Jesus First in Everything

Transcript

Rob McFarlane: 0:58

Today's sermon is on the supremacy of Christ, Jesus first in everything. Let's read two portions of Scripture from the book of Colossians. First Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 to 18, and second Colossians chapter 2 verse 9 and 10. Colossians 1 verse 15 to 18 in the New International Version says, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, where the thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. Let's read Colossians chapter two, verse nine and ten, also from the New International Version of the Bible. For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form. And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. We see three things from these verses about the supremacy of Christ. It tells us in Colossians chapter one, verse 18, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. Other versions put it this way The English Standard Version says that in everything he might be preeminent. And the New Living Translation says, so that Jesus is first in everything. Let's look at these three things from these verses about the supremacy of Christ, or putting Jesus first in everything. Number one, Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Colossians chapter one verse fifteen says, The Son is the image of the invisible God. Colossians chapter two verse nine says, For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form. If we want to see what God is like, then we must look at Jesus. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3 says the Son, that's Jesus, is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being. God became a human, Jesus, who was 100% man and 100% God. The fullness of God dwelt in Jesus in bodily form. And he revealed himself through his ways, his words, and his works. I encourage you, if you want to know what God is like, then read the Gospels and you'll discover what God is like through the ways, the words, and the works of Jesus. So first we've seen today that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Secondly, we see that Jesus is the beginning of all creation. Let's read Colossians chapter 1, verse 15 to 17 again. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. Whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. We see from Colossians chapter one verse fifteen to seventeen that Jesus existed before all things. He is the firstborn and the heir of all creation. He was before all things. Hebrews chapter 1, verse 2 says, In these last days God has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir over all things, and through whom He also made the universe. We've also seen from these verses that Jesus created all things. For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him. John chapter 1, verse 3 tells us that through him, through Jesus, all things were made. Without him nothing was made that has been made. Remember, we saw in Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3, the Son is the radiance of God's glory, the exact representation of his being. And then it continues that he sustains all things by his powerful word. We see that Jesus existed before all things. We see that Jesus created all things, and we see that Jesus sustains all things. Surely he should have supremacy over our lives. If he is the one who existed before and he is the heir of all things, if he's the one who created all things and the one who sustains all things, surely we can put him first and we can trust him with every detail of our lives. He is a good God and we can trust him. He keeps our lives together. He who has started a good work in us will bring it to completion. So far we've seen that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Then we see that Jesus is the beginning of all creation. And finally, number three, we see that Jesus is the head of the church and indeed over every power and authority. Now think about that word, the head. The head in our human body is the brain and the sight and the identity. It gives us direction and shows who we are. It's part of our identity. And Jesus is the head of the church. The church finds its identity in him. We are his body and he is the head. Yes, we can be his hands and his feet, but he is the one who directs us as his hands and his feet. Let's read Colossians chapter 1, verse 18, and Colossians chapter 2, verse 10. Colossians 1 verse 18 says, and he is the head of the body, the church. We as his church, as his people, as his body, need to recognize that it's all about Jesus. We want people to encounter him when we meet them. We want people to encounter him when they join us for our worship services or our Bible studies. We want people to encounter Jesus when we reach out to them with the good news, to show them the love, kindness, and goodness of God. We've already seen that He is the one who created all things, and all things, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, have been created through him and for him. He is supreme over all things. Ephesians chapter one, verse twenty two and twenty three says, And God has placed all things under his feet, and appointed him, Jesus, to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. So in conclusion today, we've seen that in everything Jesus Christ should have the supremacy. Jesus Christ should be preeminent. Jesus Christ should be first in everything. We've seen that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. We've seen that if we want to know what God is like, we need to look at Jesus. He reveals God through his ways, his words, and his works. We've also seen today that Jesus is the beginning of all creation. Everything that has been created has been created by him and for him. We saw that there's nothing that he didn't create. And he's not only the creator, but he's also the sustainer. And I think if God created you and I, then we can trust him with our lives. Because he has created us for a purpose. Also, he's the one who sustains us and holds us together. We don't have to face life on our own, but we can trust him. And we've also seen today that Jesus is the head of the church. Not just the head of the church, but through the church, the head over every power and authority. We should take our direction from him. In him we find our true identity. And when we as his body reach out to a world that needs love, kindness, and grace, we need to represent him. We need to lead people to him. Let's pray. And as we do, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what he wants you to do as a result of what you've heard in today's sermon. Let's pray. Father God, thank you that you are so good to us, that you sent your Son Jesus Christ as the image of the invisible God. That in Christ we can find out who you are, and we can learn of your ways, we can learn who you are through Jesus' words, and we can observe Jesus' works in the gospel and discover that you are a good, kind, and generous God. Thank you that Jesus is the beginning of all creation, that He created us, and He's given us a purpose, and He sustains us. We thank you that Jesus is the head of the church, that He has authority over all things, that you have placed all things under His feet, and you have made Him to be head over everything, that we are His body, and we find our identity, and we find our direction and our purpose in Him. Holy Spirit, speak to us now. Show us what you want us to do as a result of what we've heard in today's sermon. We ask this now in Jesus' name. Amen.