I remind you that the main reason for Paul to write this letter was to combat heresy that was about to come into the church, which would cast a cloud over the glory of Jesus Christ.
Paul wrote to say that Christ is supreme.
I. THE SCOPE OF CHRIST’S SUPREMACY
Colossians 1:15-18
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.
Paul wanted the Colossians to see…
A. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO DEITY (15)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
Next, Paul wanted the Colossians to see…
B. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION (15-17)
First, we acknowledge that Christ is…
1. The Firstborn Over All Creation (15)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
Then, we continue with…
2. The Creative Activity of Christ (16-17)
“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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Now, we see Christ is…
3. He is Before All Things (17)
“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
The word “before” is another preposition, which further develops the understanding of Christ as the “firstborn.” With regard to time, Christ existed before creation.
The phrase, “Before all things” points to the fact that all reality is divided into two categories: the creator and the created. Jesus is the creator and all things are the creation. You and I are a part of “all things.”
We have looked at…
A. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO DEITY (15)
B. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO CREATION (15-17)
Lastly, we see…
C. CHRIST’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH (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.”
1. He is the Head of the Body, the Church.
This is written emphatically. Christ and Christ alone is head of the church. Christ and no other is the chief, the leader.
Church – assembly; the redeemed people of God.
The mention of the church as “the body” of Christ suggest at least three things:
1) The church is a living organism, composed of members joined vitally to one another.
2) The church is the means by which Christ carries out His purposes and performs His work.
3) The union which exists between Christ and His people is most intimate and vital. Together they constitute one living unit, each, in a sense, being incomplete without the other.
2. The phrase, “He is The Beginning” suggest that He is the creator of the Church; the origin and source of the Church’s life. The implication is that Christ is the head because He began it.
3. The phrase, “the Firstborn from the dead” is a further definition of idea of Christ being the beginning. The meaning is that Christ is the first to come from the dead in resurrection life.
Because He is the firstborn from the dead, He establishes His place as the beginning, the origin of the Church’s life.
4. The phrase, “that in everything he might be preeminent” expresses that He is Supreme in Everything.
We summarize this entire passage to say that Christ is supreme…
– as revealer of who God is;
– as Lord over creation
– as Head of the Church.
This week, we have examined…
I. THE SCOPE OF CHRIST’S SUPREMACY (Colossians 1:15-18)
Next week, we look at…
II. THE BASIS FOR CHRIST’S SUPREMACY (Colossians 1:19-23)
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