Who Is #1 In Your Life?

Unfortunately, the pilot selected Romeo, 132 miles to the northeast. Following indications on the flight computer, the pilots began an easterly turn and slammed into a granite peak at ten thousand feet. Only 4 of the 156 passengers survived; 152 plus all the crew perished.

The National Transportation Safety Board declared that the crash was due to human error. The navigational aid the pilots were following was valid but not for the landing procedure at Cali. In the literal definition of the phrase, this was indeed human error, because the pilot selected the wrong radio beacon.

The computer told the pilot he was tracking precisely to the beacon he had selected. Unfortunately, it neglected to tell him the beacon he selected was a fatal choice.

Elliot Huck, a fourteen-year-old from Bloomington, Indiana, who had placed forty-fifth out of 250 spellers in semifinal competition, skipped the National Spelling Bee. The 2007 National Spelling Bee was held on a Sunday. In Elliot’s eyes, the competition conflicted with the biblical command to rest on the Sabbath.

“I always try to glorify God with what I do in the spelling bee because he is the one who gave me the talent for spelling,” said Elliot. “Now I’m not going to spell and try to give glory to God in that.”

Dropping out wasn’t an easy choice for Elliot. He loved his time in Washington, D.C., at the 2006 national competition and was looking forward to more of the same. Even so, the expert speller concluded, “I have accepted that God knows what’s best, and I’m just going to do what he says.”

This 14 year old boy from Indiana made a choice to identify God has his priority…His relationship with God meant more to Him than the possibility of fame and accolades...He didn’t need to find his sufficiency in fame, he found it in glorifying God…instead of placing his desires first, he chose to honor God...

He didn’t need to find his sufficiency in fame, he found it in His relationship with God

Last week we began a new study in the book of Colossians entitled Finding Our Sufficiency in Christ...

Theme of Colossians — The Supremacy of Christ

Because of the Supremacy of Christ our lives are to be focused on Him and what brings Him glory…focused on finding our relationship with Him to be sufficient for life this side of heaven...

Our text this morning is ... and it is a very important passage of Scripture...

- It leaves no doubt as to Who Jesus is.

Why was this message needed in Colosse?

A false teaching had infiltrated the church that centered on the Person of Jesus Christ...

This heresy centered on the Person of Christ.)

This heresy possessed some elements of Gnosticism, from the Greek word for knowledge...which held that Christ was one of many lesser creations from God…

- Gnosticism, which held that...

- Christ was one of many lesser "emanations" from God.

Matter was inherently evil, thus a good creation like Jesus Christ could never take on a physical body of evil matter.

- Matter was inherently evil, thus a good emanation like Christ

could never take on a body of evil matter.

God could never become a man, thus denying Christ's deity

A secret, mystical knowledge was necessary for salvation beyond the gospel of Christ

beyond the gospel of Christ

...elements of Judaism, which held that ceremonial laws had to be kept in order to be saved.

- ceremonial laws had to be kept in order to be saved.

...elements of asceticism: all pleasure is wrong...If it tastes good, spit it out.

it out.

Most serious charge of the Colossian heresy was that Jesus Christ was not God, the rejection of His deity.

God, i.e. (that is) the rejection of His deity.

In this text, Paul aggressively defends the deity of Jesus Christ against this heresy.

Jesus Christ against this heresy.

By doing so, he tells them...

he holds forth unashamedly the truth of Christ's deity.

Jesus Deserves First Place In Everything!

Read

Five reasons Jesus deserves the highest priority in our life.

1. He deserves first place because of His relationship to God (15,19).

1. He deserves first place because of His relationship to God (15,19)

Colossians 1:15 NASB95

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

A. He is the image of the invisible God.

image" (eikon) -- likeness or image. We get our word "icon" from this word.

from this word.

Man was created in the image of God (,).

we have mind, wills, and emotion, we were given dominion over the earth...

- we were given dominion over the earth

but man fell into sin and the image of God was marred…our image of God is an imperfect of God.

- the image of God was marred

- ours is an IMPERFECT image of God.

we do not possess omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence

Jesus is the perfect image of God.

