Jesus, Lord of ALL

Introduction

We are continuing our study of the book of Acts and looking at the various letters written by Paul. He is currently in Rome, and is in prison. During which time he wrote the letter to the church at Colosse.

Last week we closed with , “For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Through Jesus, God brought us into the kingdom. Through Jesus, God brought out of the dominion of darkness. Through Jesus, God redeemed us—purchased us. And through Jesus, we experience God’s forgiveness of our sins.

This is great news! Paul wants us to understand that we have been brought out of darkness and moved into light. And this all happened because of Jesus!

With this thought, Paul introduces one of the major themes of the book of Colossians; “The Greatness and Supremacy of Jesus.

Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:15–20 NIV84

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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.

The Greatness of Jesus

In this passage we are going to be given ______ characteristics that demonstrate how great Jesus really is.

1. He is the image of the invisible God!

Paul is reminded of the words of Jesus in . There Jesus told His disciples, “He who has seen me has seen the Father. . .”

2. Firstborn over all creation

This idea of “firstborn over all creation” denotes two things. First, it denotes that Jesus was before the creation of the world.

Secondly, it denotes that Jesus is over all of creation. This has the idea of “rank.” Jesus out ranks all of creation.

3. All things were created by Jesus

To help us understand the two key points we just made (Jesus is the firstborn over all creation—existed before creation, and out ranks creation) Paul makes sure we understand all things were created by Him and for Him.

Jesus created both heaven and earth. Visible and invisible. Jesus created every thrown, power, ruler, and authority. Jesus created it ALL.

It was all created for Him, and by Him, and in Him everything is held together!—Jesus is the glue that holds everything together.

So we are reminded that says:

John 1:1–3 NIV84

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

4. Jesus is the head of the body—Church

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made that were made; without him nothing was made that was made.” ()

4. Jesus is the head of the body—Church

Look at :

Ephesians 1:22–23 NIV84

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

5. Jesus is the new beginning, and firstborn among the dead.

“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984), .

5. Jesus is the new beginning, and firstborn among the dead.

The greatness of Jesus is seen in the fact that through Him we have a new beginning.

Jesus can give us this new beginning because He conquered death.

says,

1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV84

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Because of Jesus’ obedience to the Father, the Father has made Jesus supreme over all things. says:

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Because of Jesus’ obedience to the Father, the Father has made Jesus supreme over all things. says:

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV84

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-

Philippians 2:9 NIV84

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Now notice that Jesus is over all and above all. Because of this,

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Now notice that Jesus is over all and above all. Because of this,

6. God’s fullness is in Jesus

Once again, we are reminded that getting to know Jesus is getting to know the Father. In we read this same idea:

Hebrews 1:3 NIV84

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

7. Jesus reconciles all things to Himself

Through Jesus, God is in the process of restoring creation to what it was before sin.

Through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross, we have peace with God.

Through Jesus we—you and me—are put into a right relationship with God. We are placed into God’s standard.

We needed to be reconciled to God, because we were once enemies.

Once Alienated from God!

Colossians 1:21–23 NIV84

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved 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.

Colossians 1:21-23

Paul established the idea of reconciliation which is going to be one of the major themes of this book. So he continues with a brief section reminding the reader of their previous state.

Before coming to know Jesus we were alienated from God or cut off from God.

We were enemies of God in two ways. First we were enemies because of our thoughts.

And we were enemies of God in our actions.

But it is no longer that way, because we have been placed back into a right relationship with God through the physical death of Jesus.

Now, we can be presented to God as holy in His sight, without any kind of blemish.

Not only that but we are free from accusation!

The key to all of this is “abiding in Christ.” Notice verse 23. It begins with a conditional word, “if.”

Colossians 1:23 NIV84

if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved 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.

Paul had every reason to believe his readers would indeed continue in their faith. He believed they would be established and firm—not moving from the hope they had experienced in the Gospel. In fact, Paul could not understand or even fathom someone walking away from their relationship with Jesus.

Eugene Peterson paraphrased this passage this way.

Colossians 1:21–23 The Message

You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

Colossians 1:

I love that middle section, “You don’t walk away from a gift like that! you stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust constantly tuned into the Message. . .”

I love that picture. Yet there are far too many who have walked away from the Gift. They have stopped listening to the Message, or perhaps they never really listened.

Some of you here today, may not understand what it means to listen to God. It means that you dive into His word and begin living it by doing what it says!

What about you? Are you keeping you minds focused on Jesus. Or are you back an enemy of God because of your thoughts and actions?

I want to challenge you this morning to tune into the Message of Jesus. For some of you it will be the first time you truly responded to His Message. Others of you will be coming back to His Message.

But ALL of us need to continue in our faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.