Christ Alone (Solus Christus)
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· 1 viewEveryone has an opinion about Jesus. The only opinion that matters is who Jesus actually is.
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INTRO
About five weeks ago, I told you I was taking a break from preaching for the month of July.
It was a break that I needed for a lot of reasons.
One of those reasons, if you remember, was simple.
I was tired.
I needed some time to recharge.
To reset. To spend some uninterrupted time with the Lord.
And I am so grateful for the four people who stepped in and faithfully opened God's Word while I was away during our Summer School series.
It all started with this beautiful girl that I'm madly in love with. My wife, Alyssa, kicked things off with an incredible message called Build Before the Rain.
She reminded us that: Our loudest worship shouldn't come from our lips. It should come from our lives.
Then, Scott... the moon of this stage, because he reflects the stage lights better than anybody else...
Preached a powerful message from Daniel 6.
and taught us that Faith is formed before the lions den.
Then we had our Kids Takeover Service, where my sister, Kayley...
and I'm proud to announce we made it an entire week without fighting...
Preached from Daniel 3 and reminded us that real faith says, "Even if."
Even if God doesn't answer the way we hoped, He is still worthy of our trust.
And then last week Todd wrapped up our Summer School series.
Every five minutes he would say, "I'm almost done..."
and with every one of those announcements he got a little closer to breaking my record for the longest sermon ever preached at Anchor City.
Thankfully for me... my record still stands.
But in all seriousness, Todd reminded us that our excuses are often just disobedience in disguise.
I am grateful for each and everyone of you for stepping in for me.
Would you help me thank them one more time?
SERIES KICKOFF
Now...
Ladies and gentlemen...
After months of praying...
Months of studying...
Months of preparing...
It is finally time.
Today, we begin a brand new series called...
DEVOTED
In Acts 2, the Bible tells us that the early church was devoted.
They weren't just devoted to gathering.
They weren't just devoted to traditions.
They were devoted to the truth.
And over the next six weeks, that's exactly what we're going to be.
We're going to open God's Word and ask, "What does the Bible actually teach?"
Not what culture says.
Not what social media says.
Not even what tradition says.
What does God say?
Over the next six weeks, we're going to look at six essential truths that every Christian should know and believe.
Now, throughout this series you're going to hear me use the word doctrine a lot.
Some of you hear that word and immediately think, "That sounds deep." Or maybe even, "That sounds boring."
But the word doctrine simply means teaching.
More specifically, it means what the Bible teaches about something.
So when we talk about the doctrine of Christ, we're asking, "What does the Bible teach about Jesus?"
When we talk about the doctrine of salvation, we're asking, "What does the Bible teach about how we're saved?"
Doctrine isn't something that's just for pastors or seminary students.
Doctrine is for every Christian.
Let me say it another way...
You don't need a seminary degree to know your Savior.
You don't need to learn Greek.
You don't need to learn Hebrew.
You don't need a theology textbook.
But every follower of Jesus should be growing in their understanding of who He is.
Why?
Because here's the reality...
What you believe determines how you live.
If you believe the wrong things about God...
You'll live the wrong way.
If you believe the wrong things about Jesus...
You'll follow the wrong Jesus.
Good doctrine doesn't just change what you know. It changes how you live.
So let's start with the most important question.
In fact, I would argue that everything else we're going to talk about over the next six weeks rises or falls on how you answer this one question.
Who is Jesus?
If I asked ten people,
"Who is Jesus?"
How many different answers would I hear?
Some would say...
A good teacher.
A prophet.
A miracle worker.
A revolutionary.
A political advocate
A moral example.
The Son of God.
Those aren't all the same answer.
And they can't all be true.
Turn with me to Colossians 1:15-20
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.
The title of today's message is Christ Alone.
Or, as Christians have referred to it for centuries...
Solus Christus.
Don't let the Latin intimidate you.
Solus means alone.
Christus means Christ.
Together they simply mean...
Christ Alone.
Pray
SNACKS/PEANUTS
Where are my snack people at?
And I'm not talking about the people who like snacks.
I'm talking about the people who carry snacks with them everywhere they go.
Your purse has snacks.
Your backpack has snacks.
Your car has snacks.
Some of you probably have snacks on you right now.
I am the type of person that literally forgets to eat.
My wife works late some evenings, so can I tell you what I eat for dinner probably three or four nights a week... without you judging me?
