Colossians: Jesus Is The Preeminent One
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Colossians: Jesus Is the Preeminent One
Colossians 1:15-20
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For 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. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And 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. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Introduction
Who here has watched Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby? There’s a scene of Ricky, the main character, saying grace before eating dinner with his family. He refers to Jesus as “little baby Jesus.” His wife says it’s strange to be calling Jesus a baby because He eventually grew up. Ricky responds that “little Christmas baby Jesus” is his favorite because he can ask whatever he wants to this Jesus. He said that he’s praying so he can pray to the Jesus he likes. And then his best friend and son chimed saying they like “tuxedo Jesus” and even “Ninja Jesus.” We laugh but I think this is how we treat Jesus. We make Him to be someone we want Him to be so that we can ask whatever we want and He doesn’t have to interrupt our lives or become an inconvenience to us.
In today’s society, there are many concepts about Jesus. In some religions, He’s a great prophet, a teacher, or the enlightened one. In the political realm, He’s a conservative or a socialist. He’s the ultimate Republican or Democrat. In sports, athletes from the winning team so often give Jesus a shoutout. But who is the true Jesus?
This question was one of the main challenges of the church in Colossae. They were a young church being bombarded with various teachings regarding the identity of Jesus. This issue was so crucial for Paul to address because he understood that the people’s view of Jesus shapes the church’s vitality and impact.
Background:
We’ve been going through Paul’s “prison letters” to the church the past couple of weeks. Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are all in this group. This letter to the Colossians was actually addressed to a trio of churches in the cities of Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis. The church in Colossae was a church in a small and declining city. Eventually, an earthquake devastated the city a couple of years after this letter was sent to the church––the area where the city stood is in ruins today. Paul himself wasn’t able to visit this church but it was a fellow minister Epaphras, who seems to be the pastor of this church, was the one who relayed the state of the church to Paul.
As the church grew, dangerous teachings were making their way into the church––teachings that were against the core truth of the gospel. Essentially, these teachings were a mix of cultural and religious ideologies with Christian teachings. Biblical scholars call this “syncretism” and this is the source of the “struggle” Paul writes about in Colossians 2:1: “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face.” Paul had to clear up this confusion to the Colossians, or else they would be in great disarray. I do think we’re in a similar boat in many ways with the church of Colossae. There are so many teachings that have permeated the church and they have twisted the Christian faith. In so doing Jesus Himself is watered down and Christianity becomes powerless. This is why Colossians has relevance for us today. So with two points, my goal today is to show you that Jesus is better, and Jesus is worthy.
1. Jesus is Better
These false teachings were the greatest dilemma of the church in Colossae and scholars have narrowed down these teachings to different “-isms”. The most prominent ones in this book were: mysticism, asceticism, and legalism. These teachings basically state Jesus was merely an angel sent from God, or an essence of Him, or just a teacher of the Law.
To counter these “-isms”, Paul showed why Jesus is greater and more superior than anything these teachings were trying to convey. Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Paul was trying to show the Colossians the real Jesus. Scholars say Paul quotes an old hymn or poem here in Chapter 1 which is packed with Christological truths and this is where we’ll focus on today.
A. In His Image of the Father:
Verse 15 says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” and then in verse 19, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” The word image comes from the word where we get icon. With this, Paul was explaining that Jesus was the visible image and representation of the invisible God. Jesus isn’t just some angel or any other essence or just any other spiritual being. The Bible repeatedly states God is Spirit and no man can ever see God. It is Jesus alone that made Him known. He perfectly demonstrated God’s character and nature. In a way, Jesus is the mirror image of God and the perfect manifestation of God. H.B. Charles Jr said, “If you want to know what God is like, just look at Jesus.”
