Jesus is_______.
Colossians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 44 viewsWhat we believe about Jesus determines what we believe about everything else.
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The Context
The Context
Epaphras gives him a report from a church that he may never have visited.
The Audience: Colossae
The Audience: Colossae
A faithful church with doctrinal conflict
1st century Jewish scholar writing to a 1st century christian church from prison.
The Problem: Jesus added into other belief systems.
The Problem: Jesus added into other belief systems.
While imprisoned, Paul is visited by Epaphras who started the church in Colossae. He hears that, though the church is doing well, there are doctrinal errors sprouting up.
Legalistic Jewish believers, new Roman converts adding Jesus to existing pantheon of gods / cosmology.
Last Week we covered 1:1-1:14
Not God… Just A Man… Good Teacher… Maybe an Angel…
Confusion - Was Jesus God? Just A Man? and Angel?
1:1-1:2 Greeting From Paul
We wrestle with this issue today. Reading the Bible so that God agrees with us. Jesus is just a good teacher. Living our life and asking Jesus to bless it.
1:3-1:8 Paul gives thanks for the things the Colossians doing well.
1:9-1:14 Paul’s prayer for the Colossians’ spiritual growth
Paul’s Solution: Jesus is______.
Paul’s Solution: Jesus is______.
The Text
The Text
Paul starts addressing the problem(s) he’s heard of through Epaphras
Legalism, Mysticism, Cosmology, Gnosticism, adding Jesus into existing habits, devaluing who Jesus is.
1:15-1:20 a poem - likely a hymn sung by the early church.
1:21-1:23 is a call to hope in the gospel
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. 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. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if 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.
Colossians 1:15-23
What you believe about Jesus determines what you believe about everything else.
What you believe about Jesus determines what you believe about everything else.
Paul’s is refuting wrong beliefs by simply describing who Jesus actually is.
15-20 was likely a hymn early believers sang, it’s poetic paralellism about the person of Jesus
21-23 is a call to action based on understanding what Jesus did
1) Jesus is the Image of God
1) Jesus is the Image of God
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
The original word that we translate “image” does not just mean picture.
IMAGE
The original word that we translate “image” does not just mean picture.
Image / Icon / Logo / Brand
What does it mean to be the “image” of the “invisible” God?
How do you see something that can’t be seen?
It is a visible manifestation of the product, power and process. Emperor on coin. Statue of King
Image Game
You choosing between products and experiences, not pictures
**Jesus is the visible manifestation of the fullness of God’s power, the perfect product of all of His Grace, and the process by which God does His work.**
Jesus had to come be the perfect representation of God, because we are an IMperfect representation of God.
The logo represents the product, but the product is what gives the logo power and recognition.
Jesus is the “Image of God” that Adam failed to be.
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:
We decided to take the definition of good and evil for ourselves. Jesus rules perfectly. In complete submission to the Father in all things. He is the exact representation of God.
Firstborn does not mean first created - it means full authority.
Not the first thing created.
He is given all God’s authority, inheritance, blessing.
If you think Jesus is just a good teacher or a nice idea, then you’ll ignore scriptures. When you believe He’s the image of God, the firstborn from the dead, you’ll hang on EVERY WORD.
If you think Jesus is just a good teacher or a nice idea, then you’ll ignore scriptures. When you believe He’s the image of God, the firstborn from the dead, you’ll hang on EVERY WORD.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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.
Colossia
If you believe that Jesus is the image of t
Jesus must have full authority in everything. You cannot compartmentalize Jesus.
Not a Sunday activity
Not an optional thing
Not a self-help guru
Not a way to keep your kids in line
Not a way to get out of hell
He is the source of your life and the ONLY purpose worth pursuing.
Jesus RULES over all earthly and heavenly authorities, because he is before them chronologically and all things happen in view of his supremacy.
Do you fully recognize Jesus’ rule over your life?
2) Jesus is our source and purpose.
2) Jesus is our source and purpose.
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. 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.
Jesus RULES over all earthly and heavenly authorities, because he is before them chronologically and all things happen in view of his supremacy.
