Christ First In Life and Ministry

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

Those are probably some of the most famous words of St. Patrick of Ireland, and as Baptists we typically don’t quote anyone with the title “saint” in front of their name, but since yesterday was St. Patrick’s day I thought I could get away with it.

That quote has to do with the all-encompassing nature of Christ, his presence and influence in our lives.

We’ve just heard a sermon on the personhood and humanity of Jesus - the incarnation of Christ - God in human flesh. That is most well-stated in scripture with the announcement from Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23

Matthew 1:23 KJV 1900

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

God with us - Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me.

Dan asked me to speak on the subject of the Preeminence of Christ this afternoon. We will be looking at probably the paramount text on that topic, which is Colossians 1:15-23. Please turn there and we will read it in a few moments.

“Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

For those words to be true, they must not just be theoretically true, but they must be practically true. That is, they must not just be true in concept, but true in practice. Christ is preeminent, but He must also be preeminent. To every truth there is response and interaction - to every indicative there is an imperative - to every “what” there is a “so what.”

Concerning the preeminence of Christ, that is the parallel I want to draw this afternoon. The “what” and the “so what” concerning the preeminence of Christ in life, and in our context, in Ministry as well.

A little background to our passage before we dive in. Now ironically, at the last fellowship meeting I preached at, my text was Colossians 1:9-14, and today I am preaching 15-23.

Paul is writing to the Colossian Christians after meeting with Epaphras, their pastor and representative. Epaphras had travelled from Colosse to Rome to meet with Paul, and as far as we know Paul never met the Colossians face-to-face. It was one of the churches that he didn’t actually start, but he still cared for them.

The letter is mostly corrective. The Colossians had been the recipients of false teaching, seemingly some semblance of Jewish tradition mixed with Greek and Mystic paganism. Things like visions, asceticism, and worship of angels were being thrust on the Colossians as requirements for their faith, and Paul’s antidote for those things was to remind them of the gospel, their faith, and most importantly, the supremacy and preeminence of Christ.

Colossians 1:15–23 KJV 1900

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Tradition states that this was a hymn sung and repeated in the early church - whether Paul wrote it first, or is quoting it here, this is what Christians since the first century have believed about Jesus Christ and His preeminence.

As we look at this passage, the main idea is very simple.

Jesus Christ is the preeminent one - is he preeminent in your life and ministry?

1. Christ Is Preeminent - vs. 15-20

Verses 18-19 really give the central blow and the main phraseology of this text, and within we read that “he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all the fulness dwell.”

Those words could summarize all of verse 15-20. Preeminent in all things. First in all things.

And to be preeminent is to be first - to have first place, to be first in importance, first in priority. Not, however, simply first on a list - that would be too simplistic. If Christ were simply to be first on the list, then we could pay respect to that by acknowledging Him briefly when we arose each morning without giving Him second thought throughout the day - in that case it would be Christ first, then coffee or using the bathroom second.

Preeminence is Christ first in priority, regardless of time and place. We see that even in his resurrection, because he is “firstborn from the dead” even though, in the scope of time, he was not the first to rise from the dead - but he is “first” or “firstborn” in that he holds that place of highest degree, highest rank, first of importance.

He is preeminent in all things, but to give the passage its worth, lets see a few things in detail.

A. Preeminent in His Being - Vs. 15

The image of the invisible God, firstborn of every creature.

Image = icon. Often used as a term for representation in carving or art, like when Jesus asked whose image was on the coin that he pulled from the fish’s mouth - that was Caesar’s image.

What does it mean that Christ is the image of the invisible God? Well, the sentence gives us a clue. He is not a “picture” of a visible being, he is the image of the invisible being.

Image can mean representation, it can mean portrayal, but those are all in terms of representing something already visible. But Jesus is not just the representation of God in human flesh, he is the manifestation of God in human flesh.

In this case, “image” takes on the meaning of “form.” Jesus Christ is the “form” of the invisible God. Like when Paul said in Philippians, he is in the “form” of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Not “a” form of God, that wold be modalism - he is the “form.” As we classically know it, God is one being in three persons, but all three persons are of one substance or essence.

Jesus is the essence of the invisible God in visible form. When Jesus took upon his person a human nature, he did not become less God. Jesus is God, the son of God, walking on two legs. If you want to know what God would do if he were walking on the earth, read the Gospels - you will find out what He did.

He is also the “firstborn” - which doesn’t refer to his birth in Bethlehem, but his status of being over all beings.

psalm 89:7

Firstborn denotes position, entitlement, rank. Jesus is God, the Son of God, and He is above all. This is important in Colossians, because worship of Angels was on the table for these people, and the sufficiency of Christ was being challenged. Christ is not equal with man or angels, He is God, and above all beings.

B. Preeminent in His Authority - Vs. 16

Authority over something can be stated in no stronger words than “I created you.” And if creation equals authority, then Christ’s authority is limitless.

“All things were created by him, and for him.”