It is important to note here that he never became the image of God, but he has always been the image of God for all eternity

notice also the word dwell…to inhabit as ones abode…settled down, to be at home....in reference to Jesus, God would not share His Deity with anyone…with a created being…we see here that God is pleased with Jesus being God.

Hebrews 1:3 NASB95

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

- has always been the image of God for all eternity

"express image" -- engraving tool or stamp...- the exact likeness of God's nature, i.e. He is God.

(cf. = cf. "Who [Christ] being the brightness of his

cross ref- [God's] glory, and the express image [exact

ence) representation NASB] of his [God's] person [nature]."

"express image" -- engraving tool or stamp...- the exact likeness of God's nature, i.e. He is God.

Philippians 2:6 NASB95

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

- the exact likeness of God's nature, i.e. He is God.

"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

cf. NASB "Who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with god a thing to be grasped."

John 14:9 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

God, did not regard equality with god a thing to be

John 1:14 NASB95

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

grasped."

cf. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

B. He is the firstborn of all creation.

cf. "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the

only begotten of the Father."

B. He is the firstborn of all creation.

This is a crucial text in defense of present day Jehovah Witness...

They look at this verse and state that “firstborn” means Jesus was the first "created being" therefore he cannot be God.

for example) present-day Jehovah's Witnesses) interpret "firstborn"?

- first "created being"

- therefore he cannot be God

Let me give you a few reasons why that cannot be the interpretation of "firstborn"...

many reasons:

Refers to rank or position. i.e. Christ is first in rank or position.

position.

This word...prototokos...in Greek can refer to firstborn chronologically... "And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn son."

"And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn son."

Primarily this word refers to rank or position

Israel is called God's firstborn.

;

not first people born nor were they the first ones to follow God (e.g. Adam, Seth, Noah)

Jesus is called the firstborn of the dead.

...though not the first person chronologically to be resurrected

....though not the first person chronologically to be resurrected

Elijah raised the widow's son in

Jesus raised Lazarus in

2. Jesus cannot be firstborn chronologically and be the "only begotten" Son of God.

- can refer to firstborn chronologically

"And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn son."

- "And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn son."

Primarily this word refers to rank or position

Israel is called God's firstborn. ;

not first people born nor were they the first ones to follow God (e.g. Adam, Seth, Noah)

- nor first ones to follow God (e.g. Adam, Seth, Noah)

Jesus is called the firstborn of the dead. ....though not the first person chronologically to be resurrected

"Only begotten" - monogenes, means unique. (,)

- though not the first person chronologically to be

resurrected

Elijah raised the widow's son in

- Elijah raised the widow's son in

)

Jesus raised Lazarus in

Early church father Theodoret:"If Christ was only-begotten, could He be first-begotten?And how, if he were first-begotten, could he be only-begotten? How could He be the first of many in His class, and at the same time the only member of His class?"

2. Jesus cannot be firstborn chronologically and be the "only begotten" Son of God.

such is the confusion if "firstborn" is made to mean "first created".

begotten" Son of God.

3. Greek has its own word for "first created": protoktistos.

"If Christ was only-begotten, could He be first-begotten?

And how, if he were first-begotten, could he be only-

begotten? How could He be the first of many in His class,

and at the same time the only member of His class?"

such is the confusion if "firstborn" is made to mean "first created".

created".

3. Greek has its own word for "first created": protoktistos.

4. Fights the context

General context - remember this book was written to combat heresy one aspect of which was Jesus was a created being...

If Paul were saying Jesus was the first created being, he would be agreeing with the heresy which taught Christ was the highest "emanation" (angel) from God, a created emanation by God.

Immediate context - Paul had just said that Christ was the "image of the invisible God."...The perfect and complete image of God

5. Christ is said to be the Creator of all things in v. 16.

If Paul were saying Jesus was the first created being, he would be agreeing with the heresy which taught Christ was the highest "emanation" (angel) from God, a created emanation by God.

would be agreeing with the heresy which taught Christ was

the highest "emanation" from God, a created emanation by

God.

Immediate context - Paul had just said that Christ was the "image of the invisible God."...The perfect and complete image of God

- Paul had just said that Christ was the "image of the

invisible God."

