Colossians: Jesus > _________

Background:

There is a key theme throughout the entire book of Colossians, and that theme is that Jesus has absolute supremacy and sole sufficiency! Jesus is supreme, superior, and surpasses all others.

Passage: Colossians 1:18-20

18 He is also the head of the body, the church;

he is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead,

so that he might come to have

first place in everything.

19 For God was pleased to have

all his fullness dwell in him,

20 and through him to reconcile

everything to himself,

whether things on earth or things in heaven,

by making peace

through his blood, shed on the cross.

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Title: Jesus > ___________

Main Points: Christ’s Supremacy Declared...

1. In The Gospel Message (1-12)
2. In Redemption (12-14)
3. In Creation (15-17)
4. In The Church (18-20)
   1. “18 He is also the head of the body, the church;

      1. Jesus is the leader of this church… not me, not our leadership teams, not our sending church, Jesus and only Jesus.

         1. We submit to His authority. We submit to His vision. We submit to His wisdom.
         2. Story: The Head At Work
         3. Pride (our way; doing the wrong thing)

         4. Apathy (disobedience; doing nothing) 2. “22 And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.” Ephesians 1:22-23 CSB

         5. Jesus is not only the head, but we are His body! From the top to the bottom, from the beginning to the end, it’s ALL ABOUT HIM! 3. The Church is made up of the body of believers. No single denomination or assembly can claim “the body of Christ”. Anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ is a part of the body. 4. Illust: Universal Church & Local Church

         6. Although this letter translates to the Big C church, it was written to a local church in Colossae.

         7. Local gym has relationships, people to hold you accountable, practical handles on how to build muscle and maintain health, there are coaches, equipment, resources, and the element of atmosphere that keeps you motivated to get better every day.
         8. If anyone is serious about their health, they will not join the universal gym. The same is true for your spiritual health. It’s not only not biblical to remove yourself from a local body of believers, but it’s not practical either. We love the local church, we love the communities of faith God is building all around this city.

         9. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:24-25 5. Jesus and the church

         10. He gives the gifts (Eph 4:11-12)

             1. “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” 2. He established the church (Matthew 16:18)

             2. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” 3. He is the cornerstone (Acts 4:11)

             3. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 4. The church is for His glory (Ephesians 3:21)

             4. “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” 5. The church is to preach Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5)

             5. “For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake.”

                2. he is the beginning (originator), the firstborn (position) from the dead,
                   1. “The church had its origin in Him, and today it has it operation in Him.” - Warren Wiersbe
                   2. Here we see the word “firstborn” again. That word in Greek is prōtotokos. It means firstborn, first in rank. It’s not referring to his origin, but his position.
                   3. He was not the first to be resurrected from the dead, there was the Shunammite woman’s son, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, and several others, but they were raised to die again. Jesus was the first to rise and never die again. His resurrection carries the most significance in all humanity.
                3. so that he might come to have first place in everything.”
                   1. At Pinewood Church we are committed that Jesus will have the first and best of our worship, time, energy, attention, resources, gifts, talents, careers, kids, future, you name it! EVERYTHING!

         11. “From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the Lord be praised.” - Psalm 113:3 2. Question: What has your first and best?

         12. When I say “What are you pursuing first and with your best?” What comes to mind? Not what you want to come to mind, but what actually comes to mind.

         13. Everyone prioritizes their life in the category of best and enough. Career, hobbies, community, and family.

         14. It’s not that those things are bad, but Jesus deserves, is worthy of, and demands absolute superiority in our lives. First!

             4. “19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
                1. “Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side — he has revealed him.” - John 1:16-18
                2. Paul is directly going after the heresy that Jesus could not be both human and divine. Jesus has always been God and will always be God. It is unwise and unbiblical to diminish his humanity or divinity.

         15. If Jesus is fully God and not human then He could not stand in our place or die for us.

         16. If Jesus is fully human and not God then He is not the redeemer and perfect sacrifice sent from God. He was merely human, which makes him a liar and lunatic.

         17. Jesus was both God and man. He walked this earth, He has felt what we feel, He understands our struggles, emotions, circumstances, and temptations. He’s also God. He is victorious in all things. He is the power of the resurrection, He is the one interceding on your behalf, He was sent from God to bring salvation to the world!

             5. 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
                1. Reconcile - re-establish a right relationship
                2. Redemption and Reconciliation

         18. He both pardons our sin to redeem what was broken, and he procures peace and reconciles what was separated.

         19. He says “You are forgiven, set free, now come to the Father and experience His peace.” 3. Jesus is the Mediator between humanity and God the Father. It’s through His blood shed on the cross that we have a way to the Father. He has reconciled all things back to the Father, through Himself!

         20. “He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time —(to bring everything together) in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.” - Ephesians 1:9-10 CSB

             1. “to bring everything together” is the Greek word “anakephalaiosasthai”. The key emphasis of this word is “Head”. Its meaning is to bring things that are related but divided under one Headship.

             2. God’s plan and purpose was to send Christ to earth to bring redemption and reconciliation for His people and creation. Christ is the Head of ALL things, in heaven and on earth! 2. Sin separates us from God, BUT Jesus.

             3. “For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.” - Romans 5:10-11

Closing: Is Christ’s supremacy declared in your life?

“Jesus is something, but not everything.”

“Jesus is necessary, but not enough”

“Jesus is everything.”

“Jesus is enough”

“Jesus is priority, but not first”
“Jesus Is First” (period)

In all things --- Jesus > ____________ (You fill in the blank)

Jesus > Fear, Anxiety, Depression, Doubt, Resources, Spouse, Kids, Career, Singleness, Etc.

Response Song:

Jesus

Our redemption

Our salvation

Is in His blood

Jesus

Light of heaven

Friend forever

His kingdom come