Jesus Lord of All

Authority

I have found it very interesting to observe humanity throughout our current pandemic, and it’s been a far from simple picture. We seem to have simultaneously come together like never before, but at the same time, fought against each other - the early toilet paper tussles being just one example.

We seem to have been simultaneously brought to our knees in surrender, but also enlivened to fight and win.

The question has been asked many times - how will we be changed by this? The answer (which I feel I’m saying a lot these days), is: time will tell.

Another observation, however, is the way we’ve responded to those in authority above us.

The wearing of masks is a good case in point.

In NSW, the wearing of masks is just a recommendation. But as I’m sure you’re all well aware, in Victoria, with some exceptions, masks have now been made compulsory.

Now for many, because the authorities say it, we just follow along.

But for others (maybe even for some of us here), we can feel - what right do the authorities have to tell us what we can and can’t do?

The extent to which people have pushed this line has certainly varied considerably. For some it’s a question they ask, but ultimately, through respect of the authority, listen to the advice.

But at the extreme end we can find a group, that until recently I was mostly unfamiliar with. That is, a group calling themselves ‘sovereign citizens’.

If you’re not familiar with this group, well, my limited understanding of the group is that they basically reject the legitimacy of the government and therefore they have no authority over them. This has led to some lively exchanges that they’ve recorded themselves with police and retail managers over requirements to wear mask.

Now we can dismiss this group, particularly when their actions go to the extremes, however it does raise an interesting question.

To what extent should we listen to those in authority?

Now, thinking even beyond advice or public health orders associated with coronavirus, we can ask, how far should the authorities control what we do.

Often we hear the cry of “Nanny State”, as the authorities try to control things like what we eat, what we watch, how we do everyday tasks like driving, riding, boating and the like.

In each case, there might be some justification for it, but should they have authority over every part of our life?

Now we could potentially go into delve into this debate, but I’m not going to do that. The reason I bring it up, is because it highlights a way of thinking that we bring into our understanding of God.

Let me explain. You see, the fact that we have this debate at all, is because we section our lives into different areas. We generally acknowledge that the government has some role to play in the functioning of society, so we will allow certain areas of our life to be governed by them. For example, basic laws that protect the vulnerable and help society run smoothly.

But other areas, let’s say, what you’re going to do on the weekend, has nothing to do with the government.

That logic is appropriate when we’re talking about earthly governments.

But then we translate to the way God governs our life.

We’ll listen to God when it’s a matter of religion, but if it’s not, then God need not be concerned with what I do.

So for example, you get asked whether you could become a Sunday School teacher. Well, that’s clearly a matter for God - we better pray about that one.

But then you get asked whether you’ll coach your child’s under 10 soccer team, but because it has nothing to do with church, God has nothing to do with your decision.

This morning as we continue in this book of Colossians, I want to challenge the way we apply this logic with God.

In fact, based on the passage we had read to us earlier, I’m going to suggest that Christ should have access to every single aspect of our life.

But the real question is, what would that even look like?

And so, as I challenge this idea of compartmentalizing the religious from the secular, I want to explore the practical outworkings of it, because at the end of the day, it’s nice to have this as theory, but we need to consider what it means in practice.

Context

So let’s dive in by getting a bit of context of the passage.

If you were listening last week, I gave an introduction to this letter.

I explained that Paul is writing to a young and immature church that was established, not by Paul, but through a man by the name of Epaphras.

This church located in the middle of what is now the country of Turkey, but then in the region of Asia Minor, were at that stage where they were eager for the gospel and had faith, but due to their early stage of faith, they are easily influenced.

We saw last week, Paul highlighting their faith and love that they have already showed which would have helped these young believers see that they already have what they need. Paul then prayed for their knowledge and strength, not because they need it for salvation, but because this can draw them closer to God.

But now as we move into verse 15 which is where our reading started from this morning, we see Paul breaking off into an extended reflection of the nature of Jesus - in fact, you could say that this is some of the most beautiful reflection of Jesus that we have.

Some say it might have been a hymn known at the time. To be honest, whether it is or it isn’t, it doesn’t really matter, these beautiful words help us understand the nature of Jesus that much better.

Not just a cliche

Now, when we read passages like this, I know I can have a tendency to enjoy the words without really taking to heart the message.