- The perfect and complete image of God

5. Christ is said to be the Creator of all things in v. 16.

How then could He Himself be created?

Could he have created Himself?

obviously not

So Paul delivers the most damaging blow at this heresy and its false teachers by declaring boldly that Jesus Christ is the exact representation of deity, He is God.

from college

- wanted to talk to me so I listened

- asked them about Jesus Christ

- "first created being then he created everything else"

- Not what the Bible says. Bible says "all things were made by

him." Could He have made Himself?

-"That's your Bible."

- Their Bible, a perversion in many ways, maintained similar

wording in that passage ().

- They had no answer. Hopefully made them think.

- So Paul delivers the most damaging blow at this heresy and its false

teachers by declaring boldly that Jesus Christ is the exact

representation of deity, He is God.

We know Jesus Christ is God first of all because of His relation to God and that alone should be enough for us to conclude He deserves to be #1.

C. The Fullness of God Dwells In Him

Colossians 1:19 NASB95

For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,

the word fullness…it is a total quantity with the emphasis on completeness…all that makes God God is found in Jesus...

John 13:4 NASB95

got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself.

John 14:9 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

John 1:14 NASB95

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Those two verses alone ought to be enough to cause us to pause and consider what evidence exists in our life to show that we believe Jesus is God and as God, He is our highest priority...

2. He deserves first place because of His relationship to the universe (16).

Paul gives three reasons for Christ's primacy over creation:

A. He is the Creator.

The false teachers viewed Jesus as the first and most important of the creations from God.

"emanations" from God.

he was considered nothing more than an angel…part of their false teaching incorporated the worship of angels...

Colossians 2:18 NASB95

Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

They further believed a lower angel was responsible for creating the physical universe because a good angel like Jesus Christ could not have made matter which was evil.

the physical universe because a good emanation like Christ could

Yet they believed a lower emanation was responsible for creating the physical universe because a good emanation like Christ could not have made matter which was evil.

not have made matter which was evil.

But Paul writes "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible...ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM."

heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible...ALL

THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM."

not Jesus Christ alone?" How would you answer that?

- Hendrickson, p. 73

"The Apsotle's very emphasis in this letter is that the

Son, too, is fully divine. In him all the fulness of the

godhead dwells bodily (). Hence, it is entirely

reasonable for him to say that the Son is not only the

One to whom all things owe their origin, as the divine

Agent in the creation, but is also the Goal of their

existence."

INPUT: What are some things about the creation that make you think

how great Jesus Christ is to have created it all?

The size of the sun is a Diameter of 864,000 miles...enough space to hold 1.3 million Earths

- Diameter of 864,000 miles

- enough space to hold 1.3 million Earths

The star Betelgeuse has a diameter of 100 million miles

larger than the Earth's orbit around the sun.

At 186,000 miles per second, it still takes sunlight more than 4 years to reach the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, which is 24 trillion miles from earth.

than 4 years to reach the nearest star, Alpha Centauri,

which is 24 trillion miles from earth.

"For this they willingly are ignorant of,

modern physics and winner of the Novel Prize, wrote,

"According to everything taught by the exact sciences

2 Peter 3:5 NASB95

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

about the immense realm of nature, a certain order

prevails-one independent of the human mind...this

order can be formulated in terms of purposeful

activity. There is evidence of an intelligent order

B. He is before all things.

of the universe to which both man and nature are

subservient" (MacArthur, p. 48).

- cf. "For this they willingly are ignorant of,

that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the

earth standing out of the water and in the water."

B. He is before all things.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, existed before creation. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him."…see also

cf. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was

with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by

Micah 5:2 NASB95

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Him."

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the

Revelation 22:13 NASB95

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall

he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose

cf. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the

Only God is eternal and since Jesus existed before the creation of time He is eternal and therefore He is God!

goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

cf. "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the

end, the first and the last."

C. In Him all things hold together.

- Anyone existing before the creation of time is eternal. And only

God is eternal.

C. In Him all things consist (hold together).

Jesus Christ created the universe and He sustains it.

He is the One behind all the energy in the universe.

He keeps the planets in their places.

