HCC Sunday Service - August 28, 2022

for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

He is before all things, and all things hold together in him.

He is also the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things he might have the highest rank.

You may be seated.

Many blv this passage is

an ancient

Christological Hymn—

or spiritual song

composed by the

early Church

to teach truths

abt the Lord Jesus.

This is likely

one of the hymns

or songs

Paul has in mind

in Colossians 3:16

When he encourages

the Church to

Colossians 3:16 (EHV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Psalms

Hymns

& spiritual songs

have always been

an important part

of the Church.

Songs are memorable ways

to pass dwn the faith

throughout the generations.

& since this is true:

What God’s ppl sing—

the words

in our hymns:

& spiritual songs

are incredibly important.

We must make sure

the songs we sing

contain truthful teaching—

Wise words

abt the Person

& work of Christ;

Abt who we are

in Christ;

& abt the true Faith

that was handed dwn

by the Apostles

to the saints

in the Church.

& here

we do well to imitate

the Church

in the early centuries.

They very

carefully composed hymns

& spiritual songs

that taught the truth.

& especially the truth

abt God’s Son.

& as we look closely:

@ the ancient hymn

in Colossians 1

We see it teaches us

at least three truths

abt God’s Sovereign Son.

PRAYER

Lord thank You

for giving us Your Word

to teach us

abt Your Son

& who we can become

in Your Son.

Help us hear the truth

& give us grace

to walk in it.

In Jesus name.

Amen.

[Transition: The 1st truth

today’s passage teaches us

abt God’s Son is...]

God’s Son is the IMAGE of the Invisible God.

Notice in Colossians 1:15

Paul says:

Colossians 1:15 (NIV)

The Son is the image of the invisible God...

The Greek word

for “image” is

the word εἰκών.

This is where we get

the English Word—

Icon.

An Icon is

an image

a picture

that shows us something

abt the reality

of what it represents.

So, Paul’s saying:

The Son of God is

the perfect image

the perfect picture

who shows us some things

abt the reality

of the invisible God.

Jesus is

the perfect picture

of God the Father.

The Father

whom no one—

has seen

or can see—

is made visible

in the Son.

The Son is

the perfect picture

of God the Father

in at least two ways.

First:

In His preincarnate state.

Bfr Jesus

took on flesh

He was already

the perfect picture

of God’s divine nature.

As Paul says in Hebrews 1:3:

Hebrews 1:3 (EHV)

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature. He sustains all things by his powerful word.

God’s Son is

the exact imprint

of the divine nature

of God the Father.

He has the same

divine characteristics

as God the Father.

Everything the Father is

in His divine nature

the Son of God is also.

& this is why

in John 14:9

Jesus says:

John 14:9 (NIV)

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

Jesus is not saying:

“He is the Father”

as some mistakenly

read this verse.

Jesus is not

the Father.

The Father

is the Father.

& Jesus is His

Divine Son.

When Jesus says

whoever has seen Him

has seen the Father

He means

Whoever sees

The Son’s Power:

The Son’s Goodness;

The Son’s Mercy;

Love;

& other divine attributes

Whoever sees Jesus

is seeing the perfect picture

of the divine nature

of God the Father

on display

thru His Divine Son.

The Son of God

Shows us

what God is like.

The Son is

The perfect picture

of God the Father.

& the picture of God

became even clearer

2000 years ago

when the Son of God

took on a human form.

2000 years ago

God’s divine Son

united His divine nature

to our human nature.

He became flesh

& dwelt among us.

& as John says in

John 1:14 (EHV)

We have seen his glory, the glory he has as the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As Paul says

in Philippians 2:6-8

Philippians 2:6–8 (EHV)

Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed,

but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

When the Son of God

took on the nature

of a servant by

by becoming human

He forever united

the divine nature

to human nature.

The Son of God

is now

& forever will be

the God-Man.

One Person

w/ two natures.

There is a divine-human being

sitting at the right hand

of God the Father

in Heaven.