Deli ham... and string cheese.
That's it.
No bread.
No chips.
No side.
Just ham... wrapped around string cheese.
It’s incredible.
And if you’re judging me right now….just remember not only are you judging your pastor your judging someone with autism….
Anyway...
I do keep snacks in my locker at work.
One of those snacks is a can of Honey Roasted Peanuts.
Now...
This isn't a doctrine...
...but it probably should be.
Never trust somebody who eats unsalted peanuts.
I'm just saying...
If that's your snack of choice...
I'll be praying for you.
I bought a can recently and proudly turned it around...
Fully expecting to admire the amount of sodium and sugar coating the peanuts I was about to consume.
I wasn't looking at the ingredients...
I was looking at the nutrition facts like they were a trophy.
As I stood there admiring the label...
My eyes caught something else.
Down near the bottom of the can...
There were three simple words.
Three words that caught me completely off guard...
Especially considering what I was holding in my hand.
The label said...
"May contain peanuts."
IMMEDIATLY….
OUTLOUD…
I said:
WELL I’D HOPE SO…
I mean, y'all...
It's the year 2026.
We have AI that can do just about anything.
We have cars that can drive themselves.
People are ordering groceries from their phones.
Robots are preforming surgery
NASA is preparing to build a base on the moon…
You're telling me we've advanced all the way to this...
...and we still can't confidently identify the main ingredient in a can of peanuts?
TRANSITION TO EXPECTAIONS
If I open up a can of peanuts. ..
I expect there to be peanuts.
We all have expectations.
If I go to a hospital...
I expect doctors.
If I walk into a restaurant...
I expect food.
If I walk into a church...
I expect people talking about Jesus.
The question is...Which Jesus?
Everyone was has an expectation about Jesus.
The problem is that Jesus is not defined by our expectations.
He’s Defined by who He actually is.
And that's exactly what Paul is showing us and the church in Colossae.
So let me give you a little context about why Paul wrote this letter.
CONTEXT
Paul is writing to the church in Colossae.
What's interesting is that it's believed this is the only church Paul wrote to that he most likely never visited in person.
We know he didn't plant it.
A man named Epaphras most likely heard Paul preaching in Ephesus, came to faith in Christ, returned home, and planted the church.
But after the church was established...
Word reached Paul while he was in prison in Rome that false teachers had begun infiltrating the church.
and you know what that means?
The church got a letter…
You know something has gone terribly wrong.
Nobody saw that envelope and thought, "Oh good... Paul's just checking in.”
The false teachers in Colossae were not rejecting Jesus...But by redefining Him.
One of the most fascinating things about Jesus...
Almost everyone likes Him.
Muslims honor Him.
Historians study Him.
Atheists admire parts of Him.
Culture quotes Him.
Politicians invoke Him.
The problem isn't that nobody wants Jesus. The problem is everybody wants their Jesus.
The Jesus who agrees with them.
The Jesus who never confronts them.
The Jesus who fits their politics.
The Jesus who supports their lifestyle.
Every generation is tempted to recreate Jesus in its own image...instead of allowing Jesus to recreate us into His.
Paul doesn't ask,
"What do you think about Jesus?"
He answers,
"Who is Jesus?"
Here's something important you need to understand.
When the New Testament warns us about false teachers and false prophets...
They almost always arise from within the church.
Just because someone uses the name of Jesus...
Doesn't mean they're proclaiming the Jesus of Scripture.
Jesus warned us about wolves in sheep's clothing.
In other words, they don't usually announce themselves as false teachers.
They look like sheep.
They sound like sheep.
That's why knowing the real Jesus matters.
So remember, Paul has a task.
He has to expose the false teaching...
And he has to correct the church.
Now if I'm Paul...
I'm probably starting by naming names.
I'm exposing the false teachers.
I'm correcting all of their bad theology.
But Paul does something fascinating.
He doesn't begin with rules.
He doesn't begin with behavior.
He doesn't even begin by arguing with the false teachers.
He begins with Christ.
Why?
Because before you can recognize a counterfeit...
You have to know the genuine.
So before Paul tells us what's false...
He shows us who Jesus really is.
Let's look at verse 15.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Don't read past this too quickly.
Paul just made one of the most staggering statements about Jesus in the entire New Testament.
Church... if you miss verse 15...
You'll miss the entire point of Colossians.
"He is the image of the invisible God..."
Let's stop right there.
