The Christ Week 1 - The Creator of the World

Introduction

It is great to know the Christmas story

hearing about the shepherds watching their flocks by night

Angels coming to Mary and Joesph proclaiming a virgin brith that had ben foretold for years

May and Joseph going to Bethlehem, there being no room for him in the Inn

This is good to know, but the story is not enough

we must know who this is that is being born

we must know Jesus

Colossians 1:15–17 (CSB)

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

16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

When we look at Jesus, we see God

We are made in the image of God

Imago Dei = The likeness of God

we reflect God as the moon reflects the sun, we have no power or light on our own, we reflect him to the world

Picture of Jimmy and my Dad

When you look at Jimmy, you may know what my dad looks like, but you do not know my dad

Jesus is the image of the invisible God

not a look a like, but the image

not a false image that is not supposed to be created and worshipped because anything created can never measure up to the creator

Phillip asked to see the Father

just show us the father and that will be enough for us

Jesus said do you not know yet… when you look at me, you see the father

First born = rank or existence, not oldest brother

Christmas is not the beginning of Jesus

some cults, like JW or Mormons, believe that he is the first and best of the created beings.

this would contradict Paul’s letter to the Colossians, as he is warning them about worshipping angels and other spiritual beings

Tony Evens illustration - The First Lady of the US, is not the first lady ever, but that is her position

The birth of Jesus is not the beginning of Jesus, but the All powerful God coming into his creation for the salvation of His people.

The One Who Came Created All

This may be a surprise, but at times, we all can be a little self centered

we can believe that we are the center of the universe, that all things revolve around us

We like to make decisions and statements where it seems like we have all the power

we will say things to people who work for the government, “I pay your salary!” Like that means that they are supposed to pay you, or that you have some authority over them

we will make decisions like, I will take my business elsewhere

We like to do or say these things, because it gives us a sense of power and control, typically in a situation that we cannot control

But Jesus created all… He is the one with all power, all control

Colossians 1:16 (CSB)

16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.

He Created all we see

this is something that we normally give him credit for

I have met very few people who claim that they created the world

Romans 1:20 points to his glory

Romans 1:20 (CSB)

20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse.

You are a part of that creation that points others to Jesus

that when we look at the complexities of man, the way that we are made, we must admit that we are not created by chance

there has to be a creator

what Paul is revealing to us is that Jesus is not a part of that creation, but he is the creator himself

He created things that we cannot see

Angels, even Satan,

this is what most believe the “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” to be

some believe that this is four different stages of angelic beings

do not spend so much time trying to figure it out that we miss the truth that Paul is giving

God created all

though created by God, God did not create evil

Ezekiel 28 tells us that Satan was created perfect in position and beauty

pride entered his heart when he realized it and he desired to be worshipped

This is a power that we cannot comprehend

we may think ourselves to be powerful

we might be able to make some things happen

at times we all realize we are powerless compared to God

Think of Job, after all his complaining, God answers him with a series of questions that last for two chapters

all meant to be rhetorical with a little sarcasm

where were you when I created all

how did you measure out the sea

Job 42:2–6 (CSB)

2 I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.

3 You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know.

4 You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.”

5 I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you.

6 Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes.

Knowing that the one with this power humbled himself for us, should humble us

The One Who Came Sustains All

Colossians 1:17 (CSB)

17 He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

This child has always been

v15 states that he is the first born of all creation

that is that he was before

but not just WAS before all things, as in he was there first

but he IS before all things

in rank

in honor

This is important for the Colossians to hear

a false teaching that the angels should be worshipped

and some believe that Jesus was just another one of those angels

as if God created a good angel, Jesus, and a bad angel, Satan, and they are battling it out

Jesus is first!

Before Abraham, I AM

Jesus said this in John 8 to the Pharisees

They claimed he had a demon as to why he could do what the miracles he had done

he began to speak about Abraham in a way that you would only talk if you knew somebody

they asked him you are not even fifty, and you’ve seen Abrham?

John 8:58 CSB

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”

His power as creator is the same power he uses to sustain all things

sustainer - cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption:

He sustains all things that we see and things that we cannot

think of our solar system, all the planets going around our sun, in perfect timing and space

that is him

Trevor English - InterestingEngineering.com

Everyone in the world is made up of nothingness. While that may sound grim, it's the truth. In fact, everyone currently on earth, all 7.6 billion of us, we could all fit into the room you're in right now. The entire human race, every single person, could all be compressed into a solid cube with the equivalent size of a sugar cube – all because we are made up of nothingness. What we perceive as solid objects like desks, chairs, cars, even ourselves, is actually just a big conglomeration of tiny particles separated by what is practically infinite nothingness. This absurd truth has everything to do with atoms. Understanding the makeup of objects Anything that has a mass and occupies a given amount of volume is rudimentarily defined as matter. Everything around us is made up of matter, even further, everything around us is matter made up of atoms. Atoms make up everything, but they also exist very, very far apart – and atoms themselves are more void than they are matter. RELATED: IT'S POSSIBLE TO BORROW ENERGY FROM EMPTY SPACE Every atom has a nucleus surrounded by electrons. If the nucleus of the average atom was the size of a peanut, then the entire atom would be about the size of a baseball stadium. Around the edges of that stadium exist the electrons, the numbers of which vary by different elements. As a general rule of thumb, nuclei are about 100,000 times smaller than the atoms that they are housed in, making them practically empty space. When you start to consider that atoms are about 99% empty space and they make up 100% of the universe, you can start to see: you're made up of nothingness.

Scientists have been trying to figure out how all this empty nothingness holds together

Colossians 1:17 tells us that it is our God, Jesus Christ who holds all things together

This Christ child that has been born in the manger these thousands of years ago, is the creator and sustainer of the world. We must know exactly what that means for our lives.

What That Means for Us

We are loved

That the Creator of the world would come here for us

even as much as we have sinned up this place, he is still patient in not destroying it and creating the new heaven and new earth

why, so that none would perish

2 Peter 3:9 (CSB)

9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

He does not get impatient with the world that he allows some to perish

he is patient waiting for all to come to repentance

not only did he come, but once ascended he patiently waits for each one to come to repentance

no, I cannot end things yet, there is still another to come that will be my child

We are Safe

If he sustains all things, that means us

we know that there are more powerful things that have been created than us, yet they do not have any authority over us that is not given from God

think back to the demon possessed people in the gospels, when Jesus said go, they went

they must obey!

Romans 8:37–39 (CSB)

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We must submit to this authority

we are nothing in comparison and have no leg to stand on in negotiating with him

Philippians 2:10–11 (CSB)

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

nobody can take a breath after they have died at the time that God said that they would die

Christmas should lead our hearts to worship

Simeon in the temple when Jesus was dedicated

Luke 2:29–32 (CSB)

29 Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you promised.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation.

31 You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples—

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.

May we, when we look to the birth of the Christ Child cry out in worship to Jesus, the creator and sustainer of all things!