It is not “mother nature” as the culture believes... The One behind the weather is not "Mother Nature" His name is JESUS CHRIST AND HE IS THE CREATOR.

earth?

- Mother nature. And nothing could be further from the

truth. The One behind the weather is not "Mother Nature"

His name is JESUS CHRIST AND HE IS THE CREATOR.

We know Jesus Christ is God because of His relation to God, His relation to the universe,

"Energy, you make the world go 'round and 'round, you make

the world go round."

*ILLUS. Tour of Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal, Missouri with

my cousin and her boyfriend. "This cave was formed over 50

million years ago." I wanted to shout, "No it wasn't! My

The third reason...

God made this and everything else." But rest assured, I

didn't. (My unsaved cousin and her boyfriend might not

have wanted to hear about Jesus after something like that.)

3. Because of His Relation to the Unseen World (16-17)

Colossians 1:16 NASB95

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

"thrones, dominions, rulers or authorities"

v. 16b "thrones, dominions, principalities (rulers) or powers

(authorities)"

refers to the various ranks of angels.

They did not believe that He was a man having a physical body because all matter is evil and God would not dwell in that which was evil…again he was nothing more than a good angel...

Christ was no more than the highest of these "angels" who emanated from God. They did not believe that He was a man (matter is evil) nor that He was God (He was only an emanation).

Christ was no more than the highest of these "angels" who emanated

Paul refutes the teaching that Christ was only an angel by demonstrating that...

from God. They did not believe that He was a man (matter is evil)

We know Jesus Christ is God because of His relation to God, His relation

nor that He was God (He was only an emanation).

Paul refutes the teaching that Christ was only an angel by demonstrating that...

demonstrating that...

A. He is distinct from angels.

Hebrews 1:7–8 NASB95

And of the angels He says, “Who makes His angels winds, And His ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.

B. He created the angels.

We know Jesus Christ is God because of His relation to God, His relation to the universe, His relation to the unseen world...

We know Jesus Christ is God because of His relation to God, His relation

Paul’s point here is to show the superiority of Christ over everything the false teachers might suggest.

Fourth reason...

to the universe, His relation to the unseen world, and finally because

of...

4. He deserves first place because of His relationship to the church (18).

Paul often used the body as a metaphor for the church...

A. Jesus is the Head of the church.

As the “Head”, Jesus controls every part of the body.

As the Head, Jesus controls every part of the body.

- Rather, as a living organism.

- He controls every part of the body.

He coordinates the diversity within the body, diverse gifts and ministries.

and ministries.

That means that no one person is to be put on a pedestal where they can fall off…and sometimes fall hard taking others with them…when churches get into trouble is when they take their eyes off Jesus and put them on man...

Christ is the Head of the church?

…what happens in the church is not to be driven by our selfish agendas...

- Avoid putting people on a pedestal.

Jesus will never let us down, so we allow His word to be our guide and standard.

- So that His word will be our guide and standard.

B. Christ is the Source of the church

beginning...The church has its origins in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:1 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

- The church has its origins in Jesus Christ.

It was His idea. He began it. His death and resurrection gave us new life…

It was His idea. He began it. His death and resurrection gave us new life.

us new life.

By way of implication let me ask you...What does this mean for the person who is comfortable to “attend" church by watching religious programs on television or settles for some other substitute for the church?

watching religious programs on television or settles for

some other substitute for the church?

When we settle for something other than worship and fellowship with God’s people we are rejecting Jesus’ idea that we need the church…at that moment we thinks our way is better than Christ's

C. Jesus is the Firstborn from the dead

Same word used in v. 15, prototokos…Jesus was the first to be resurrected never to die again..

Of all who have been or will be raised from the dead, (all humanity)...Christ is the highest in rank or position.

the highest in rank or position.

D. Jesus is the Pre-eminent One

"that in all things he might have first place (preeminence)."

"that" is a purpose word meaning "in order that" and is directly connected to the preceding statement "the firstborn from the dead."

directly connected to preceding statement "the firstborn from

the dead."

Christ's death and resurrection exalted Him more than anything else to a position of supremacy and infinite prominence in the universe.

else to a position of supremacy and infinite prominence in the

Philippians 2:8–11 NASB95

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

universe.

