Above All Others

Introduction

Last week, we saw that God the Father rescued us from the dominion of darkness (Col. 1:13) and brought us into the kingdom of the Son (Jesus) that He loves. And the way that he did this was by redeeming us—and that means God has forgiven us of our sins (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9).

In our passage this morning, Paul is going to layout for us exactly how you and I have been redeemed. So, if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Colossians 1, and we’ll begin reading with verse 15.

The Supremacy of Christ

Colossians 1:15 NIV

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

In this section (Col 1:15-23) Paul is going to lay out why Jesus is above all, over all, and supreme over all else.

THE IMAGE OF GOD.

The first reason that Jesus is supreme is because he is the image of the invisible God (v. 1a).

The idea of Image involves three things:

Likeness — Jesus told his disciples, that when they saw him, they were seeing the Father (cf. Jn. 14:9). Jesus is the mirror image of God (cf. Heb. 1:3).

Representation of God — Jesus represents God to us (cf. Jn. 17:21-23).

Manifestation — Jesus makes God known to us (cf. Jn. 1:18).

THE FIRST BORN

The second reason that Jesus has supremacy is that Jesus is the first born of all creation (v. 15b). The Greek word is prototokos and may denote two things:

Priority as in the first born, or

A superior rank (i.e. sovereignty (cf. Ps. 89:27; Rom. 8:29; Heb 1:6).

The best understanding of this word, in the context, is that it denotes both of these ideas at the same time. Jesus is supreme because he existed before creation (Jn. 1:1). At the same time Jesus is has authority over all creation (cf. Jn. 1:3; Matt. 28:18).

THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS

Colossians 1:16 NIV

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Jesus has supremacy because all things were created by Him! (v. 16) (cf. Jn. 1:1-5).

To make sure we understand what Paul means by “All” is going to give several statements that support “All.”

Every thing in Heaven was created by Jesus.

Everything in and on this earth was created by Jesus.

Jesus created all the things we can see (the visible).

And Jesus created all the things we cannot see (invisible).

Jesus is over the hierarchy of angelic beings:

thrones (Gk. thronoi);

or powers (Gk. kyriotetes);

rulers (archai);

or authorities (exousiai).

This seems show the highly organized dominion of the spirit world. He seems to be addressing this because the Colossian church was engaged in the worship of angels (cf. Col 2:18). Paul wants them to know Jesus reigns supreme over angels (cf. Eph. 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Phil 2:9-10).

Everything was created through him (cf. Rom . 11:36). Here the word “created” in the Greek is in the aorist tense and refers to the act of creation.

Everything was created for him (cf. Heb. 1:2). Here the word “creation” in the Greek is in the perfect tense and presents creation as the proof of Jesus’ creative power.

Colossians 1:17 NIV

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jesus, existed before anything was made (preexistence). This verse, like Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1-5 emphasize the eternal existence of Jesus in the trinity. It separates him from the created.

Paul now reminds us through Jesus (sustainer), everything continues to run and operate.

This verse is the summation of verse 15-16.

THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH

Colossians 1:18 NIV

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

Paul states boldly that Jesus is the head of the body (cf. 1 Cor. 12:27).

Paul then ties the body of Christ and states that it is the church (cf. Eph 1:22-23; 4:12; Rom 12:4-5)! As the head of the church, Jesus is the power and source of spiritual life!

THE FIRSTBORN AMONG THE DEAD

Jesus is the firstborn of the dead. As such he conquered death through his resurrection. Thus, he broke death’s strangle hold on humanity (cf. 1 Cor. 15:20; 23).

As such, Jesus became supreme over the old creation (the Law)

And over this new creation (the Church).

JESUS RECONCILES US TO GOD THE FATHER

Colossians 1:20 NIV

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Through Jesus all things are brought into a right relationship with him (reconciled to him).

This includes things on earth.

And it includes things in heaven

Peace is made with Jesus through the blood he shed on the cross!

