17-6-18, Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10, 3:1
The Secret of Life • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsThe secret of life is to bind yourself to Christ so that you will have life to the fullest.
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Series Introduction
If you’re like me, you want your life to be happy, rich, and full of meaning, right?.
You want your life to count, not something that turns out to be wasted, hollow.
Not one which
Because of this desire, we all set out to find something which we believe will give us a sense of fullness. Some people believe this something is family, others physical pleasure, still others knowledge or the right job or wealth.
We search for something that will satisfy our heart’s need to be relevant.
1991 there was a movie called City Slickers. It’s about some NYC men who were facing mid-life crisies. They went looking for that something. So they signed up for a tourist cattle drive out west.
Leading the cattle drive is a tough old cowboy named Curley. In one scene one of the men named Mitch, played by Billy Crystal, pulls his horse up along Curley. As they talk Curley explains he finds fullness in the Great Frontier. This gets Mike’s attention. Curley gives him advice, “The secret of life is this.” He lifts his index finger. Mitch says, “Your finger?” “No it’s one thing.” Billy’s character says, “What is it?” Curly responds, “That’s what you’ve got to figure out.”
There’s this one scene where one of the men named Mitch, played by Billy Crystal, talks with Curley about being happy in life. Curley tells him, “The secret of life is this.” He lifts his index finger. Mitch says, “Your finger?” “No it’s one thing.” Billy’s character says, “What is it?” Curly responds, “That’s what you’ve got to figure out.”
Man, that sounds really good doesn’t it. I just have to go out there and find the Secret of Life. The problem is that just when I think I’ve found that one thing for me, the novelty of it soon wears off, or the thing changes, and then it no longer satisfies me like it did.
Then I’m off to the next thing, then the next. Soon enough, I’m in a constant rat race trying to find something that is going to make me happy. Pretty soon I doubt that this world has anything that can give me enduring purpose.
However, just when we think we’ve found that one thing, so often dissatisfaction creeps in and that one thing doesn’t fill us like we hoped it would It seems that finding that something that gives meaning is easier said than done. Everyone is chasing something, yearning to discover the Secret of Life.
It seems that finding that something that gives meaning is easier said than done. Everyone is chasing something, yearning to discover the Secret of Life.
We are on constant pursuit of the Secret of Life. That which will fill us and keep us filled.
Then you’re looking to the next thing that I hope will fill your heart and give my life meaning. We are on constant pursuit of the Secret of life. That which will fill us and keep us filled.
Then I’m off to the next thing that I hope will give my life meaning and purpose. We are on constant pursuit of the Secret of life.
However, just when we think we’ve found that one thing, so often dissatisfaction creeps in and that one thing doesn’t fill us like we hoped it would It seems that finding that something that gives meaning is easier said than done. Everyone is chasing something, yearning to discover the Secret of Life.
In this new series, we are going to ask the Bible, “What is the secret of life?” “What is that one thing?” “What will permanently fill me to the brim with meaning, satisfaction, and fullness? Is there anything that can fill me and make me matter in this life and even after death?”
In this new series, we are going to ask the Bible, “What is the secret of life?” “What is that one thing?” “What will permanently fill me to the brim with meaning, satisfaction, and fullness? Is there anything that can fill me and make me matter in this life and even after death?”
God shaped hole
The book of Colossians reveals the Secret of Life. God wants you to know it. He has no interest in hiding it from you. He’s calling you to it.
The secret of life is this- It’s Jesus Christ.
God shaped hole
Today , you are going to see that:
The secret of life is to bind yourself to Christ so you can experience life to the fullest.
Now you’re probably saying, I could’ve come up with that answer. We are in church after all and the answer is always either God, Jesus, the Bible.
But there’s a difference between saying Christ is the answer to life from rote knowledge and knowing that He is.
My goal with this series is to help you to believe totally that Jesus Christ is the Secret of Life. I want you to know this in the deepest part of your heart- the part of your heart that knows truth. I’m going to show you several faith principles from Colossians about Christ, that will solidify this conviction in your heart, that Jesus is the Secret of Life.
When you understand these principles with conviction, it’ll change your life. You’ll be able to live life constantly filled instead of always wavering in your purpose and value, whether your good enough.
The first principle is this
You must believe Jesus Christ is pre-eminent over everything.
Preeminence means: greatest, leading, foremost, the best, the finest.
This is Paul’s instruction in
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.
At least a portion of this is likely from an old hymn of the 1st century church. Christians just like you and me used this in their worship. This hymn tells two things.
How Christ relates to created things and how He redeemed it. Just pause to think what this means. This passage talks about how Christ created you. It also talks about how Jesus Christ redeemed you.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- In this case, the meaning of the word “image” (eikōn) is manifestation. Here, Paul boldly declares in Christ the invisible God became visible. (Melick, Broadman & Holman Publishers)
-In this case, “firstborn” means privilege and birthright. The point of this phrase is to identify Jesus as the heir of the Father who possesses everything that has been made. Jesus is the owner of creation.
-You and I are created things. This verse tells us that Jesus is God and He possesses us.
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.
-This passage allows us a sneak peak into the specific roles of the Persons of the Godhead in creating the heavens and the earth.
a. The Father acted like an architect. He determined to bring creation into existence and designed it.
b. Jesus acted as the foreman who brought the plans into existence, manifesting the details of the created order.
c. The Spirit did the work of applying the plans in a hands-on relationship to creation.