There is no question that Jesus Christ is the preeminent One in all the universe.

"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled

himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the

cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given

him a name which is above every name: That at the name of

Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things

in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue

should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God

the Father."

- There is no question that Jesus Christ is the preeminent One in

all the universe.

Implication: Is He preeminent in my life?

- Is He preeminent in my life?

What sinful habits do I need to be putting off and replacing with righteous ones so that He may be more preeminent in my life?

replacing with righteous ones so that He may be more

preeminent in my life?

How do I need to change to better reflect Him as first in my life?

Fifth reason...

the deity of Jesus Christ.

mind?

- Follow Paul's example in Colossians

- Lovingly discuss the deity of Jesus Christ and passages that

teach it.

- Pray that they will be saved.

- Demonstrate the love of Christ to them, the chief way of which

is to tell them the truth of Who Jesus Christ is

- W. Graham Scroggie in his overview of Colossians makes this statement:

"A true Christology is the final answer to every heresy that ever has

been, or ever will be."

- May God help us to keep this truth in mind as we seek to be remain

Biblically pure in our doctrine and growing in our Lord Jesus Christ.

5. He deserves first place because of His provision of reconciliation (20-23).

The word reconcile is one of the most important words in the New Testament…it means “to change” or “exchange.”

It is used in the NT to speak of a change in a relationship...

; , and

When people change from being at enmity with each other to being at peace, they are said to be reconciled.

When the Bible speaks of reconciliation, then, it refers to the restoration of a right relationship between God and man.

The word Paul uses here contains the basic word for reconciliation with an added preposition giving it a more intensified meaning…the way Paul uses the word here is to communicate to the Colossian people the thoroughness and complete reconciliation they have received...

This is no doubt to bolster his argument against the false teachers...

So Paul wants them to think about...

A. The Plan of Reconciliation

6. He deserves first place because of His provision of reconciliation (20-23).

Regarding creation

The verb katallassō (to reconcile) means “to change” or “exchange.” Its New Testament usage speaks of a change in a relationship. In it refers to a woman being reconciled to her husband. In its other two New Testament usages, , and , it speaks of God and man being reconciled. When people change from being at enmity with each other to being at peace, they are said to be reconciled. When the Bible speaks of reconciliation, then, it refers to the restoration of a right relationship between God and man.

It is used in the NT to speak of a change in a relationship...

; , and

When people change from being at enmity with each other to being at peace, they are said to be reconciled.

When the Bible speaks of reconciliation, then, it refers to the restoration of a right relationship between God and man.

This is no doubt to bolster his argument against the false teachers...

is that it is the story of God's plan to reconcile all things unto

one way to think about the message of the entire Bible is that it is that it is the story of God's plan to reconcile all things unto Himself.

Himself.

this passage makes it clear that that is true both of people, and

in some senses of the entire creation.

Regarding creation

all things...

the Bible teaches us that when Adam and Eve voluntarily chose to disobey God, their sin not only affected the human race, but it also affected the created world.

to disobey God, their sin not only affected the human race, but

The point that Paul is making to the Colossians is that Christ's death is so sufficient that it will actually have an affect on the created world.

it also affected the created world.

the point that Paul is making to the Colossians is that Christ's death is so sufficient that it will actually have an affect on the created world.

still under God's sovereign control:

He has chosen to allow sin to run its natural course in terms of its affect on creation

in terms of its affect on creation

He has also allowed our adversary, the "god of this world" () to use his wicked influence on creation.

world" () to use his wicked influence on

creation.

Revelation 21:1 NASB95

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

the NT describes this in as "the creation groaning."

the point that Paul is making to the Colossians is that Christ's death is so sufficient that it will actually have an affect on the created world.

is so sufficient that it will actually have an affect on the created

world.

changes in the animal world (in the millennial kingdom)... - "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the kid..."

- - "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the

leopard will lie down with the kid..."

changes in the earth and solar system... "The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter..."

- "The light of the moon will be as the light of the

sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter..."

reconciliation of the entire created order...

- - "the creation itself will be set free from its

Romans 8:21 NASB95

that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

slavery to corruption."

