The Supremacy of Christ in the Christian Worldview -Col. 1:15-22
The Supremacy of Christ in the Christian Worldview • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 2 viewsThe Christian Wordlview magnifies Christ as Supreme not man
Notes
Transcript
academia.edu - a different stephen littlejohn all these scholastic work.
Traveling upstate and meet someone and you say my pastor name is SL. The SL. ??
The author, theologian, no
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 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. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
Credit to Voddie Baucham whose preaching book on this subject was invaluable.
God - man - TRUTH - knowledge -ethics
The question of truth in world of relativism is never been more important.
Two worldviews dominate our culture:
Christian Theistic
Postmodern: secular humanist - naturalism
How do these two worldviews answers the question everyone ask?
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What wrong with this world?
How can what isa wrong be made right.
Christian Theism answer
God - The starting point of all things - necessary being - Sovereign all powerful being - Benevolent
Man - special creation created made in God's image - dependent
Truth - absolute - knowable - objective
Christian Theism
Ethics/morality - absolute - Scripture reveals God’s character and will = our objective standard for ethics/ morality - how we live - expected to be treated and how we treat others.
Postmodernism or Secular Humanism
Atheistic - No God - man is the starting point
Dominant view in practice Yet most say they believe in God
Yet most say they believe in God
Man - a glorified ape -a cosmic accident - evolved by chance, no design, no plan
Truth - nature/cosmos - closed system - materialistic
No supernatural involvement needed
subjective - centered our man and his desires
Ethics - cultural & negotiable
History, time & culture negotiates its own ethics
Hitler genocide was not wrong…
God - necessary - Sov all powerful being
Man - special creation created in God's image
Truth - absolute
Ethics - absolute
All people ask 4 questions
All people ask 4 questions
Who am I? -
Why am I here? - goal & purpose
What is wrong with the world?
How what is wrong be made right?
How does our cultures answer these questions: Secular humanism
How does our cultures answer these questions: Secular humanism
Who am I?
Who am I?
Nothing -an accident - mistake
Random evolution processes
Why am I here? - goal & purpose
Why am I here? - goal & purpose
Consume and enjoy - materialism - unquenchable
What matters? - MORE! STUFF - POWER
The result of randomness and a desire for more that mean my purpose is to take from you what I need for my satisfaction.
Racism & Nazism - Social evolution applied
We can't look down Nazis scientist or abortionist - They get in the way of our consumming so we kill them
What is wrong with the world? & How what is wrong be made right?
What is wrong with the world? & How what is wrong be made right?
Out there but the remedy
Insufficiently educated or governed - more education & more government
What happen when you educate a wicked person? More sinister & clever in their wickedness
The Result: empty lacking
How do Christian theism answer the same questions ?
How do Christian theism answer the same questions ?
- With the bible! No answer without our foundation and authority
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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.
Who am I?
Who am I?
The text start with "he is"
Who Jesus is answers the question
The image of the invisible God
Creator of all things - thru Him & For Him
- ;
Crowning glory of the creation of God
No accident
Inherent valuable and dignity
No conception: Racism - classism and eugenics
What about slavery?
Allegiance to CT but embraced slavery
“Narrative is not normative”
What stopped it - CT! William Wilberforce
What standard was it deemed wrong: the supremacy of Christ.
Why am I here? - goal & purpose
Why am I here? - goal & purpose
Ex: Kids - Gifts - not burdens - blessing not blights
Kids get in the way of our enjoyment - secular humanism
- I am here to bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ.
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 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.
Supreme and preeminence over all things in life and death
Ex: going to college - dream degree - prestige - power and money
God gives us our abilities what would it look like if we made college decisions but understanding Christ is the goal of all our education
We simply steward what God has put into us.
Why did you choose your last job, church? More money or the pursuit of Christ being supreme.
What is wrong with the world? V.19-21
We are
Hostile in mind
Crowning glory yet hostile to the one who created us.
The question of evil. Why does bad stuff happens
The correct question- How can a holy God know what I did yesterday and not kill me in my sleep.
We believe the problem is out there
All people deserve the wrath of God why has he not consumed each of us.
Supremacy of man - how dare God be good to me!
Supremacy of Christ How dare I steal his air!
The problem is that I do not acknowledge the supremacy of Christ
I judge God own he cares out my agenda for the world.
We want omnipotent but not sovereign.
How what is wrong be made right?
V.22 -23
penal substitutionary death of Christ
No other way to made right!
Other religions: experience - good things & hope you get in/right
We can't be good -
What about my past -
Where's my assurance -
- Was that enough for your sin.
So what? The Supremacy of man versus the supremacy of Christ