-“By Him, through Him” speaks to Jesus’ originating the details of creation and bringing them into existence by his own creative power.
“For Him” means everything exists to display the glory of Christ. He is the goal of creation. (Melick, Broadman & Holman Publishers)
-Bring this back to you. You were made by Him and through Him. Your life is for Him. God made you to worship Christ.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
-Paul explains that Jesus is before invisible things in heaven and visible things on earth.
When I’ve worked with the kids, I ask the kids to line up. Without a doubt there is always some sort of scrum about who gets to be in the front of the line. It’s a strange thing. Other than the view of me leading the line, there is no real benefit to being first in line, except it means something socially. Even kids know there is honor in being first.
In using before all, Paul explains that Jesus is first and all of creation is in line behind Him, even you and me. Jesus has the place of honor.
-Paul is explaining reality. This is true even if you and I don’t see it this way. Paul has been given special access to see realities beyond what you and I have seen.
It’s kind of like bring on the street with your back to a coming car. If I tell you there is a car coming and you need to move, it doesn’t matter if you don’t believe in cars or if you think cars won’t hurt people. Objective reality trumps our subjective perspective.
Then Paul explains another role of Jesus. He is not only creator, but sustainer of creation. He holds all things together. Jesus keeps all things in order.
Maybe this is why big huge doomsday predictions about the earth don’t rattle me. Obviously, we need to steward creation well, but I don’t worry about us destroying it, because this tells us Jesus keeps it going.
This is so important to me because life often feels like it’s falling apart around me. I take solace in the fact that Jesus keeps it together. He keeps me from falling apart.
He holds things together around you and me.
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.
-Continuing with this point that Jesus is preeminent over all creation, Paul starts to tell us about the church. He calls us the body of Christ. He tells us that Jesus is the head of the body.
-Generally, no creature can live without it’s head. The church cannot live without Christ.
-This means Jesus, not the pastors, deacons, teachers, nor committee members, is the leader of First Baptist Harrah and every other Bible believing Great Commission church.
-He’s also superior over death. He’s called the “beginning and firstborn from the dead” because He is the first person ever to beat death. Being the only person to live without sin, death had no legal right to Him. Jesus is firstborn because He is the trailblazer who’s made it that we can beat death too!
-Redemption fits perfectly into Jesus’ sovereign role of holding all things together and returning things to their created order.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
-The God was pleased to take human form in Jesus. He was no less than God, and continues to be fully divine. (Melick, Broadman & Holman Publishers)
-None of us can claim this has happened to us.
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
-God delighted in Jesus’ central role of redemption. Remember sin separated creation from God.
A. Jesus’ purpose is to restore creation back to God by removing sin and its effects.
B. The scope of reconciliation includes material creation, the animal world, humanity, and spiritual beings. (Melick, Broadman & Holman Publishers)
C. The means of reconciliation is the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross.
C. The means of reconciliation is the shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross.
I hope by now you understand that the Bible teaches that Jesus is preeminent. But I fear that we will miss the connection between His greatness and our lives.
How does the knowledge of Jesus’ preeminence translate into fullness in me?
Let me see if I can explain this.
God is not just some concept that exists only in our minds. He is real. He is a Person. He is someone with whom you can a relationship. In fact, this is one of His great joys. He invites you and me to have a living, exciting, real relationship with Him.
Imagine this. He wants you to know Him and He knows you. He loves you and wants you to love Him. He wants to talk with you all day every day. He wants time with you, just as in any relationship
Yet God made us with a choice. So, He offers you a condition (an if…then… proposition).
“If you believe in Jesus Christ with faith, and make Him pre-eminent in your heart and mind, then I will fill you to the brim with meaning, satisfaction, and fullness which will never ever go away.”
God will fill you with His fullness
Christ is the secret of life. He is that one thing. When you put yourself fully in Him with faith, He promises to bless you with fullness!
Christ is the secret of life. He is that one thing. When you put yourself fully in Him with faith, He promises to bless you with fullness!
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Remember Jesus expressed to the woman at the well...
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
John
2 Corinthans 4:17
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
This works because God is the only one who can give you what you are really looking for. He is the source of meaning, satisfaction, and fullness. It comes in Himself. Think about this, God fills us with Himself. This is how He makes us complete.
This works because God is the only one who can give you what you are really looking for. He is the source of meaning, satisfaction, and fullness.
-The problem with looking to hobbies, careers, or other people for these things is they can’t provide you with it. They can’t fill you like Christ can.
You can’t find it in yourself because you don’t have it in the first place. Your well is empty.
The invitation this morning is this.
Believe
-God says, “Do you want to be happy and full in everything? Then believe in Christ Jesus. You must make Jesus Christ pre-eminent over everything in your life.”
-Belief involves thinking and feeling in such a way that you come to a conviction about life. Scripture tells us to nurture the belief that Jesus is pre-eminent.
Seek
Seek
God is not one to keep at arms length. He invites us to come closer to Himself.
-This means, if we believe Christ is supreme, We should give our time, energy, and money in drawing to Him.
In order to have the fullest life, you must put Jesus as the greatest priority and the worthiest pursuit.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
In order to have the fullest life, you must put Jesus as the greatest priority and the worthiest pursuit.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Why is this?
Why is this?
Jesus is not an accessory for your life. He is to be your life. He is to be your everything. When you find yourself in Him. You will have found the secret of life.