Source - All things were created through him. Jesus is the Word spoken out by God at creation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:1-
John 1:1
God, in three forms, was present at the moment of creation. God the Father was the Speaker, the Son was the Word, the Spirit was in and amongst everything.
Purpose - All things work together TO him.
Jesus pre-dates and post-dates linear time.
**He was the mechanism of its creation, the sacrifice for its salvation and the King who will return to set up His perfect reign on Earth.**
In him all things hold together. Without the promise of His return to set things right, the world is without hope. Just random chaotic chance marked by division, destruction, death.
In family, in finances, in work, in the way I speak, in the way I think, in the way I drive, pointing toward Jesus’ perfect, just reign is the purpose of it all.
In this passage, Paul answers life’s two greatest question. Who am I? Why am I here?
This answers life two greatest questions. Who am I? Why am I here?
When you believe it’s ok for Jesus to just be predominant, you keep holding back portions of your life. When Jesus is your source and purpose, you hold nothing back. Fully accepting His Lordship of your life.
marriage?
Who are you? You are CREATED BY GOD..
Why do you do what you do?
You are created by God. Valuable enough for Jesus to die for. A child of the King.
career
Why am I here? To glorify Jesus. To take whatever you have been given, whatever you do to make Jesus Preeminent.
Everything you do should point to how Jesus reigns.
“God is most glorified in us when we’re most satisfied in Him.” I’m completely satisfied just knowing that God made me, Jesus died for me, I’m alive by the breath of His Spirit.
Selflessly serve others. Wash peoples feet. Overthrow unjust systems. Love people who don’t deserve it. Give your whole life up for others.
“God is most glorified in us when we’re most satisfied in Him.” I’m completely satisfied just knowing that God made me, Jesus died for me, I’m alive by the breath of His Spirit.
When you believe it’s ok for Jesus to just be predominant, you keep holding back portions of your life. When Jesus is your source and purpose, you hold nothing back. Fully accepting His Lordship of your life.
Tell your boss, friends, clients, family what Jesus is doing and speaking in your life.
3) Jesus is the only way to be right with God.
3) Jesus is the only way to be right with God.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:
If my children have bad behaviors and I don’t eventually correct those behaviors, I’m a terrible parent.
The sin of humanity is rampant and real.
“I’m only human.” We know we’re not as good as we should be.
**The penalty for our sin was placed upon Jesus’ physical body so that you would not have to endure it. God fully inhabited a physical body, punished that physical body as a just sacrifice for what you and I have done wrong, and because of that sacrifice once and for all we can have PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS. This is the gospel. This is the good news of Jesus. We have been given a divine peace treaty.
He is remaking us now, but there will come a day when He remakes everything. Scripture says He will split the clouds, come with trumpet blast and rejoicing, and return the Earth to the way it should be. His kingdom, his authority, ruling over all who have decided that he gets to define right and wrong.
4) Jesus is real hope.
4) Jesus is real hope.
Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
What you believe about Jesus determines what you believe about everything else.
Jesus is REAL HOPE. Don’t shift your focus from that.
Lacking hope at work?
Realize that Jesus is the SOURCE of your work.
Realize that Jesus is the PURPOSE of your work.
Remember that you have PEACE WITH GOD and one day your only job with be to be in GOD’S PRESENCE.
Lacking hope in your marriage?
Realize that Jesus is the SOURCE of your marriage. Cherish the gift that your spouse is.
Realize that Jesus is the PURPOSE of your marriage.
Show HIS love even when you don’t feel butterflies.
Remember that you have PEACE WITH GOD and you were put on earth to bring God’s peace to your spouse. You’ve been saved from eternal damnation, so drop the silly arguments, frustrations. Next time you’re having a not-so-peaceful argument, remember just how much God endured to make peace with YOU.
Lacking hope in the battle against addictions?
Realize that Jesus is the SOURCE of your healing.
Realize that Jesus is the PURPOSE of your life.
Remember that you have PEACE WITH GOD even if it feels like you don’t have peace with your own mind.
Lacking hope against depression?
Realize that Jesus is the SOURCE of your hope