The living God

forever has a human face

in the human body

of the Son of God.

So, if we

want to know

what God is like

what God looks like

the answer is simple:

He looks exactly

like Jesus—

Bcs Jesus is God

in human form.

The Son of God

is the perfect picture

of the invisible God.

& as we’ll see

in a few minutes

this is God’s goal

for all of us also.

Thru our union

w/ God’s Son

God wants us

to become

the perfect picture

of God

by becoming like Jesus.

[Transition: Let’s look now

@ the 2nd truth

today’s passage teaches us

abt the Son of God.]

The Son of God is sovereign ruler over CREATION.

In Colossians 1:15

Paul says the Son is

Colossians 1:15 (EHV)

...the firstborn over all creation...

This means:

The Son of God is

Bfr the whole creation

in time.

& above the whole creation

in rank.

As the only begotten Son

of the Father

The Son of God

has always existed.

So, He is bfr

all creation.

As the firstborn

& only natural Son of the Father

The Son of God

has the 1st position

the highest rank

abv all creation.

& in Colossians 1:16

Paul makes

the Son of God’s position

over creation even clearer

by showing us

The Son is also

the source of all creation.

Paul says:

Colossians 1:16 (EHV)

...for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Paul’s purpose here

Is to remind the Colossians

The Son of God

Is in no way inferior

to the angelic powers

rulers

& authorities.

That was part of

the Gnostic error

false teachers had brought

to Colossae.

They taught that God’s Son

Was subordinate

to other beings—

Especially the angels—

which Gnostics worshipped.

So, Paul says:

“Listen.

“The Son of God is

“Is in no way inferior

“To anyone or anything.

“How cld the Creator

Be inferior to His creation?”

“The Son of God

is Superior to...

“& Sovereign over

“All things

“Bcs He created all things.”

All things in heaven;

All things in earth;

The things

we can see.

The things

we cannot see.

Any thrones;

Any powers;

Any dominions;

Any rulers;

Any authorities;

All things were created:

IN the Son.

THRU the Son

& FOR the Son.

The Son is the source

of all created things.

& not only is the Son

the source

of all created things;

The Son is also

the sustainer

of all created things.

Nothing in heaven

or on earth

cld continue to exist

w/o the power of God’s Son.

If the Lord

withdrew His power frm us

for just one second

we’d be no more

than dust in the wind.

Every part of the universe

is literally held together

by the power

of the Son of God.

As Paul says in Colossians 1:17

Colossians 1:17 (EHV)

...all things hold together in him.

& in Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1:3 (EHV)

The Son...sustains all things by his powerful word.

Every created thing

in the entire universe;

Every creature great & small;

All things in heaven

& on earth

are held together

& sustained

By the Sovereign Power

of God’s Son.

The Son of God

is Sovereign ruler

over creation.

APPLICATION

Now

since the Son of God

is the sovereign ruler

over creation

& since all things

were created

thru Him

& for Him

& since You & I

are a part of

His creation;

Then the Son of God

must be

our Sovereign ruler

& He created us

to live for Him.

This means:

Your purpose

for living

My purpose

for living

the entire

creation’s purpose

for being put together

held together

& sustained by Jesus

is to serve Jesus.

We were created

To have

the Son of God

Rule our lives.

& there is

no greater life

than a life lived

under the rule

of the sovereign

Son of God.

It’s here that we

share in the divine nature

as we partake

of the promises

of Christ

& become like God.

& Paul closes

this ancient hymn

in Colossians

By showing us where

we submit ourselves

to the Sovereign rule

of God’s Son.

[Transition: & that’s

The 3rd & final truth

we learn abt the Son of God...]

The Son of God is sovereign ruler over the CHURCH.

In Colossians 1:18

Paul tells us abt

The position of God’s Son

in the Church.

Paul says.

Colossians 1:18 (EHV)

He is also the head of the body...