That really even strengthens the idea of authority - because not only did he make them, but they are for his pleasure and glory. It is one thing to build a house, it is another thing entirely to build it for yourself. Jesus is the maker, master and the beneficiary of his own creation.

He has created all things - which, in this list, includes thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. Does this refer to physical rulers or spiritual powers? Well, yes it does. I believe Paul may have been making special emphasis on Spiritual powers, because the Colossian people had some strange fascination with them - but the saying is true either way, and it can rightly be applied both ways.

At the end of Matthew 7, the sermon on the mount, the crowds were astonished at Jesus’ teaching - why? Because he spoke with Authority. And then what did he do? He came down off the mountain, and he showed his authority and power - he healed physically, he cast out demons, he calmed the wind and seas, and he forgave sins. He has authority over all, both physical and spiritual. Whether demons or Vladmir Putin, Christ has created and rules over them.

Hebrews 1:1–4 KJV 1900

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

This is Christ, whose power is limitless, his authority all-encompassing, His mark in every breath, his goodness shown in every budding plant and flowing river, his might shown in every raging sea and howling wind, His sovereignty shown in every kingdom that rises and falls, and those are just a small display of what He can do.

C. Preeminent in His Power - Vs. 17

He is “before” all things - before is simply the word “pro”, the prefix we use in words like progress, proceed, promote - there is the sense of before, and there is the sense of forward movement. Christ is before all things, he moves all things.

So he moves all things forward, and he holds all things together - they consist in Him. Like Paul quoted in Acts 17:28, “in Him we live and move and have our being.”

We are living in historic times - a pandemic, and now a war in Europe. We say things like, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and history always repeats itself - and those are truisms, but how often do we pause and think that apart from the will and power of Christ, not a moment of history would have existed or taken place as we know it?

Not a single human breath would be breathed without Christ’s creating and sustaining power. Not a single molecule would have been formed or bonded to make up substances and structures. Not a bird would flap its wings, not a lion would roar, not a breeze of wind or a drop of rain, not a spark of flame of fire, not a flake of snow or sheet of ice would fall or form without Christ’s sovereign power.

The glue that bonds the world together is not government or leadership, it is Christ’s power. Apart from His work of consisting, all would be chaos - and we see a glimpse of that chaos in the fall and curse, but if Christ were to remove His hand of sustaining, all would be lost.

D. Preeminent in His Church - Vs. 18

And his authority and power extend beyond the merely physical creation, and they are most intimately seen in his people, the church.

Of the church, Christ is said to be “the head.” Christ is Lord of creation, Lord of the universe, Lord of rulers spiritual and physical, but of all things he is Lord over, the most obvious should be that He is Lord of His Church.

In a group of pastors like this, and the number of churches represented, we certainly have a share of different leadership structures. Some may have a single-pastor led model, some may have a pastor and deacons that make up the leadership structure, some may have trustees or a board of sorts, some have a plurality of elders - we can debate about those things at dinner if you’d like, but in any of those cases, may it never be said that a man or group of men are head of the church.

Pastors, we are shepherds within Christ’s body, not Lord over his body. We shepherd among the sheep, we do not lord over the flock. We lead by example and exhortation, and our pulpit is a place of service, not a throne of power.

Christ died for His church, and we are among those numbers - may we nor the people we serve among never believe for a moment that we stand above them or stand between them and their Lord. Christ is the head of the Body - He is the beginning, the author and finisher of our faith - that in all things he might have the preeminence.

E. Preeminent in His Work - Vs. 19-20

All the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Christ. While he was on the earth, performing his work, he was very God of Very God - and he still is today. His work of redemption was God’s work of redemption. His work of reconciliation is God’s work of reconciliation, and it is the most fundamental of all reconciling.

Reconciliation is to set things right again, to end dissonance or hostility. It implies that there once was peace, and there can be again.

We can be reconciled to one another, spouses can be reconciled, debts can be reconciled, but the preeminent reconciliation is creation to creator, which is what the Cross of Christ purchased.

One day, all things will be right again - all things will be reconciled. Creation will be new, Satan will be cast away, the power of Demons nullified, every tear wiped away - all things are being reconciled and will be reconciled because of Christ’s work of redemption, making peace by the blood of His cross. The grounds of rebellion, sin, curse, brokenness, and chaos are all leveled by the blood of Christ. All will be made new, and you and I are being renewed each day.

Christ is the one who made peace when there was only wrath and emnity. Christ is the one who bridged, but His blood, the gulf of sin and righteousness. Christ is the one who vicariously took our sin on His body and made redemption and reconciliation actually happen - it is His work, and not ours. We stand for Him, and proclaim this reconciliation - but nobody else can get the glory for His work.

2. Is Christ Preeminent? - Vs. 21-23

That reconciliation is what ties these two sections together. For that reconciliation is why we are here today, is it not?

“you, who were at one time alienated and hostile - enemies of God, performing evil deeds - he has reconciled.”

It gets personal there - you and I needed reconciliation with our Creator, and Christ afforded that - Christ accomplished that. He did it in the body of flesh - there is Christ’s incarnation again, his person - through death. Through death!