- "the creation itself will be set free from its slavery to corruption."… - According to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."

2 Peter 3:13 NASB95

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

- - According to His promise we are looking for new

- According to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."

Paul is more concerned about how reconciliation impacts people

heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."

- of course Paul centers in on the matter of reconciliation:

Regarding people

Before salvation we were...

with God before we were saved?

1) alienated

separated from God, cut off, estranged

2) hostile in our minds

hateful…before salvation we hated God and resented His holy standards

3) engaged in evil deeds

loving evil more than God…

John 3:19–20 NASB95

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

Sometimes I think we lose sight of the significance of our pre-salvation condition…and that spills out into the way we live...

of reconciliation is if we first understand just how significant the

breach was before we were saved.

in order to fully appreciate that, I need to understand:

- in order to fully appreciate that, I need to understand:

instead of recognizing the depth of our sin we say things like...

the "depth" (completeness) of God's holiness (and his attendant hatred of sin, and wrath because of the existence of sin)

attendant hatred of sin, and wrath because of the existence

of sin)

Here’s the problem…the average person in our world has a "watered down" version of both sides of this equation.

- when you think about the average person in our world, most folks

have a "watered down" version of both sides of this equation.

instead of recognizing the depth of our sin, as unbelievers we viewed ourselves as:)

recognizing the depth of our sin, as unbelievers we viewed ourselves

as:)

I'm not that bad...I'm better than my neighbor...Its not my fault...I'm a victim...I do a lot of good things...God is pretty lucky to have me...

- I'm better than my neighbor

- Its not my fault

- I'm a victim

- I do a lot of good things

- God is pretty lucky to have me...

What we need at that moment is to gain a more biblical view of ourselves and the impact sin had on us…alienated from God, hostile in our minds, engaged in evil...

for reconciliation.

instead of having a right view of God's holiness -- and therefore his attendant hatred of sin and His wrath because of sin, God is viewed as...

I think we also lose sight of of God's holiness and His utter hatred for sin…our view of God is often skewed by thinking...

having a right view of God's holiness -- and therefore his attendant

hatred of sin and His wrath because of sin, God is viewed as...)

He'll look the other way...He's a jolly man upstairs...He doesn't know or care about what I do, think, say, etc.

- He'll look the other way

- He's a jolly man upstairs

- He doesn't know or care about what I do, think, say, etc.

So what happens is we take our reconciliation too lightly…we take our relationship with God too flippantly...

need of reconciliation is:

take our relationship with God too flippantly...

we tend to view our sin as its no big problem, God will forgive me anyway, I’ll give God more time later when I’ve got nothing else to do...

responds with things like:

its no big problem

- they'll get over it

- time heals all wounds

- I might get around to talking to them some day.

Did you ever have to fight for a space in the church parking lot or rush in to get a good seat?

We’ll show up early at other events to get good seats, but if we come to church late, it is no big deal…is God ever late to minister to you?

We’ll show up early for ball games or

After church, you go to the restaurants and wish your pastor wasn’t so long winded because the restaurant is now full and you have to wait an hour to eat…

But after church, you go to the restaurants and wish your pastor wasn’t so long winded...

We won’t miss an opportunity to stay out late on Saturday night and have a good time, but when Sunday rolls around it seems to be acceptable to not go worship or fellowship with God’s people...

What we are really saying is I'm not that bad, and God's not that holy.

evening...because the "big deal" is to get to the restaurants.

- it would have taken a lot longer if you had tried it on Saturday,

because the bog deal is to get to the stores and get some more

things.

- but when it comes to the matter of being reconciled with God--the

"status quo attitude toward that subject" on the part of our world is

"It's not that big of a deal"

which translates into---I'm not that bad, and God's not that holy.

holy.

Implication…What does the priority of your life communicate about the importance of being reconciled to God?

Does your reconciliation with God mean anything to you?

and to those the Lord has placed around them that they consider

Paul also wants them to think about...

- Paul also in this passage talks about:

B. The Means of Reconciliation

Paul is very clear about what was necessary to accomplish our reconciliation to the Father.

reconciliation to the Father.