What does Paul mean by image?
He says Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
The Greek word Paul uses for image is eikōn. (Ay-Coin)
It means image, but not simply a picture or a resemblance.
It means that Jesus is the perfect revelation of the invisible God.
In other words...
If you want to know what God is like...
Look at Jesus.
Want to know how God loves?
Look at Jesus.
Want to know how God responds to sinners?
Look at Jesus.
Want to know how God deals with the broken...
the outcast...
the hurting...
Look at Jesus.
Want to know how seriously God takes sin?
Look at Jesus.
Jesus doesn't merely resemble God.
He perfectly reveals God.
That's why Jesus could say in John 14:9,
"Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father."
Church...
You never have to wonder what God is like.
God has made Himself known in His Son.
I want you to hear me very carefully…
As a matter of fact I want everyone to read this with me:
YOU CANNOT FOLLOW A JESUS YOU’VE INVENTED
You can't follow the Jesus of your imagination.
You can't follow the Jesus culture created.
You can't follow the Jesus politics created.
You can only follow the Jesus who has revealed Himself in Scripture.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God.
He is the invisible God made visible.
Jesus, the eternal Son of God...
Fully God.
Fully man.
Has revealed the Father.
That's why Jesus could say,
"Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father."
Then Paul says something that, if you just read it quickly, you might come to the wrong conclusion.
And something that has caused some debates for centuries:
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Hold on...
Did Paul just say Jesus was created?
Absolutely not.
Don't stop reading.
Paul explains exactly what he means in the very next verse.
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.
If Jesus created all things, then Jesus cannot be part of creation.
The Creator is not part of what He created.
So if "firstborn" doesn't mean "first created," what does it mean?
Throughout the Bible, "firstborn" is often a title of rank, authority, and preeminence, not merely birth order.
Listen to what God says in Psalm 89 about King David.
27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Now think about that for a second.
Was David literally Jesse's firstborn son?
No.
He was the youngest.
So why does God call him the firstborn?
Because "firstborn" isn't primarily talking about the order of his birth.
It's talking about the position he was given.
The highest.
The one with preeminence.
That's exactly how Paul is using the word here.
Jesus isn't the first thing God created.
Jesus is the One who stands above all creation.
He is supreme over it.
He is it’s rightful King.
And over the next few verses, Paul is going to make that point over and over again.
Before we get there though…
We have to talk about something else….
Because remember how I told you Paul doesn’t start by addressing the false teachings?
Well…
He may not have done it directly…
But he does something BRILLIANT.
One of the things that the false teachers were obsessed with was angels and the supernatural…
now watch this…
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.
Basically Paul goes…
Hey you know those angels that everyone is obsessed with?
Yeah Jesus…
HE CREATED THEM.
Every throne.
Every dominion.
Every ruler.
Every authority.
Created by Him.
Created through Him.
Created for Him.
Paul says everything was created through him…
But he doesn’t stop there…
He says “through him and FOR him.”
Don’t miss this.
Everything exists…
for Jesus.
The stars.
The angels.
History.
The Church.
Your marriage.
Your career.
Your bank account.
Your 401k.
Your retirement.
your future.
And Yes
You.
You weren’t simply created by Jesus. You were created for Jesus.
That’s the problem:
Some of us have been trying to fit Jesus into our plans...when the truth is, we were created for His.
Paul keeps going in verse 17
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
I know we all love Christmas and the Christmas story…
But…
Jesus didn't begin in Bethlehem.
Before creation ever existed...
Christ already was.
He didn't come into existence when He was born.
He entered the world He had already created.
And right now...
Every heartbeat.
Every breath.
Every galaxy.
Every atom.
He isn't simply the Creator.
He is the One holding it all together.
Let’s keep going verse 18
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.
He is the Head of the Church…
The Church belongs to Christ.
Not pastors.
Not denominations.
Not traditions.
Christ.
The Church doesn't have the authority to reinvent Jesus.
Because the Church is not in charge.
He is.
And then...
There it is again.
That word.
"Firstborn."
Is Paul saying Jesus was the first person to ever come back from the dead?
No.
Lazarus was raised.
Jairus' daughter was raised.
The widow's son was raised.
But they all died again.
Jesus didn't.
Jesus rose never to die again.
He is the firstborn from the dead.
He is the beginning of a new creation.
Now can I show you something really cool?
lets go back to verse 15…
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.
Jesus is the perfect Image of God.
