Christ Alone
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Christ Alone
Christ Alone
In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.
Colossians
Have you ever heard the story of J. H. von Dannecker?
Napoleon wanted him to do a sculpture of Venus for the Louvre in Paris. “Sir, I have made a statue of Jesus Christ, and I can never lower my chisel to care an inferior subject.” Then von Dannecker proceeded to tell the story of sculpting Christ. Asked his little girl, Who is that? She clapped her hands in admiration and cried, “It is certainly a great man.” He smashed the statue and went to work again. When he finished, he brought her into his studio. She approached the figure as if it were alive and said in awe, “O, I know Him, He’s the one who said, ‘Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not.’”
Now the statue is a statue, but Christ is the reality of God.
There was a heresy brewing in Colossae that was beginning to cause all kinds of problems. It’s unclear who the heretics were, but in essence their position was Christ plus something else — But Paul writes this letter and encourages the believers in Colossae — It has always been and is and always will be — Christ Alone.
This is so relative to us today. I want us to consider Christ in our age. First, we want to see Christ in an age of Naturalism.
I. Christ in an age of Naturalism
I. Christ in an age of Naturalism
16 For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.
Everywhere you look there are amazing discoveries in the world of science. From the greater to the lesser, from the discoveries of fantastic galaxies that are immense distances, to the incredible discoveries in microbiology, The scientific and technological literature is flooding the world with literally millions of pages a year. In such a rapidly advancing scientific world like this where 95 percent of all the scientist who have ever lived in history who are alive today, the natural question is:
How is Christ related to creation, to science, to discovery?
He is Creator. The false teachers at Colossae were convinced that Jesus Christ was a lesser being way down the line from God who eventually created the material universe. They viewed matter as evil, and so the good God could have created it. But Paul maintains that Christ created everything: “For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him!” John says, “All things were created through Him and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.” Hebrews reiterates this — “God...made the universe through Him.” Paul refutes the false philosophical dualism of the Colossian heresy. Jesus is the Creator and created the material universe. We can hardly imagine even a glimpse of the power, knowledge, and wisdom of the Creator. Just consider the sheer size of the universe. It is staggering. Our own sun is 100 times the size of earth with a diameter of 864,000 miles — and get this — the sun can hold 1.3 million planets the size of earth. The earth is 93 million from the sun, an incredible distance. But listen to this. The star Betelgeuse has a diameter of 100 million miles, which is larger than the earth’s orbit around the sun. Of what scientist can see, they estimate the number of stars in the universe at 10 to the 25th power. That is roughly the number of the grains of sands on all the beaches of the world. says, “The heavens declare the glory of the Lord.” Only a mind darkened by sin and blinded by Satan would reject his Creator. Christ Alone!
Only a mind darkened by sin and blinded by Satan would reject his Creator.
roughly the number of the grains of sands on all the beaches of the world.
He is before all things. When the universe began, He is. Jesus Christ is the eternal. declares, “His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” In Revelation, He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Christ Alone!
He holds all things together. Not only did Christ create everything, but He holds all things together. He sustains it all in an amazingly delicate balance necessary for life to exist. He quite literally holds it all together. He is the power behind every consistency in the universe. He keeps all the entities in space in their motion. He is the energy of the universe. Scientist discovered the power of the atomic nuclei, what they call the “strong nuclear force” — this is the incredibly powerful force that holds together protons within the nucleus of an atom. But here’s the thing — they have no explanation for why it exists. But the Bible does — “by Him all things hold together.” Christ Alone!
II. Christ in an age of Ecumenism
II. Christ in an age of Ecumenism
Christ created the universe that godless naturalist alleged evolved over billions of years. They try to give all the evidence of no God, just matter. But what they cannot give is the answer of origin. Christ Alone is the answer of origin. “In the beginning God…For everything was created by Him…created through Him and for Him…and by Him all things hold together.”
We also live in an age of no Authority.