In this passage, Jesus is also called the firstborn of all creation. Some religions use this to say that Jesus cannot be God because he was this just means He was first to be created. However, the word “firstborn” comes from the word “protokos”. This word emphasizes the priority and importance over all creation rather than the time of order. In ancient cultures, the firstborn child isn’t just about who was born first, but it emphasizes who is the most prominent in the family. Paul wasn’t saying he’s the first to be created, but that Jesus is first and above all of creation. (i.e. Israel was called firstborn, David was the firstborn king)
In Jesus, the fullness of God dwells. Paul is stating here that the full deity of God is in Jesus. This is really a statement about the equality that Jesus has with God. This line emphasizes the supremacy and sovereignty of Jesus above all of creation because He Himself is God. This is what Jesus was trying to tell Philip in John 14:8-9: “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
B. In His Hand in Creation
Verses 16-17 say, “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.” Here, Paul doubles down on why Jesus is supreme over all creation. He is the Creator of everything, even those that are visible and invisible. In this section, Paul is making a case against the worship of angels or any other kinds of spirits. They were merely created by Jesus Himself. They can’t compare to Him.
In Genesis, it says God made the world by speaking it into existence, and yet in John 1, Jesus is called “the Word”. Creation was possible only through Jesus. In fact, Jesus wasn’t just the means of creation, but Paul writes that Jesus is the point of all of creation. The reason why everything exists is for Him. Everything finds their purpose in Jesus.
He didn’t just create and left all creation to fend for themselves. He also holds things together. This is one of the major mystery in our modern age. Science says all of matter is made of atoms and molecules. However, there is a chemical bond that holds them together. How this process happens still boggles the minds of scientists. Paul claims that it is Jesus alone that holds all things together. He is the order and the force as to why you and I and all of existence don’t just disintegrate and collapse. (i.e. order and law of nature).
C. In His Work at the Cross
Verses 18-20 say, “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… and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Paul is explaining that as Jesus is over all of creation, then Jesus is also the head of the church.
The word “preeminent” is used here. It simply means something that is over and above. Think about it this way: A man can be a respected CEO of a huge company. And yet, the same man can be the head of his family too. His relationship with his family will be more intimate than his relationship with the company right? In a way, this is what Paul is saying: Jesus is reigning above all of the Cosmos and yet He is intimately heading His Church.
Jesus also is the firstborn from the dead. His resurrection was first and foremost being raised from the dead. His resurrection is the greatest act that believers stand upon. Because of what He did on the cross, all things can be reconciled unto Himself. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made it possible for peace. All chaos and confusion will one day cease and be reconciled to Jesus. This Almighty Jesus became vulnerable that He gave His own life for His church, and He resurrected to give life to all. Ben Stuart puts it this way: “Jesus is the Creator, Sustainer, and the end goal of all creation, and yet He is the Personal Savior of all.”
So what does this mean for us today? It means Jesus is better. For the Colossians, Jesus was better than the alternatives that false teachers were promoting. He was better than any angel or spiritual being, better than any human effort to get to God, and better than any Jewish law or tradition.
For us, we need to be sure who Jesus is in our lives or else we’ll lose sight of who He truly is. If we let our sight wander, it’s easy to be led away from who Jesus truly is through misconstrued gospels. We’ll miss the point of the Christian walk if we miss Jesus.
During Christmas, we say Christ is the reason for this season. But consider what Paul is revealing: Christ is the reason for everything. So, who is Jesus to us? Is He our reason for living? Is He the biblical and historical Jesus the Church has been proclaiming about throughout history? Or is it a cultural Jesus––a Jesus who can’t demand anything of us, a Jesus we acknowledge but never allow to interfere with our lives? I urge each of us to spend time seeking, knowing, and identifying Jesus, and realizing what it means to truly know Him. Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop reading your bible. Don’t stop living in community. Don’t stop serving. Don’t stop believing in Him. Why? Because Jesus is better.
2. Jesus is Worthy
21And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
What Paul wrote to the Colossians wasn’t just a theology lesson for them, but this letter elicits a response from these believers. If you read the other letters of Paul, you’ll notice his writings follow a pattern: First, he gives his readers theological truths as a base. Next, he tells them to respond accordingly. So, as Paul shared these truths with the Colossians, it is the foundation they need to stand on. Now this next section gives his readers real life principles to now live by.
