CHRIST IS PREEMINENT
COLOSSIANS 1:15-18
Preeminent
means occupying first place…
Why should Christ be first place in your life?
1…HE CREATED
EVERYTHING
He
is a representative
Came
to represent God
The
invisible God
Made
himself visible in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ
We’re
privileged
Get
to see what God is like
Looked
into the face of God
The phrase "first born" is used in different ways in the Bible
1…used in literal sense
Luke
2:7
Mary
brought forth her first born son
2…used in a figurative
sense
Exodus
4:22
Israel
is my son, even my first born
God
is speaking in a figurative way…
Nation
of Israel holds a distinct place of all nations
3…Used to describe a
position of prominence
Psalm
89:27
I
will make him (King David) my first born the highest of the kings of the earth
That’s
the way it’s used here in Colossians
Jesus
is in a position of prominence or superiority
2…HE SUSTAINS
EVERYTHING
Everything
in place, so it works
Bible doesn't say He was...
The
Bible says He is
3…HE RULES EVERYTHING
He’s
already in charge
Verse
17
Verse
18
He’s
over the church
Body
of Christ
The
present position of Christ in the gospel churches may be likened to that of a king in a limited
constitutional monarchy. The king is in such a country no more than a
traditional rallying point, a pleasant symbol of unity and loyalty much like a
flag or a national anthem. He is lauded, feted, and supported, but his real
authority is small. Nominally he is head over all, but in every crisis someone
else makes the decisions. On formal occasions he appears in his royal
attire to deliver the tame, colorless speech put into his mouth by the real
rulers of the country. The whole thing may be no more than good-natured
make-believe, but it is rooted in antiquity, it is a lot of fun, and no one
wants to give it up. -- A.W. Tozer
THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST
Put away our sins
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
Provides new life
3 Things Evident, When Jesus is
preeminent
1)…There’s going to
be a supreme love for Jesus
2)…Unquestioning obedience to his
3)…Absolute submission to His will
2)…Unquestioning obedience to his
3)…Absolute submission to His will
