Jesus who?

Jesus is Lord

In 2014 and 2016 Ligonier Ministries had conducted a survey in the US and asked 3000 Christians 6 questions related to Christianity.

The numbers were shocking.

I wont go into the details of the report if you want after the service I can show the data.

But it was the one topic that shocked me the most.

78% of the surveyed said:

Jesus was the first and greatest being created by God the Father

Let that stat sink in for a moment...

That is shocking to think that so many people do not know who Jesus really is. SO...

As we keep going in the Letter of Colossians we focus today on a poem written in the letter that Paul uses to give the followers of Jesus the right teaching about who Jesus Is.

Turn with me to

A majority of US adults (59%) say that the Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being.

keep in mind that is a poem within the letter.

Jesus is the same nature as God.

Text: “He is the image of the invisible God” (v 15a)

In this part of the text, when read alone can give the view point that Jesus is some kind of picture of God in the physical form. However, that is not the case here.

Paul is teaching the followers that Jesus is not an “image” of God in the natural faclities. Adam was created in the likness of God in the natural faclities and dominion over the creatures found in .

Jesus on the other hand, “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature.”

The best example of His glory expressed is found in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke.

In Peter’s 2 letter he said: “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased!” We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.

It was on the mountian that Jesus “was transfigured in front of them, and his face shone like the sun; his clothes became as white as the light.”

Not only this but througout the scriptures in the Old Testament points to the coming Messiah who is divine in His very nature. In the New Testament Jesus Himself proves His divine nature, the very nature of God.

The exmaples too many to go into detail in this sermon but take the time for yourself to read it and see.

Jesus is the firstborn (privileged)

Text: “the firstborn over all creation.” (v 15b)

Please dont let this word confuse you. In no way does the title firstborn indicate that Jesus is less than God. In fact, the ancient Rabbis called God Himself “Firstborn of the World”.

The Greek word used “Pro-toe-toe-kos” (prototokos) can describe either priority in time or supremacy in rank. As Paul used it here, he probably had both ideas in mind, with Jesus being before all created things and Jesus being of a supremely different order than all created things.

In the case of anyone who things that this is proof that Jesus is a creation must look at the Greek words used by Paul. If Paul wanted to say that Jesus is a created being and not God he would have changed the use of Greek words.

By using “pro-toe-ktis-tos” or “pro-toe-plas-tos” these words mean “created first” and “first made” but clearly Paul was using the Greek word for “firstborn” to reveal that Jesus is suprior over all things and before all creation.

This is found found in the Old Testament in ; - “He will call to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the rock of my salvation.’ I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.”

my God, the rock of my salvation.’

Jesus clearly is the greatest of all the kinds of the earth, but Jesus also:

27 I will also make him my firstborn,

greatest of the kings of the earth.

Jesus creates all things.

Text: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” (v 16)

Jesus created everything. Nothing was created without Jesus, the scriptures teach us this truth. The apostle of John in his Gospel and the writing of Revelation says that Jesus created all things.

- “All things were created through (Jesus), and apart from (Jesus) not one thing was created that has been created.

- Jesus says Himself “Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator, of God’s creation:”

The apsotle Paul and the author of Hebrews also makes this teaching clear:

- “For from him and through him and to him are all things.”

- “And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things are through him, and we exist through him.”

and 2:10 - “In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe, through him.” and “For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist”

Jesus is the creator of all things. It was through Jesus Christ that all creation happened.

Jesus has the same nature as the Father, is superior to all creation because He created all things AND...

Jesus is before all creation.

Text: “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (v 17)

The apostle John says it best in his Gospel and letter: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” and “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - Jesus Christ”

Jesus is before all existence that we know as creation. Not only does John state that Jesus is the Word that was with God before creation, Jesus Himself prayed to God the Father saying “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Not only does Jesus say that while His followers were near by, Jesus also, when confronted by the pharisees told them: “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus has the same nature as God the Father, He is the firstborn over all creation, He created all things, and exists before all creation. Then He came to earth and died on the Cross so that:

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Jesus is the firstborn from the dead.

Text: “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead” (v 18a)

Jesus is the first to be born into the new body and eternal life. On the third day when the women(followers of Jesus) had gone to the tomb to prepare His body they were told:

“He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered his words.”

In dying on the Cross and being raised again on the third day, fulfilling what has been told by the prophets, Jesus becomes the firstborn from the dead that brings many of us brothers and sisters into the family of God.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

He has the same nature as God, He is superior over all creation He created all things, He existed before all things, He died for all mankind, first to be raised from the dead to life eternal...

Jesus is Lord of all creation.

Text: “ that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (v 18b)

Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ is Lord over all creation… But is He Lord over all your life?

Open conversation for the congregation.

Can you