The Preeminence of Christ
A. THERE WAS NEVER ONE SO GREAT AS JESUS.
B. IN Col. 1 WE SEE THAT HE IS PREEMINENT IN ALL.
C. PAUL DESCRIBES HIM IN SEVERAL RELATIONSHIPS.
A. THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD - "PERFECT MANIFEST."
A portrait, "...the very nature and being of God have been perfectly revealed in him. –
that in him the invisible (God) has become visible (Son of God ).
( John 1:18; Heb. 1:1-3; John 14:7-8 ).
B. FIRST BORN OF ALL CREATION - Barclay, "to have the atmosphere for more of
primacy in honor rather than mere priority in time. The highest honor creation holds"
( Psa. 89:27; Jer. 31:9; Heb. 3:4-5 ).
A. IN HIM ALL THINGS CREATED, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE
( John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2 ). Thrones, dominions, principalities, powers.
B. BEFORE ALL THINGS(John 1:1; 8:58; 17:5; Rev. 1:8, 17; 22:13 ).
C. IN HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST - THE SUSTAINER.
Consist - sunistemi, "continue, endure, exist." A&G.
A. HEAD OF THE CHURCH.
1. Authority( Matt. 28:18 ).
2. Possession( Matt. 16:18 ).
B. PREEMINENCE IN "ALL THINGS"( Both creation and the church ).
A. FULLNESS: plemora, "denotes fullness, God in the completeness of his being"
( Vine ). "Sum total, full measure, of deity" ( A&G ).
B. SINCE FULLNESS OF GODHOOD DWELLS IN HIM, IN HIM IS SUMMED UP THE
FULLNESS OF REVELATION - NOTHING TO ADD( Col. 2:8 ).
A. MEANS OF RECONCILIATION - THE BLOOD OF THE CROSS( vs. 20 ).
B. US - THE RELATIONSHIP TO GOD & ITS CHANGE( vs. 21-23 ).
1. Past - relation to God ( vs. 21 ).
2. Present - reconciled( vs. 22a ).
3. Future - holy, without blemish, unreprovable.
C. CONDITIONS ( Col. 1:23 ).
1. Continue in the faith.
2. Not move away from the gospel.
A. CHRIST SHOULD HAVE PREEMINENCE IN OUR LIVES.
B. BECAUSE OF HIS WORK IN OUR RECONCILIATION.
C. WHAT WAS THAT GOSPEL PREACHED UNTO THEM?
( Acts 2:34-38 ).