equivalent of 2-3 hours of the second job he just picked up.

He did not see that every choice he made to go get fast food led him down a path. He was sacrificing his future, and the future of his family, for Taco Bell.

Here is a picture I’ve shared with many people: the flesh, the world, and the Devil (the three listed in 1 John 2) throw stuff at us to see what sticks. This is why some of us cannot be within 1,000 feet of alcohol, and others don’t think anything of it.

Do not be ashamed of what works on you, only be ashamed if you let it work on you.

TRANS: [text]

Christ’s mission is worth any cost.

Kind of pulling on that thread that Paul lands on about his own ministry and the suffering he will endure.

In but not of conference: You Will Be Different.

Parents, you are not just “keeping children alive.” You are raising the army of God who will go into a dark world with the message of hope.

I want to speak directly to the men in the room. And this applies to women as well, but guys, I want you to hear me. Some of you are bored. Bored with life. Bored with your job. Bored with your new pickup. Bored with that vacation you went on. You lack purpose. You lack conviction. You were made by God to join in the spiritual war.

There is something that is awakened in you when you think of yourself as in God’s army to participate in the mission of setting the captives free. This is what Paul thought of himself. This is why he’s rejoicing while shackled in prison. He’s on a mission.

Some of you need to enter into this glorious purpose for the first time. To think of yourself as being “sent” by God into your workplace, your family, your neighborhood. He has a reason why you are here. Participate in Christ’s mission.

Conclusion : When you start with the question: who is Jesus? And you get that question right, it changes everything. He is Lord and God. He is the one who sets sinners free. He is the preeminent one. Have you given your life to Him? Are you following Him? Cling to Jesus today. And then do that again tomorrow, and again and again. For there is no higher purpose, there is no higher calling, there is no greater Lord. Jesus is King.

Pray

Talk About It/Think About It

Why is this question the most important one anyone can answer?

What truths about Jesus’ identity and role stand out to you in this passage, and why do they matter for daily life? (Col. 1:15–20)

What are some ways believers today are tempted to “drift” from the hope of the gospel, and how can we cling more tightly to Jesus?

Why does Paul rejoice in his suffering, and how does this perspective challenge or encourage you?

What kinds of cultural pressures or personal habits can subtly pull us away from the centrality of Christ?

Why is it worth it to endure hardship for the sake of Christ’s mission?