KEY—The cross made reconciliation possible, now it is up to people to accept God provision of reconciliation. The individual person can choose to accept or reject the offer of reconciliation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20).

Colossians 1:21 NIV

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

We were once alienated from God. Paul reminds us that at one time were were “alienated” (Gk. apollotrioo; estrange; alienated; ill-suited for; to be a stranger; to be a foreigner).

Remember that the church at Colosse was made up of mostly Gentiles. They understood better than the Jews what meant to be an enemy of God—not only were they against God, but God was against them.

In our minds and actions were were enemies of God. Thoughts lead to actions. Since our minds were set on doing evil, our actions followed suit and were evil.

Colossians 1:22 NIV

But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

When we come to verse 22, there is a wonderful “But. . .” (v. 22a). This moves us from enemy of God to reconciled to (to be placed in a right relationship with) God.

This reconciliation comes through our physical connection with Jesus Christ’s death (v. 22b).

One of the early false teachings was Docetism, which taught that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body. Thus, his physical existence was merely an illusion — a deception of the senses rather than a historical reality. They seemed to have come to this conclusion, because they viewed (incorrectly) all physical fleshly forms as inherently evil.

Thus, those who adhered to this teaching believed that while the “human” Jesus, experienced suffering, death, and resurrection; the divine Jesus (Christ) remained untouched by these events because he had withdrawn from the physical before the events occured.

This has its theological roots in “dualism” that shaped early Christian thought and led to the Gnostic system of thinking.

So that we are presented “holy in his sight (Gk. hagios; Eng. devoted to the gods; dedicated to God; set apart; consecrated; morally pure) (v. 22c).

Not only are we presented as holy but we are also without blemish or blameless (v. 22d). This is not talking about personal conduct, but rather about our position in Christ Jesus. Thus our lives are free from accusations (cf. Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”) .

Colossians 1:23 NIV

if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Now there is a little conjunction, IF, which in the Greek is an adverbial conditional conjunction, which means the individual has a responsibility to act (v. 23a). The writer assumes that the condition has been (or is being) met.

Here are the conditions:

Continue in your faith (v. 23b). It is assumed that the reader has a strong understanding of the gospel message and will not be blown off course when trials and tribulations come.

To reinforce this idea, Paul says what we are to be established and firm in our faith — again immovable (v. 23c).

We are to be immovable from our hope — the hope that we placed in the gospel (v. 23d). Paul is not talking about wishful thinking here. Rather he is saying that we need a firm assurance regarding the Gospel even when parts of the gospel remain unclear.

Paul tells the church that he is referring to the gospel that they heard proclaimed and it is the same gospel that is being proclaimed to every creature “under heaven” (on earth) (v. 23e).

And it is the same gospel to which Paul has become a servant (v. 23f).

So What?

This morning, Jesus wants us to know that He is supreme over everything!

He is supreme because he is the image of God the Father.

He is supreme because he is the First Born of all creation, and as such He existed before creation and is superior in rank to all of creation!

Jesus is supreme because He created EVERYTHING!

And that means Jesus is above all the angelic and demonic world!

Jesus is supreme because He is the Head of the Church!

Jesus is supreme because He conquered death!

Jesus is supreme because He, and He alone is the one that reconciles us to God the Father.

We can experience all of this — but there is an adverbial conditional conjunction — “IF”.

This morning I us to take a gut check of our lives and see how we are doing with the conditions:

How are you doing in your faith? Is your faith strong no matter what is going on in your life?

Are you established and firm in your faith? Not shaken when you don’t understand what God is doing in your life?

Is your hope immovable because you have place your hope int he gospel message?

IF you and I are living out these conditions in our lives we experience the reconciled life — NOW, in this world because we can experience God and His work in our lives!

And we will experience the reconciled life — LATER, when we meet Jesus faith to face.

My prayer is that you and I are truly living our what it means to be a child of THE King!

[Prayer]