The Preeminence of Christ

Colossians 1:15–20 KJV 1900

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Introduction: Because of who Christ is, He is Preeminant

Webster defines Preeminent as: Superior to and above all others

Google defines it as surpassing all others

A. If you google or look up Jesus you will find him as being a first century preacher and religious leader and founder of the Christian religion.

B. Muhammed will be noted, Buddha will be there, and Joseph Smith who was the found of the Mormons.

C. Is that all that Jesus is? For many yes!

D. Is he Just another religious figure on a shelf with so many others- eahc claiming to be something special, each having their own book, each offering some kind of spiritual enlightenment?

E. Jesus is so much more that that!

F. Paul was dealing with such a flood of false teaching.

A. All in some way about Jesus

B. Devaluing the person and work of Christ

G. So 1000 miles away from Colosse, sitting in prison, he pens these words about the person and preeminant Christ.

Four Resons Christ is Preeminent:

Because of His relationship to God

A. Jesus is the image of the invisible God

Greek = eikon English = icon

not a picture or likeness, but the present reality.

God in the flesh

Hebrews 1:3 NKJV

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus tells Philip that if you have seen me, then you have seen the father

B. Jesus is the firstborn over all creation

a. Rank

b. Set above all of the inheritance

c. Preeminent- surpassing all others

C. Because Jesus is God, He is to be honored as God

a. Recognize Him

b. Worship Him

c. Serve Him

d. Love Him

Because of His Relationship to Creation

A. Jesus is the creator of all things

Visible

Invisible

John 1:3 NKJV

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

d. This defies all that was taught about creation in our society today

B. Jesus sustains all things

He keeps all things going

The earth spins, the sun shines, the clouds give rain, Jesus sustains it

C. All things were created for Him

a. All things were created for Jesus

b. Gives us purpose

c. The big picture is how everything that is created is worshipping Jesus!

Revelation 4:11 NKJV

11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Because of His Relationship to the Church

A. Christ is the head of the body, the church

B. Without the head,

There is no life

there is no growth

there is no hope

C. Christ is the head of body, the church

Not the pastor

Not the deacons

Not the richest member, oldest member, maturest member

D. Christ is the firstborn from the dead.

Not in order

Other people died and were raised to life again.

Jesus raised 3 people from the dead

Jairus daughter in

A widows son in the town of Nain

Lazarus

E. Christ is the firstborn from the dead because he:

His resurrection was unique

He had life and power to to raise himself

His resurrection was unique in the fact that he never died again.

Jairus’ daughter died again

the widow’s son died again

Lazarus died again

But Jesus never died again. He is alive today!

F. Because Jesus is the head of the body, He is to be preeminent

It is not enough that Christ is present in the church, we want Him here though

It is not enough that Christ is prominent- He should be talked about though

ent- He should be talked about though

He should be preeminent- all about Him and Him alone. Not you, not me, not anything else should come before Jesus Christ in this church! He is preeminent! He is above all things!

Because of His relationship to the Cross

A. He provides peace for sinful man and a holy God

B. Brought reconciliation by the blood of His cross

C. You and I should acknowledge that Christ is preeminent over all things and that He should rightly have that place in our lives because of what He did for us on the cross