Who is Jesus?

Introduction-Celeb or God

Aaron last week started us off on a series of Jesus as seen through our questions in the shorter catechism.

Today, we will continue looking at the key passages that describe our savior which got me thinking as to what are we dealing with in Santa Clarita.

This brought me back to how I used to view Jesus. Though I didn't recognize it, when I gain a true understanding of who Jesus was i realized that my view of Jesus was more of a celebrity. I was merely a fan of Jesus because all I knew about him was that he was a good guy and that what he did allowed me to be forgiven. That Jesus is abstract and not sustaining but also not true.

Now Im a theology grad, I love doing theology not for knowledge sakes honestly but because doing theology is always meant to be lived out. You see, theology produces 3 things:

True Facts/Knowledge- Things that are true become instilled in your brain which then produces

True Implications- true knowledge changing the things you think about and your perspective which is connected to the changing of your desires and worldviews in other areas of your life. lastly...

True applications- how to live out the facts and implications of those facts

Which is why I love the passage we are looking at today which is:

- because the context of our passage today is Paul’s declaration of a true theology about Jesus that promotes Christian maturity. IN this true theology we have:

Jesus as God/Creator

and Jesus as Head

Jesus as Savior

No other Jesus besides the Jesus of Scripture can save or drive a true application of theology in our lives. so if you can please read with me now.

Colossians 1:15–20 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Jesus as God-vs. 15-17

In verses 15-17 Paul gives us Jesus as God, stating that Jesus is the image of God, the inheritor of all things and that everything was created for him. Jesus as the image of God means that he is the true way to see God accurately. He would say this in John by stating he is the way, the truth and the light. Jesus is the firstborn or the inheritor of everything that belongs to the Father and that everything was actually created for and by Jesus himself. Everything is under Jesus and because everything is under Jesus the implication of that is everything holds together or is sustained by Him.

A Jesus based on my own comfort would not allow these implications or thoughts of Jesus to be true. because it is uncomfortable for Jesus to be the only access to God because of clashing worldviewsbv. A Jesus that is comfortable does not allow for him to be before me because that would mean i have to give up my own will for his. not only that but if Jesus is the inheritor of everything that would include me which means my life isn't actually mine but His. A Jesus of my own standard cannot exist.

Jesus as Head-vs. 18

The implication of Jesus as God is that He is also the Head of the Church- Thats an amazing statement because that means that the true CEO of this operation called the Church is run by the only perfect being in the universe. Not only that though, His leadership is not only the Church but permeates to everything because what Jesus is doing is making himself superior (preeminent). Meaning that nothing is more deserving of worship than the Jesus described for us in Colossians or in all of Scripture because he is running everything from each individual, to the church all the way to the governing authorities.

Transition:But Jesus didn't begin this work by being a dictator.

Jesus as Savior-vs. 19-20

Jesus began his campaign by coming as a humiliated Savior. He gave up his divine rights to be indwelt by the fullness of God and reconciled all things to him and each other through his death on the cross. The very purpose of his work and essential message of the gospel.

True Application

So we have true knowledge and of Jesus being Creator God, Superior Head of all things and Savior of the World which brings me to what is the true implication and application.

in verses 21-23

Paul talks about the implications of the facts about Jesus namely that because of our unright standing before God, because of His grace we have been reconciled to Him through His death through faith.

Read verse 23

R

Colossians 1:23 ESV

if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The reason Paul became a minister or a servant is because of the true reality of who Jesus is and the essence of His gospel.

So Grace Baptist Church ministers… is this your Jesus?

I firmly believe every one of you believes in this Jesus but then we must ask How is this Jesus controlling your life?

This task to live true theology can be so hard. It is hard to be deali

We all are going through struggles that demand our attentions. There are internal conflicts with sin, there are pains of life that some of us our dealing with that just make us not even want to be doing this work. Sometimes we get so tired that just being a member of the Church seems impossible. But here are some encouragements that I hope to leave with you today...

Firstly, Remember this Jesus

If you believe in this Jesus then you have access to God and you are of Him. He is the one sustaining every circumstance of our lives and He is working for you and for His glory. The greatest comfort is knowing that our individual lives and things around us is being held up by Him. Not only that but our lives arent ours, our schedules arent ours but God’s alone. Remember Him and find comfort in knowing that this Jesus is true.

Secondly, Work for this Jesus

Paul a few verses down states that the purpose of his work is to present to Christ mature Christ-followers. This is the privilege that we have as servants of Grace Baptist Church, that we are able to walk with those who are struggling or in despair. We get to be disciple makers, not for our own glory but Jesus’ and proclaim His greatness and His love for us. But even our work is ultimately given to us by the power of God Himself. Find encouragement in knowing that God is working in us and in Grace Baptist Church. Whatever that is it means that in the end Jesus will be glorified and our work will not be in vain.