Look at

INPUT - what "means" of reconciliation is mentioned in verse 20,

and what "means" is mentioned in verse 22?

the blood of His cross

the body of His flesh through death

Paul wants the Colossians to be impacted in their hearts by the incredible price that was paid to bring about their (and our) reconciliation.

incredible means that were necessary to bring about our

We could not reconcile ourselves to God…it took the death of the precious Lamb of God...

reconciliation.

to me, one of the hardest jobs would be the people who are

levels of cynicism and indifference.

- to me, one of the hardest jobs would be the people who are

functioning as mediators or "reconcilers".

the problem is— unless you are part of the judicial system...most mediators have no "means" to get the job done...they have no authority, they have no power/ability to change someone's heart

groups together?

- the problem is--the mediators have no "means" to get the job done.

- they have no authority, they have no power/ability to change

someone's heart

It can be it's a frustrating and fruitless process...- that’s one of the reasons that Jesus Christ is preeminent--

- thats one of the reasons that Jesus Christ is preeminent--

As a result we are now "at peace with God."

He comes with the means for reconciliation.

Paul also told us in these verses that the blood of Jesus Christ made it possible for us to be "at peace with God."

focused on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ--and how

can we keep this a central focus in our families?

- participation in the Lord's table

Romans 5:1 NASB95

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

- concentrating on the words of our hymns as we sing together

- making this a focus in prayer

- ...

B. What it accomplished

You are no longer God’s enemy…you are his child…his friend…an heir...

- Paul also told us in these verses that the blood of Jesus

Christ made it possible for us to be "at peace with God."

Paul also want them to consider...

- let's think together about this phrase "at peace with God.

C. The Aim of Reconciliation

(make the point - are you taking advantage of the benefits that come

God?"

(make the point - are you taking advantage of the benefits that come

from being at peace with God?)

C. The Aim of Reconciliation

Paul makes it clear that God had a clear purpose in mind when He made it possible for us to be reconciled to Him.

made it possible for us to be reconciled to Him.

Read again

What is the aim of reconciliation?

holy - separated from sin and set apart to God.

blameless - without blemish

beyond reproach - unable to have a charge brought against us

2 Corinthians 11:2 NASB95

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.

2 - READ

This is an “already, but not yet” concept…in our position with God these have already occurred…with the practice of our lives, they have not yet been fully realized...

- of course this aim will be fully accomplished in heaven when we are

glorified...

Please take notice of the change

understand the preeminence of Christ...and what was necessary

Please take notice of the change

for them to be reconciled to God...

Pre-reconciliation/Post-reconciliation

- the more concerned they would be about personal holiness

Separated from God because of sin/Separated from sin and apart to God

Hostile in our minds/Without blemish

Engaged in evil/Beyond reproach

Paul wants them (and us)to see that the more they (we) understand the preeminence of Christ...and what was necessary for them to be reconciled to God...the more concerned they would be about personal holiness...

unreproveable?

it honors Him

it prevents us from experiencing the hardness that comes with the way of the transgressor

the way of the transgressor

it models for others the truths of verse 21 (in other words, one of the best ways for those who don't know Christ to see their sinful condition is for God's people to live a life of holiness before them.)

the best ways for who don't know Christ to see their sinful

condition is for God's people to live a life of holiness before

them.)

D. The Evidence of Reconciliation

Read

This conditional clause is related to the last part of verse 22...

this is a both a positional and practical truth...

positionally, Jesus has done his part to present us holy and blameless,

however, we must do our part to practically live in that holiness...

this verse does not teach that we have to continually work hard so we don’t risk losing our salvation...

Paul is communicating to the Colossians that they must not waver in their faith and go back to the way they used to live if their desire is to be blameless and beyond reproach practically...

those who have genuinely been reconciled to the Father will demonstrate that by their perseverance.

What Paul is saying here that those who have genuinely been reconciled to the Father will demonstrate that by their perseverance.

demonstrate that by their perseverance.

Giving Jesus preeminence does not mean adding Jesus to your life, it means He is your life.

Jesus should never be some bullet point on our bucket list of something we do...

He should never take second place to something else we would rather do...

Who or what is #1 in your life?

God help us prioritize correctly...

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