Resurrection and Preeminence

Introduction:

denominations have earthly heads; Jesus is our head, headquartered in heaven (there are earthly offices in the church who provide leadership on a local level, elders - )

It is sometimes hard for us to grasp just how important the resurrection of Jesus Christ is.

We confess that we believe Jesus lived, died, and arose from the dead, but just how critical is the fact that Jesus defeated death and conquered the grave?

head provides nourishment -

Not only is the resurrection of Jesus important for our personal, individual salvation, it is important for our identity as the Lord’s church.

Let’s consider this morning.

Redeemer and Savior

Paul states we have been rescued from the domain and powers of darkness -

The domain of darkness is the course of this world and is disobedient to God -

Ephesians 2:1–3 NASB95

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Jesus has rescued us from the wrath of God -

We have been transferred to the kingdom of Christ -

Transferred is conveying the message of being removed from one sphere to another sphere.

We have been removed from the domain of darkness and have been placed into the kingdom of Jesus our Lord!

This kingdom is reality and has come into effect. It is further described in this context as the “body” and the “church” -

Through Christ Jesus we have redemption and forgiveness of sins -

This redemption was accomplished through the blood of Jesus -

Ephesians 1:7 NASB95

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Christians have been saved and forgiven of their sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Those who have been saved through Jesus’ blood have been placed inside the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ.

Those who have been forgiven of their sins are added to the kingdom and church.

We will consider this thought at the conclusion of our lesson...

Ruling Image of God

Since Jesus has rescued us and placed us in His kingdom, we must realize He is the king -

Reedemer and Savior (vv 13-14)

He is our Sovereign Lord and King -

He has all authority in heaven and on earth -

Who really is our King? What makes Him different? What distinguishes King Jesus?

Ruling Image of God (v 16)

He is the image of the invisible God -

Raised Jesus (v 18)

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. εἰκών

that which has the same form as someth. else (not a crafted object as in 1 above), living image

head provides nourishment -

Jesus has the same form as God; He has the nature of God because He is God - ; ;

Hebrews 1:8–9 NASB95

8 But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom. 9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

John 1:1 NASB95

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 20:28 NASB95

28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

He is the firstborn of all creation -

‘Firstborn’ does not mean Christ was a created being, as Jehovah’s Witnesses suggest.

‘Firstborn’ can refer to a descendant, but it is also used throughout the Bible to refer to people/groups by God - ; ,

Psalm 89:20 NASB95

20 “I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him,

Psalm 89:27 NASB95

27 “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.

He is the creator -

He is the beneficiary of worship and praise - (“for Him”)

Consider the praise that is offered to God, which is rightfully belonging to Jesus -

Psalm 148:1–5 NASB95

1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights! 2 Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light! 4 Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.

Because Jesus is the Ruler and in His very nature is God, creator, the chosen Messiah, and receiver of worship—He is deserving to be given our allegiance and obedience.

We it comes to matters of how we worship God, or the work of the church, then we submit to Christ’s authority.

Raised to Preeminence

After developing the thought that Jesus is the redeemer, savior, king, and ruler, He then goes on to write about Jesus’ relationship with the saved in the context of the church -

Then Paul gives the reasoning for why Jesus is rightfully the head of the church—because He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

This phrase “firstborn from the dead” is to be taken as a reference to the resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus is critical to our beliefs:

That Jesus is God - ;

Our salvation through baptism -

The hope we have in heaven -

Our own resurrection from the dead -

While all of these aspects are related to Jesus’ resurrection, we must realize that Jesus’ resurrection is related to His headship of the church!

By His resurrection, Jesus has become the head of the church -

The fact of His resurrection unites His authority as ruler and king with the fact that He has offered salvation and redemption:

The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Jesus: Lord of the New Creation (1:18–20)

The purpose of the resurrection is stated here as “so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” In light of this context, the word “everything” must be understood as the creation, over which Jesus reigns as king, and the order of redemption, over which he reigns as head. He is the central figure, therefore, in both domains. Just as creation depends on him for its existence and order, redemption depends on him, and he is the primary figure in it.

The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Jesus: Lord of the New Creation (1:18–20)

The purpose of the resurrection is stated here as “so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” In light of this context, the word “everything” must be understood as the creation, over which Jesus reigns as king, and the order of redemption, over which he reigns as head. He is the central figure, therefore, in both domains. Just as creation depends on him for its existence and order, redemption depends on him, and he is the primary figure in it.

Christ is the head of the church—He proves the rule of law, government, authority, lordship, pattern, and direction—for the church.

Christ is the head of the church

Life in the church comes from the head -

This is why we call ourself a “church of Christ”—this is not some man-made denominational name that we want to attach ourself to. “Church of Christ” is a description of Christ ruling and nourishing this church.

Denominations have earthly heads (presidents, “apostles,” popes, etc); Jesus is our head, headquartered/stationed in heaven.

There are earthly offices in the church who provide leadership on a local level, elders -

Head - rule, authority, and lordship

But any sort of government outside of the local church must begin and end with Jesus as the head!

denominations have earthly heads; Jesus is our head, headquartered in heaven (there are earthly offices in the church who provide leadership on a local level, elders - )

Not only do we want to identify this congregation and ourselves with our head, we do not want to appeal to any other standard or authority for what we believe or practice other than the Bible.

We appeal to biblical authority and the examples in the Bible for how we worship and for what we teach and how we operate as a local church.

If we cannot find authority for it, we refrain from practicing it.

Because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, He is given headship over the body, the church. He is therefore given preeminence and first place in everything.

head provides nourishment -

Conclusion:

Remember when we were talking about the kingdom and the church and how those who have been forgiven of their sins have been transferred and added to the church?

There is one essential element that we must see as an important part to that transfer process. It’s found in the book of Colossians as well.

We are forgiven by the blood of Christ when we are baptized -

Colossians 2:12–13 NASB95

12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

God raises Jesus His Son from the dead to become our Savior!

We must be raised from a spiritually dead life to become a forgiven, child of God.

Have you joined Jesus and His resurrection? Have you been raised up with Him?

You can do so today by being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.