We can sort of reduce almost to a cliche. Particularly if you’ve grown up with Christianity, we can sometimes be quick to make comments like: “Jesus means everything to me”… “I couldn’t have done it without Jesus”.

Now hopefully when we say things like this, we actually mean it, and whether we mean it or not, it’s probably more true than we realise, but sometimes the meaning can get lost.

And so when we read in verse 17: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together”, we can say “Amen” - but what does it actually mean.

A poem

Well, if we start with verses 15 through to 20 we find what we could describe as a poem, and it’s got an interesting structure.

You see, what we’ll find is that verse 15 to 17 forms the first half - and in this half, the point of the poetic words are: Christ is over all of creation, every single part of it.

The second half, starting at verse 18 then narrows it to: Christ is over the church and his work to redeem fallen humanity.

Now here’s the thing. That second half of this poem, you could actually describe as, not just the church, but the beginning of the new creation.

And so, within this poem, we have a movement from creation - to new creation.

This movement from creation to new-creation, is actually the whole trajectory of the Bible.

You see, the Bible starts with the creation of the world and everything in it. But as sin enters the world, God unveils his plan to redeem the world - and ultimately, this will literally culminate in a new heavens and a new earth. The most vivid picture of this coming in the last two chapters of Revelation (the last book of the Bible).

Over creation

So let’s walk ourselves through these verses.

Image of invisible God

The first truth from these words is that Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

You know, the funny thing is, I’ve often had people say to me - if God is real, why doesn’t he just show himself?

But when I get this question, I usually answer - but he has. He’s shown himself in the person of Jesus Christ. You see, we may not be able to see God the father, but there were people who laid their eyes on the person of Jesus. And though we may live 2000 odd years later, we can see Jesus through their eye-witness.

Firstborn over creation

Now, the statement that he is “the firstborn over all creation”, shows us his place in creation.

Now, even though Jesus only came to earth in his bodily form 2000 odd years ago, that is not to say that is when he came into existence. It is clear that the second person of the Trinity always was. God always existed in perfect unity, the three-in-one.

And as the second person of the Trinity, he was also responsible for this amazing creation, as verse 16 describes for us: “For in him all things were created”.

All things

But this is where we need to start breaking down this false division between the sacred and the secular.

You see, in case you missed that little word “all”, verse 16 goes on to make it very clear that “all” means absolutely everything.

It includes things in heaven and on earth. The things we can see and the things we can’t.

Even the various power structures in the world were created by him.

As verse 16 concludes: “all things have been created through him and for him”.

The clear logic is that if everything has been created by Christ and for Christ, then why would we think that teaching Sunday School is a matter for God, but not coaching a soccer team? It’s all brought about by Him and is for Him.

Held together by Christ

But not only was it created by and for Christ, he also holds it all together.

You see, what we need to recognise is that God was not the type that created and then stood back while everything played itself out.

Christ is rather intimately involved. It’s what led to the Christ’s incarnation. When he came to earth to be with us.

He cares about what happens day to day, and he is involved in it.

Often we’re unaware of that - but that’s perhaps more of an indication of where we are looking rather than what Christ is doing.

Over new creation

But let’s move on to verse 18, because it is here that we move from Christ being over creation, to this idea that I suggested before of Christ being over the new creation.

The Church

It starts by describing him as the head of the body, the church.

Now what is the church? Well let me tell you that it’s not just another club.

There are plenty of great clubs around. Rotary. The Lions. CWA. Men’s shed. They all serve a wonderful purpose in society. But when you understand what the church is, you realise that it is of a completely different nature.

And we start to understand that when verse 18 first describes it as the body.

You see, the church is really the manifestation of Christ’s work on earth.

The church is God’s appointed instrument to be a blessing in the world.

Now I know that sometimes the church doesn’t always do good. That’s because sinful humanity does it’s best to tear it down.

But here’s the thing. For all the horrific things sinful humanity has done, Christ is there, lifting it back up.

And if you care to look, you will see the absolute beauty and majesty that is the church. All because… Christ is the head.

Over death

Well as verse 18 continues, he’s described as the firstborn from among the dead.

We’re talking here of his resurrection.

Now it is important to add, Jesus was not the first person to be revived from death.

The Bible itself has described numerous people, both in the Old Testament and New who were clearly dead, but miraculously rose to life.

But here’s the thing. The resurrection of Jesus is of a different nature.

You see, when Jesus rose, he defeated death itself. Thereby creating the path for this new creation.

