DEFINING LIFE: The Savior and His Supremacy

INTRO

Undercover Boss

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.

1) Authority of the Savior (vs. 15-18)

He is the Author and Sustainer of all Creation (vs. 15-17) and New Creation (vs. 18)

“...that in everything he might be preeminent.”

Firstborn is not used here chronological, but rather to display status.

Understand who Jesus is!

When we declare Jesus as our Savior, He must also be our Lord.

Too many people are claiming Jesus, but Jesus isn’t claiming them. (Matt. 7:21-23)

“Firstborn of all creation” means that Jesus is the most important thing in this world!

Everything happening in this world should be viewed through the lens of Jesus.

Everything we seek to do in this world should be viewed through the lens of Jesus.

Jesus gets to decide what is important and what isn’t.

“Firstborn from the dead” means that Jesus is the most important thing in the New Creation!

He is the head of the church.

Everything we do as a church must viewed through the lens of Jesus.

We have life because He died. We have a new outlook on life because He rose from the dead. We have a new mission in life because He ascended to Heaven and is coming again!

2) Accomplishment of His Work (vs. 19-22a)

When Jesus came, He didn’t just halfway accomplish His purpose…the fullness of God was in Him because He is God.

This is why He was able to reconcile to Himself all things and make peace by the blood of his cross.

As a result, we who were once alienated and hostile in thought and deed are now reconciled to Him.

He brought us around to His side.

There are far too many people who are claiming to be for Jesus but are living against Him.

You cannot claim Jesus and accept or celebrate sin, whether in your life or within our culture.

If you’re in Jesus, you’ll struggle with sin because there is an ongoing struggle in your heart in your head for control.

A person who claims Jesus but doesn’t know Jesus will justify and celebrate sin, not struggle with it.

You were once alienated, but through His work you ain’t now.

By His authority, He calls us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

3) Ambition of His Supremacy (vs. 22b-23)

Jesus’ supreme ambition is to present you as holy and blameless and above reproach before Himself.

This doesn’t mean He’s going to let you live out your life on your own terms and then wave a magic grace wand that is filled with His blood over you the moment you die.

This means that He will pour His blood over you now, wash you white as snow, fill you with His holy spirit and begin transforming your life now!

He removes your heart of stone and places within you a new heart, making you a new creation, with a new ambition for holiness, blamelessness, and seeking to be above reproach.

Above reproach means that any criticism or accusation is deemed uncharacteristic and unthinkable.

This is why the Holy Spirit of God inspires the apostle to include the word “if”.

You prove yourselves to be true Jesus followers by persevering and enduring to the end.

This is precisely why as Baptists we believe once saved always saved.

Those who are truly saved will persevere and endure.

I didn’t provide for my salvation, I can’t lose my salvation, but I certainly can’t lose what I never had in the first place.

There are too many people who walking down a dangerous slope of mixing the Gospel of Jesus and the social gospel.

As a result, they are unstable and wishy washy and proving to be Christians in name only who are not truly sold out to Jesus, and therefore His.

There are a lot of lost “c”hristians in our world, in our nation, in our state, and in our community.

We must continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the Gospel, that is the good news that Jesus saves you and makes you holy and blameless and above reproach.

CLOSING