Jesus is the Creator.
Jesus is Before creation.
Jesus is theSustainer.
Jesus is Head of the Church.
Jesus has Victor over death.
Jesus is Fullness of God.
Jesus is Reconciler.
Do you feel what Paul is doing?
Every sentence...
makes Jesus bigger.
It's almost like Paul refuses to let us shrink Jesus into someone we can manage.
"...that in everything He might be preeminent."
Preeminent.
That's not a word we use every day.
It simply means...
First.
Supreme.
Above all.
Without rival.
Without equal.
Holding first place in everything.
That's the point of this entire passage.
Paul isn't just telling us who Jesus is.
He's telling us where Jesus belongs.
First.
The false teachers they weren’t looking to get of rid of Jesus they were looking to move Jesus place.
Here is the reality:
False teachers don’t reject Jesus. They reduce Him.
Listen to me very carefully.
Jesus was not just a good moral teacher.
Jesus was not merely a prophet.
Jesus is not a political advocate.
Jesus is not a mascot for a political party.
Jesus is not your life coach.
Jesus is not your therapist.
Jesus is not your good luck charm.
Jesus is not your emergency contact that you call only when life falls apart.
Jesus is not one option among many.
He is the image of the invisible God.
The Creator of all things.
The Sustainer of all things.
The Head of the Church.
The Victor over death.
The One in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
The Reconciler of sinners.
That in everything...
He might be preeminent.
We started this morning with two Latin words.
Solus Christus.
Christ Alone.
After everything we've seen in Colossians...
That shouldn't just be a slogan anymore.
It should be a conviction.
Because if Jesus is the image of the invisible God...
If He created all things...
If He holds all things together...
If He is the Head of the Church...
If He conquered death...
If He is preeminent in everything...
Then there can only be one Savior.
I’m almost done I promise…
Look at what Paul writes to Timothy:
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
There is ONE.
Not many.
Not a few.
ONE.
There is one God.
There is one Mediator.
One person who can stand between a holy God...
and sinful people.
Jesus Christ.
That's why there is one Savior.
That's why there is one way.
Because there is only one Mediator.
Jesus isn't one of many ways.
He is the only way.
Not because Christians made that up.
Because Jesus is unlike anyone else.
He alone is both fully God and man
He alone lived without sin.
He alone died for sinners.
He alone walked out of the grave.
He alone is preeminent.
SOLUS CHRISTUS
Christ Alone.
So here is my final question:
If Christ Alone is enough...
Why do we keep trying to improve on God's plan?
Why do we keep saying, "Jesus...plus..."
Colossae had…
Jesus plus angels.
Jesus plus visions.
Jesus plus traditions.
Jesus plus religious performance.
Today…
Jesus plus politics.
Jesus plus success.
Jesus plus morality.
Jesus plus reputation.
Jesus plus achievement.
Jesus plus anything else we believe will finally satisfy us.
The names changed.
The temptation didn’t.
Because the moment you add something to Christ...You've stopped treating Him as preeminent.
Anything added to Christ we are allowing to Compete with Christ.
Jesus Christ does not and will not share first place.
He is first...or He isn't
Do you remember... what feels like three hours ago... when I talked about the peanuts?
I told you that made absolutely no sense.
Because if I buy peanuts...
I expect peanuts.
But church...
I'm afraid we've created a version of Christianity that simply…
May contain Christ.
We have:
A little preformance
A little politics.
A little success.
A little comfort.
A little religion.
A little self.
and then a little warning label that says: May contain Christ.
But hear me.
Jesus didn't die so your life could merely "contain Christ."
He died so that He would be Lord of it.
Jesus isn't looking for a place in your life.
He deserves first place.
Because He is preeminent.
Solus Christus.
Christ Alone.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.
Before we close, I want to introduce something we're going to do every week during this series.
It's called the Devoted Challenge.
Every Sunday, I'm going to give you one practical challenge that takes the truth we've learned and calls you to live it out throughout the week.
Because here's the reality...
Doctrine isn't meant to stay in your notes.
It's meant to shape your life.
So here's your first Devoted Challenge...
This week, I want you to read Colossians chapter 1 every single day.
And every day, ask yourself this question:
"Is Christ truly first in my life?"
Ask the Lord to reveal anything you've allowed to compete with Christ, and surrender it to Him.
Then come back next Sunday ready to continue the journey.
Pray