Reconcile all things

Now, one thing we need to be careful of, is to somehow reduce the work of Christ to just the fact that we will rise again in the age to come - albeit, that is certainly very important.

But look how things develop in verses 19 and 20. You see, this reconciliation extends beyond just the small category we often place for it.

But as God’s fullness dwells in Christ and through Christ, all things are reconciled. And just like before when we get a clarification of all things created through Christ, the all here means everything - things on earth and things in heaven.

What we really need to see here is that the work of Christ was far more than just a simple ticket that we place in our pocket before we get to heaven.

The work of Christ was actually restoring the fallen world.

As I briefly mentioned earlier, this is the whole trajectory of the Bible.

The world was created. Sin entered and the world was subjected to frustration. But the Father, Son and Holy Spirit reversed the curse, and in Christ we see the fallen world being restored.

What I really want you to see in these poetic words, is that when we put our trust in Christ, we cannot think of it in the same terms as we do when we consider how much control say the government should have in our lives.

And that is because when we’re talking of Christ, we are talking of the one who really does control all things.

How do we know this?

Well, can I suggest verse 21 gives us an clue. We can look at our own life. You see, we just need to look at the way Christ has taken us, someone who was lost, who felt the crush of the world, and he has reconciled us. He has made us a new creation.

If he can do it with us, he can do it for the world.

This is the gospel. This is the good news which is preached throughout the world.

In practice

Now, as I said before, I don’t want to just leave this as some nice theory. These are some really amazing truths, but what does it mean for our day-to-day lives.

I’ve heard it said that once someone took things a bit extreme.

As they woke up and put their clothes on, they said, Jesus, help me decide which sock to put on my left foot… Now Jesus, help me decide what sock to put on my right foot. And of course they left the house with mismatching socks.

So is that what I mean when I say the Christ is over all things?

Well, no.

I think perhaps a parent-child analogy is best here.

A child will learn what please their parents.

They will know things like… whether or not the TV can go on before school… what things you can have for breakfast, what sort of clothes are considered appropriate and the like.

So for a lot of mundane things, they can still please their parents even without asking the question, because they know each other well.

Now it’s not a perfect analogy, but you can see that we can acknowledge Jesus as Lord of everything in our life, even without the extreme example of questioning everything.

But in that analogy of a child to a parent, there will come many times when it isn’t obvious. The child will talk with the parent. Hear their thoughts and their concerns… their suggestions and at times even their orders. Usually this happens over extended time.

If we are to acknowledge Jesus as Lord over all of our lives, then we need to have this ongoing dialogue with him.

Now I know we often get frustrated because we can’t hear his voice very well. But do you know what? We actually can hear his voice through the Bible. And coming back to the church as the body of Christ, we can also hear his voice through the wisdom within this great body.

It’s not just about hearing that booming voice from heaven. In fact, the truth is, I’ve never audibly heard God’s voice in that way. Some people have, and that’s wonderful for them, but most hear his voice in much gentler ways.

Now, as we look at this poetic piece of writing to the Colossians, and see the progression from creation to new creation, we should be reminded of the direction that Christ is taking us.

There is an end point to all of this.

And everything we do should be working towards this end point of our Lord.

Now this does not mean everything we do should be in the church.

But what it does mean is that in every thing we do, we should consider how we can be bringing redemption to this earth.

The statement we’ve adopted as a church might be helpful at this point.

That is, we are a church that aims to Love, Share and serve.

And we can do this no matter where we are.

You can do it in whatever work place you are at. You can do it at the gym. You can do it when you’re out for a walk.

It’s just a matter of seeing people how Jesus sees them, and loving them, sharing what you have with them, and serving them as Christ would.

Conclusion

One of the early missionaries to China was a man by the name of Hudson Taylor.

Hudson was quoted as saying: “Christ is either Lord of all, or he is not Lord at all”.

And I think he is right. In many ways this is the message that Paul is giving to this young church in Colossae.

Christ is not just someone who you give part of your life to. To come to such a conclusion is to completely misunderstand the nature of who Jesus is.

He is not someone you add to in some strange way. He is the complete package for us.

And I hope that is something you can see as well.

Christ is everything for us. That should not just be a cliche. Rather, once we understand the work Jesus has done in redeeming the world, we should be ready to submit to him in every single part of our life.

Let me pray...