A. …of our whole trust and faith
In the verses we read, Paul is reminding the Colossian believers who they were before Christ. They people were alienated. They were far away from God. They were hostile. They had a fierce animosity against God. They were practicing evil deeds. But then Christ reconciled them. He made their relationship with God right through His own death. Now they were to live in a new identity. They are now blameless, holy, and above reproach before God. So their challenge was to live in that identity, trusting Him all the way.
If He has the power to create all the cosmos, then doesn’t He have the power to provide for our needs? If He holds together all things, doesn’t that mean that when we feel chaos all around us, He still holds our life together? If He saved us from condemnation, doesn’t that mean He can save us from the power of sin? If He gave us a new identity, doesn’t that mean we can live this life trusting Him all the way as He molds and shapes us in His beautiful purpose? When we fear or worry about this life, how does having Jesus affect us in our day-to-day living?
B. …of our whole surrender
The pertinent question for the Colossians was: If Jesus is preeminent over everything, is He preeminent over their lives? Let’s ask ourselves too: Is Jesus preeminent over our own lives? If He is, then there is nothing in our lives that Jesus can’t have access to. There’s nothing in our lives that Jesus doesn’t have authority over. This is what Paul was trying to say in Chapter 3: Everything in our lives should be affected if Jesus is now living in us. Colossians 3:1-4: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
If you read this whole chapter, you’ll start to see that if we are to continue this life with the Preeminent Christ, our lives should never be the same because our lives are now hidden in Him. There is a course of change that needs to happen. So, transformation is like a continuous death but also a process of resurrection. We put to death the old person and put on a new one in our lives because of who He is in our lives (Col 1:5-17). Paul then says that even the way we relate to others should drastically change. He gives instructions regarding husband and wives, parents and children, and even servants and masters. In short, Paul was saying that every aspect of their lives should be affected by Jesus.
So what does this mean for us today? There’s a story about the unbaptized hand. During the middle ages, a European ruler named Charlemagne had a mission to convert all of Europe to Christianity no matter what the cost. Part of the mission involved having his knights baptized in a river. But there was something unusual with these baptisms: As the knights went under the water, they would raise one hand that was holding a sword above the water. They didn't want that hand to be baptized because that hand would be free to kill. If we examine our own lives, is there anything that we’re keeping from Jesus?
We can’t compartmentalize our faith. We cannot keep anything away from Jesus. Everything should be laid under Him. If He is above all, then He should have a say in every aspect of our lives. Why? Simply because this Jesus is worth all of our lives.
If Jesus has authority over every aspect of our lives, how are we transforming to be like Him every day? How are we working our jobs the way He wants us to? How are we developing friendships with compassion He exemplified for us? How are we showing love, submission, and respect in our homes? Even in times of pain and challenges, how can we not be overcome by despair but be surrounded by His hope and joy? How can we live out our faith in Jesus not just on a Sunday, but in every day and every moment of our lives?
For Paul, Jesus was everything. Can we say the same for ourselves? BCI, what would it look like if we were all in on Jesus? If we didn’t play or toy with our faith? What would it look like if we gave all of our faith and surrender to Him? If we did, I imagine we would be such a radical community. Instead of us molding Jesus to our own liking, we can be molded in His image. We can truly be a church that reflects the majesty and beauty of Christ by showing the world that Jesus is better and worthy.
We can be the church that He made us to be. In these times of darkness, we need to step into the light and meet the real Jesus. He is the preeminent One who is so much better than anything we can ask for and He is worthy of all we can give Him. Let’s help everyone meet this real Jesus as we live out the lives He has for us.
As I end, let me just read to you this one quote from C.S. Lewis that has always left an impact on my understanding of Jesus… ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say… You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse…. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
-Rev. Jerusalem Ona