II. Christ in an age of no Authority
II. Christ in an age of no Authority
We live in an age where all authority is suspect and questioned. The overthrow of everything is possible. There is nothing sacred, not even authority in religion. We live in an age that the religion of man, the religion of humanity has no rules, no authority, fluctuating ethics, experience is all that matters. It’s an age of idolatry and Jesus is one of many gurus. His truth is not binding. His word is not absolute. He is not the one true God.
And yet — Jesus declared:
18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:
Paul clearly states the reason for Christ’s authority.
9 For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ,
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
And
Colossians 1:15
Colossians 2:
And
19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
Col
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Let’s focus for a moment on this phrase — “He is…the firstborn over all creation.”
What does that mean?
From the Arians of the early church to the Jehovah’s Witness of today, this phrase is used to deny the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their argument is that this says that Christ is a created being and therefore He cannot be the eternal God. However, this ignores the context.
The Greek word translated here Firstborn is πρωτότοκος, which refers to birth order. In the Greek and Jewish culture of the day, the firstborn son was the one who had the right of inheritance. He wasn’t necessarily the first one born.
For example — Esau was born first chronologically, but it was Jacob who was the “firstborn” and received the inheritance.
This statement — “Firstborn of creation” does not mean Jesus Christ was created, but refers to His preeminence over all creation. Keep in mind this statement is in between:
“He is the image of the invisible God” and “For everything was created by Him.” Both refer then to Jesus Christ as God and Creator — not created being. Man is made in the image of God but man is not a perfect image of God. Humans are made in God’s image in that they have rational personality. This makes them greater than the animals. Like God, man possess intellect, emotion, and will, by which they are able to think, feel, and choose. We humans are not created in God’s image essentially — meaning we do not possess His incommunicable attributes, such as omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, or omnipresence. The bottom line is we are human, not divine.
Unlike man, Jesus Christ is the perfect, absolute image of God. He did not become God. He became man. He has been God from eternity.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Christ reflects God’s attributes, like the sun’s light reflects the sun. And He is the “exact expression of His nature.” “Exact representation” refers to an engraving stamp. Jesus Christ is the exact likeness of God. He is the very form of God.
6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.
That’s why He could say
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
What Paul is emphasizing is that in Christ, the invisible God became visible.
14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus Christ is God, the Creator of all things, and because this is true He has all authority. Christ Alone.
III. Christ in an age of no Absolutes
III. Christ in an age of no Absolutes
III. Christ in an age of Pragmatism
III. Christ in an age of Pragmatism
If there is one question that identifies this present age, it is the question;
Will it work?
It isn’t important if it’s true. It’s only important if it works. We live in an age of Pragmatism.
Well, let’s ask the question, then.
Does Christ work?
Does Christ give meaning to life? Will I have peace? Will He give joy?
Colossians answers this question in a real way.
22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him —
Colossians 1:
In other words —
Christ can change you.
But what does that mean? Do I need changing? Why do I need changing? I like me!
In order to understand what is meant in verse 22, we need to go back to verse 21.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions.
Alienated and hostile — Alienated — to be estranged, cut off, or separated.
Alienated from whom?
Well, as you look at the text, it’s clear that we are alienated from God. Jesus Christ as the exact image of God, Christ who is the beginning, the Creator, Christ, the One who holds everything together. Christ, through whom God reconciled everything to Himself.
Now there it is. God reconciled everything to Himself through Christ —
Why did we need reconciled to God?
Because we were alienated and cut off from God. But why? We were alienated from God because of our sin. Sin is what alienated us from God — separated us from Him. Why? Because God is holy.
And more than just alienation is Hostility toward God.
18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.
18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.
Hostility could be translated — hateful. Humans are not only alienated from their Creator, they are hateful of their God by attitude. They hate Him and resent His holy standards and commands.
In what way?
“Because of your evil actions.” Scripture teaches that unbelievers
19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.
