T HE P REEMINENCE OF J ESUS C HRIST Colossians 1:15-20 T HE P REEMINENCE OF J ESUS C HRIST Colossians 1:15-20

THE THE PREEMINENCE OF PREEMINENCE OF

JESUS CHRISTJESUS CHRIST

Colossians 1:15-20Colossians 1:15-20




HIDDEN TREASUREHIDDEN TREASURE

THE PREEMINENCE OF JESUS THE PREEMINENCE OF JESUS CHRISTCHRIST

• 15 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. firstborn of all creation. 16 16 For by Him all For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesthrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him —all things have been created through Him and for Him. and for Him. 17 17 He is before all things, and in He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Him all things hold together.


• 18 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. first place in everything. 19 19 For it was the For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, dwell in Him, 20 20 and through Him to reconcile and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:15-20)heaven. (Colossians 1:15-20)

A. JESUS IS SUPREME A. JESUS IS SUPREME BECAUSE HE IS GOD BECAUSE HE IS GOD

• 15 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.firstborn of all creation.

• Image – exact representationImage – exact representation• In the beginning was the Word, and the In the beginning was the Word, and the

Word was with God, and the Word was God. Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)(John 1:1)


• And He is the radiance of His glory and the And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high… (Hebrews 1:3)high… (Hebrews 1:3)


• Image – manifestationImage – manifestation

• And the Word became flesh, and dwelt And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) grace and truth. (John 1:14)

• No one has ever seen God. The One and Only No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son— the One who is at the Father’s side— Son— the One who is at the Father’s side— He has revealed Him. (John 1:18)He has revealed Him. (John 1:18)


• ““I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13) (Revelation 22:13)

• ““I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 )I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 )

• ““He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” (John 14:9)(John 14:9)


• For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form... (Colossians 2:9) bodily form... (Colossians 2:9)

THE REAL JESUS CHRIST?THE REAL JESUS CHRIST?

B. JESUS IS SUPREME BECAUSE B. JESUS IS SUPREME BECAUSE HE IS THE SOVEREIGN KING OF HE IS THE SOVEREIGN KING OF

ALL CREATION ALL CREATION • He is the image of the invisible God, the He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15)

• Firstborn – highest position, rank, statusFirstborn – highest position, rank, status

• ““I also shall make him My firstborn, the I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.”highest of the kings of the earth.” (Psalm 89:27)(Psalm 89:27)

C. …HE IS THE CREATOR AND C. …HE IS THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSESUSTAINER OF THE UNIVERSE

• 16 16 For by Him all things were created, both in For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. created through Him and for Him. 17 17 He is He is before all things, and in Him all things hold before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17) together. (Colossians 1:16-17)


• ““Paul’s use of three different prepositions is one Paul’s use of three different prepositions is one way of refuting the philosophy of the false teachers. way of refuting the philosophy of the false teachers. For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught that everything needed a primary cause, an that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause. The primary instrumental cause, and a final cause. The primary cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, and the final cause the purpose. When it comes to and the final cause the purpose. When it comes to Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He planned it), the instrumental cause (He powerfully planned it), the instrumental cause (He powerfully produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure).” - Warren Wiersbeown pleasure).” - Warren Wiersbe


• ““Several steps are involved in the construction of Several steps are involved in the construction of a building. First, an architect is obtained to design a building. First, an architect is obtained to design the building and prepare plans and specifications the building and prepare plans and specifications in accordance with the expressed desires of the in accordance with the expressed desires of the owner. Then the plans are submitted for bids by owner. Then the plans are submitted for bids by builders or contractors, and a builder secured. builders or contractors, and a builder secured. After the completion of the edifice, it is occupied After the completion of the edifice, it is occupied by the owner and devoted to its intended use. by the owner and devoted to its intended use. Our Lord is not only the builder of the universe; Our Lord is not only the builder of the universe; He is also its architect and owner. He is also its architect and owner.


• All things have been created All things have been created in Himin Him (the eternal (the eternal plans for the creation abide in Him), plans for the creation abide in Him), by Himby Him (He (He acted as builder), and acted as builder), and for Himfor Him (the creation belongs (the creation belongs to Him and is to reflect His glory).”to Him and is to reflect His glory).”- S. Lewis Johnson, Jr. - S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.


• 16 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. through Him and for Him. 17 17 He is before all He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)(Colossians 1:16-17)

• All things came into being through Him, and All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:3)has come into being. (John 1:3)



• Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)(1 Corinthians 10:31)

• He is before all things, and in Him all things He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:17)hold together. (Colossians 1:17)

• ““You have not glorified the God who holds You have not glorified the God who holds your breath in His hand and who controls the your breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life.” (Daniel 5:23)whole course of your life.” (Daniel 5:23)


• He is also head of the body, the church; and He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. (Colossians 1:18)first place in everything. (Colossians 1:18)








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T HE P REEMINENCE OF J ESUS C HRIST Colossians 1:15-20 T HE P REEMINENCE OF J ESUS C HRIST Colossians 1:15-20