The one who is preeminent in His being, in His Authority, in His Power, in His Church, and in His work - preeminent in all things, creating all things, sustaining all things - the life maker and life giver himself, gave himself up to death, to reconcile us - and to present us holy and blameless in the sight of God.

Can you imagine? The Authority of all life gave up his own life for the good of His subjects. The Creator faced death for his dying creation. The Perfect one took on sin - mine and yours - to be able to present us blameless when we had no chance of that on our own.

Christ is preeminent - and his preeminence in these things is very personal. For not only would be not be pastors without this work, but we wouldn’t even be alive spiritually.

Christ is preeminent, so is he preeminent?

A. In Life

The rubber meets the road for the Colossians Christians, and for us as well, in verse 23 - because here Paul calls for the “so what.”

The “so what” is perseverance - it is continuance.

Now, we’re all baptists, and we believe in perseverance of the saints, and that Christ will complete the work in us that He started, and that nobody can pluck us out of the Father’s hand, and that truly regenerate individuals cannot lose that state in Christ - after all, it was in the baptist business meeting that daylight savings time was being discussed, and a motion was made to skip it this year, because that hour was saved last year, and once saved always saved.

So I don’t think Paul is indicating that individuals can lose their final salvation by deciding to not persevere, but you must remember he was writing to a whole church, and whole groups of people - and the call rings out simple and clear - we must keep the faith! We as individuals and as local churches must keep the faith.

Here is where the rub is - our belief in the preeminence of Christ is affirmed by our faith and obedience. We say Christ is preeminent in all things, so Paul calls us to live as if he were preeminent in all tings, and that looks like perseverance in the faith.

How many of you pastors know that the struggle against doubt and sinful temptation didn’t end when your ordination certificate was signed? How many of us know that the call to continue in the faith is a very real and personal call even for those who preach the Gospel week in and week out?

Continue - persevere. And in what? the faith! That is, the body of belief that has been passed down through the Ages in scripture. The body of faith and teaching which includes all things necessary for life and godliness. The body of faith which includes, as Jesus said, observing all things that he has commanded us.

Continue, as Paul would say in Chapter 2

Colossians 2:6–7 KJV 1900

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

As - or in the same way - you recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, in the same way, walk in Him.

How does one “recieve” christ Jesus the Lord? - By faith! So how does one walk in Him? By Faith as well.

The life of the continuing believer is the life of faith. Faith in the Christ who is preeminent in all things, who has bought and secured our redemption, and in whom our promise rests.

We continue, grounded and settled - there is firmness in Christ. There is no need to move away from Him, for He is the preeminent one! There is no other priority, no other source, no other place from which we draw life and strength. We are settled and secure in Him, and Him alone.

And we are settled in the hope of the gospel - the same gospel that Paul preached, the same gospel that was preached to you when you first believed - the gospel which rests in the preeminence of Christ. Does that hope drive us to faithfulness in life? Does that hope drive us to “not shift” from it?

B. Ministry

Paul ends this section with “the gospel, whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

Paul was a man - A minister of the gospel, a servant of the gospel. but a man. The call to perseverance in the faith was very real to Him, and the preeminence of Christ was very real to Him.

It was Christ who struck Him blind and confronted Him on that damascus Road, and it was also Paul who said

1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV 1900

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Brothers, we are no greater than Paul.

Does the preeminence of Christ drive us to faithfulness and perseverance in ministry?

Does the preeminence of Christ push you on when that church member complains about the decision that was entirely preferential?

Does the preeminence of Christ drive you forward when the believer you are discipling falls into addiction yet again?

Does the preeminence of Christ drive you on when you’re writing that sermon but every other care and distraction is clouding your mind?

Does the preeminence of Christ drive you on when you’re feeling the tug of burnout and temptation to quit?

Does the preeminence of Christ drive you on when you can’t bear to have one more conversation with that individual?

Does the preeminence of Christ drive you on when you are fighting against personal sin?

Christ is preeminent, and the hope of the Gospel that He brought is the hope of pastors as well. The preeminence of Christ must be the theme of our lives, and the theme of our thinking. The theme of our homes and the theme of our offices.

Christ, preeminent in our preaching.

Christ preeminent in our counseling.

Christ, preeminent in our study.

Christ, preeminent in our conversations.

Christ, preeminent in our reactions.

Christ, preeminent in our business meetings.

Christ, preeminent in our phone calls.

Christ, preeminent in our private life.

Christ, preeminent in our marriages and in our families.

Christ, preeminent in our speech and in our listening.

Christ preeminent in our hobbies and our habits.

Christ preeminent in our priorities and time commitments.

Christ, preeminent in our sleeping and our waking and our eating and our drinking.

Christ, preeminent in our waiting and our working and our winning and our losing.

Christ, preeminent in our suffering, our rejoicing, our, weeping, and our laughter.

“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”

Christ is preeminent, so is Christ preeminent?