What body

is Paul talking abt?

of what body

is the Son of God

the head?

Paul tells us

the body is...

Colossians 1:18 (EHV)

...the church.

The Saints:

God’s holy ppl.

Those who are

united w/ Christ

in baptism.

Just as God’s Son is

The Creator

Source

Sustainer

& Sovereign ruler over creation

The Son of God is also

The Creator

Source

Sustainer

& Sovereign ruler over

His ppl in His body

the Church.

It’s in the Church

That we submit ourselves

to the rule of God’s Son.

It’s in the Church

That we get attached

to our head

& become a part of

The New Creation.

That’s what Paul has in mind

in Colossian 1:18

When he says the Son is

Colossians 1:18 (EHV)

...the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in all things he might have the highest rank.

The Son of God is:

The 1st of His kind

to rise frm the dead.

He’s the 1st

of a New Humanity

That bears the unblemished

image of God.

Thru His

Incarnation

Life

Death

& Resurrection

The Son of God began

a new creation.

& right now

we become a part of

that new creation

by becoming a part of

Christ’s body

in the Church

Where we can be

recreated

& reshaped

in the image of God.

In Colossians 3:9-10

Paul talks abt this

in terms of

Colossians 3:9–10 (EHV)

...put[ting] off the old self with its practices,

and put[ting] on the new self, which is continually being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of its Creator.

The greatest need

of our time

is for God’s ppl

to understand the truth

abt what the Church is

& why the Church exists.

The Church is not

a building.

The Church is not

a social club.

The Church is not

part of any

Political party;

The Church is not

connected to any

Man-made movements;

The Church is not

exclusive to any

ethnic group.

& the Church is not

tied to any particular

kingdom or country

in this world.

No, the Church

is so much bigger

So, much greater

than any of that.

The Church is

the body

of the Risen Christ.

It’s a community

of reborn

recreated

human beings.

Human beings

Who are becoming

like God

as we share in

The life transforming power

of the divine nature

thru our union w/

the Son of God.

It’s not saying too much

To say the Church

is everything.

Everything God did in the OT

was leading

to the Church.

Everything Jesus did thru

His incarnation.......

His life.............

His death........

& His resurrection…

was leading to the Church.

The Church is everything bcs

In the Church

We experience...

The Presence of God;

We participate...

In the body & blood

of God’s Son.

& we partake of

God’s redeeming

& renovating power.

In the Church

We become by grace

What the Son of God is

By nature.

As God’s divine energy

works in us

We’re being shaped

& polished.

We’re continually

being renewed

until we all reflect the image

of our Creator

Until we are the perfect picture

of God’s Son

just as the Son of God

Is the perfect picture

of the Father.

It’s in the Church

that we experience

what Paul says

in 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

It doesn’t get any bigger

Or any better

than that.

What can the world

offer anyone

that compares

to that?

What in the world

can allow us

to share in the divine

& transform us

into God’s image?

Nothing.

& that’s the whole purpose

of Christ’s coming.

He came to create

a new humanity

in Himself

to bring us back to God

So, that thru the Church

we cld become

like God

in true righteousness

& holiness.

Everything we need.

Everything the world needs

Can be found

in the Church.

Bcs in the Church

we find

the fulness of Christ.

Paul lays out

the immensity

of this whole thing

so beautifully

in Ephesians 1:17-23.

Paul says

Ephesians 1:17–19 (EHV)

I keep praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ fully.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, just how rich his glorious inheritance among the saints is,

and just how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe.

When we know Christ

God’s surpassingly great power

is available to us

who blv.

& Paul goes on

in Colossians 1:20-23

to tell us how great

this power is

& where we can find it.

Paul says:

Ephesians 1:20–23 (EHV)

It is as great as the working of his mighty strength, which God worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,

far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

God also placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church.

The church is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Notice that:

The Church is not

some afterthought

in the mind

of God.

Not a plan “B.”

Not some parentheses

in the middle

of God’s plans.

No!