John 3:
And the problem is not ignorance. The problem is a willful love of sin.
21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.
Romans 1:21
Reconciliation
And so, God reconciled everything to Himself.
20 and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross — whether things on earth or things in heaven.
At the cross, is in general reconciliation of everything marred by man’s sin. German theologian Erich Sauer states it this way.
Colossians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Plan of Reconciliation
The offering on Golgotha extends its influence into universal history. The salvation of mankind is only one part of the world-embracing counsels of God.… The “heavenly things” also will be cleansed through Christ’s sacrifice of Himself (Heb. 9:23). A “cleansing” of the heavenly places is required if on no other ground than that they have been the dwelling of fallen spirits (Eph. 6:12; 2:2), and because Satan, their chief, has for ages had access to the highest regions of the heavenly world … the other side becomes this side; eternity transfigures time and this earth, the chief scene of the redemption, becomes the Residence of the universal kingdom of God (The Triumph of the Crucified [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960], pp. 179, 180 [italics in original]).
But what is also in view here is that God reconciled you!
22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him —
And this means — through Christ and Christ alone — You are changed. You are no longer alienated from God and hostile toward Him, but now through the death of Christ on the cross — “to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him.”
And this brings us to the last thing.
IV. Christ in an age of Broken Relationships
IV. Christ in an age of Broken Relationships
This is an age of frustrated relationships. Masses of people in our world are looking for meaningful relationships. They are looking for fulfilling relationships with each other. And yet — so many people are left desperately unfulfilled. People are lonely because they cannot relate to anyone in any meaningful way. They can’t relate to their wives, or their husbands, their parents, or their children. They can’t relate to their workers, or bosses, or coworkers. And certainly nations cannot relate to other nations, ethnic groups to other ethnic groups.
But Christ changes all that, because He changes you — the person.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.
2 Corinthians
Here’s the problem. There’s a new self and an old self. What’s the relationship. Paul explains that the old self has died. That old self died at the cross. Read — Our old self was crucified with Him. This is absolutely fundamental in understanding who we are in Christ. The old man is not converted, he can’t be. He is not renewed, he can’t be. He can only be replaced — and he is replaced with a new man. And we don’t have an old man and a new man. We are not half unregenerate and half regenerate. You are not some kind of spiritual half-breed. You are totally different.
This is why Paul begins chapter 3
1 So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. 4 When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-
So, the point is walk in that.
5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath comes on the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices
Colossians 3:5-
But now verse 10 seems to go against all of that.
10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.
Wait a minute! I thought I am a new man. You are.
Then what’s the problem?
The problem is the flesh.
What then is the “flesh?”
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helps us.
Colossians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Position of the New Man
“ ‘The flesh’ does not mean the body in and of itself; but it does mean the body as it is being used and tyrannized over by sin. It means the body as it is possessed by sin and evil; it is the body as sin dwells in it during this earthly life”
Colossians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Position of the New Man
“ ‘The flesh’ does not mean the body in and of itself; but it does mean the body as it is being used and tyrannized over by sin. It means the body as it is possessed by sin and evil; it is the body as sin dwells in it during this earthly life”
In other words, the flesh includes all the sinful desires, drives, and passions associated with our humanness. The presence of the unredeemed flesh causes us then to groan within ourselves...
23 And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits —we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
This is incredible study, which I encourage you to read and study .
But look how Christ changes relationships.
12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
Colossians
12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. 14 Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity.
And so Paul continues in verse 17.
Colossians 3:12-
17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
And now we see how this affects relationships.
18 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t be bitter toward them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so they won’t become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,
Colossians 3:
And then finally, Paul calls them to prayer and prayer for the Gospel to advance.
This is how it is Christ Alone — that’s the message of Colossians.
It matters not what the age is, whether of naturalism, no authority, pragmatism, or broken relationships — it is Christ Alone who is the answer.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.