Who is Jesus? (2)

Who is Jesus?

Colossians 1:15-23

INTRODUCTION

ILL- Pinocchio- the marionette who becomes a real boy.

The puppet maker, Geppetto, spends the whole movie chasing afterhim because of his poor decisions.

Our Creator is chasing after us, wanting to fix the huge mess we have gotten ourselves into.

The ultimate part of the pursuit of God is...

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The Gospel- The Good News of Jesus

God stepped out of heaven and became man.

Lived a perfect and holy life.

Died on a cross he did not deserve- not for his sin but our sin.

3 Days later he was raised from the dead- prove the power he had over death.

The results of the Gospel is summed up in...

Colossians 1:15–23 ESV

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, 23 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.

2 Primary Results of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

I- Jesus is Lord of All (15-17)

4 Reasons He is Lord

1- He is God (15)

Colossians 1:15 ESV

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

Hebrews 1:3a ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

John 1:1 ESV

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

2- He is First (15)

Colossians 1:15b ESV

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

Rank not order.

“firstborn’ in the Old Testament did not mean they were the first to be born. It denoted one who had a special place in the father’s love.

Exodus 4:22 ESV

22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son,

Psalm 89:27 ESV

27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

But Jesus is also “of creation”. He is fully man.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

he had an ordinary birth.

He had a human body that grew.

He grew in wisdom.

He was subject to disease and weakness.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus became the new Adam.

He was without sin unlike the first.

3- He is Creator (16-17)

Colossians 1:16–17 ESV

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.

“before all things”= in relation to time

John 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

He holds the answers for this world as Creator.

It is not about how we feel.

Jesus created us and he gets to be the one to make the rules. He knows what is best for us.

Perversion is when we go against his design.

He still holds control of his creation.

Actively involved in creation.

4- He is Head of the Church (18)

Colossians 1:18 ESV

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.

1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

Ephesians 4:15–16 ESV

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

II- Jesus is the Salvation of Man (19-23)

2 Results of Our Salvation

1- We Have a Mediator (19-22)

Colossians 1:19–20 ESV

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.

“fulness of God”= his holiness- perfection.

Jesus is perfect and therefore can approach our holy God.

Hebrews 9:15 ESV

15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

We need a mediator because we are not holy.

Psalm 53:1–3 ESV

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

As mediator he reconciles us with God.

His holiness bridges the gap between man and God.

Mediator who offers peace with God.

ILL- peace treaties never make both sides happy.

Peace happens on earth when one force forces itself on another and they give up.

exp- end of WWII. Atomic bomb forced peace.

He can mediate because he is the Sacrifice (20b-22)

Colossians 1:20–22 ESV

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,

He died on the cross for our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

He presents us holy because he paid the price for us.

Colossians 1:22 ESV

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,

These two verses show ...

justification (reconcile)

glorification (present us before God..)

Sanctification- Verse 23...

2- We Have Hope (23)

Colossians 1:23 ESV

23 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.

We can have confidence. Approach without fear.

He makes us overcomers.

Hope= always in the future- always at our glorification.

It is what gives us the confidence to go through sanctification now.

Romans 8:30b ESV

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 John 5:4–5 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

CONCLUSION

Jesus is only one worthy to provide salvation to man.

Acts 4:12 ESV

12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Are you ready to surrender your life to Jesus?