The Scriptures

teach us that

The Church is

the center of everything.

God the Father

raised Christ

far above all rule,

authority, power,

and dominion,

and above every name

that is gvn.

God the Father

placed all things

under Christ’s feet

& made Christ the head

over everything

for a specific reason.

It was

for the Church.

Why?

Bcs God’s plans

for humanity

will be accomplished

thru the Church.

God’s plans

for the entire universe

will be accomplished

thru the Church.

The Church

is everything.

It’s in the Church

that we find

the fulness of Christ.

& thru the Church

Christ is now

speaking acting

filling the world

w/ His presence

& redeeming humanity.

In the Church

The Kingdom of God

is present on earth.

& thru the Church

the Sovereign Son of God

rules the world

as individuals

frm every tribe

tongue

& nation

Submit to His rule

Submit to Him

as their Head

& are transformed

within the Church.

Thru the Church

The Sovereign Son of God

can & does transform

countless lives;

Thru the Church

The Sovereign Son of God

Can & does

change the world

as the gospel

of God’s kingdom

is preached & obeyed;

& as ppl truly understand

& experience

God’s grace.

But here’s the challenge

for us who are

a part of

the Church:

We’ve gotta stay

focused on

this new kingdom

we become a part of

in the Church.

We’ve gotta stop

wasting the precious

little time we have

on this planet

involved in

worrying abt

& taking sides in

the kingdoms

& causes of this world.

Jesus said

His kingdom

is not frm here.

That means

our kingdom

is not frm here.

Our citizenship

is in heaven.

Our kingdom is

a kingdom

frm heaven.

But so many ppl

still try to attach

Jesus & His kingdom—

Jesus & His Church—

to their particular

race

nation

political party.

or social group.

Ppl speak as if

God is for

this earthly nation

or that earthly nation.

But those who speak

like this

distort the gospel

& destroy the Church’s pwr

to truly change

the world.

The Church—

has nothing at all

to do w/

the kingdoms of this world.

Those kingdoms are

under the domain of darkness.

But as Paul says in

Colossians 1:13 (EHV)

The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves...

When we’re born again

we’re rescued frm

the domain of darkness

& transferred into the Kingdom

of God’s Son

in Church.

The Church

is a new kingdom.

& in the Church

we bcm part of

A new humanity.

A new creation.

A new race;

A new nation.

In the Church

all things become new.

The old things—

including the kingdoms

& causes of this world—

no longer matter.

Saints

we’ve gotta get

our focus

on the kingdom of God.

We’ve got

the only message

that will truly

change the world.

& that message is this:

Come into the Church

& be made new—

Be born again

Thru water

& the Spirit.

Come into the Church

& submit to the rule

of the Sovereign

Son of God

& be recreated.

Turn frm the kingdom

of darkness.

Let go of

the things of this world

the things of your past

that are passing away.

Come into the Church

where you will find

true freedom

frm every addiction.

True healing

frm every sin.

True peace

true joy

& true hope

in a kingdom

that lasts forever.

Come into the Church

& have the image of God

Restored in You

As you’re transformed

into God’s image

w/ every-increasing glory.

That’s a message

That will save the world.

That’s a message

Christ’s body

Needs to be speaking

to the world.

& showing

to the world

as we live

under the rule

of the Sovereign

Son of God

in the Church.

CONCLUSION

So as we close

let’s learn the lessons

Paul teaches us

in this passage.

Let’s remember

that the Son of God is

the perfect PICTURE

of the invisible God.

The Son of God is

sovereign ruler

over all creation.

& all creation was

created thru

Him & for Him.

So, we shld all submit

ourselves to

the Sovereign rule

of God’s Son.

& we do that

in the Church.

The Son of God

is the Sovereign ruler

the Church.

& the Son of God

rules the world

as ppl become

a part of His body

in the Church

& submit to His rule.

& thru which

Christ rules our lives

as we live in His kingdom.

PRAYER

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