(Colossians 1:15-17) The Reason for Faith: The Preeminence of Christ
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Have you ever had kids who kept asking why?
When my two oldest were 4 and 5 years old they were always asking why.
Why do we have to eat dinner?
Why do we have to pick up our toys?
Why do we have to go to town?
It is like they were preprogrammed that once they could say the word why; it becomes their favorite word to use.
If we were to be honest;
they're not the only one’s who want to know why.
It is in our basic nature as humans to ask why.
We all have had times where we asked the question why.
There is a new policy at work that makes us take an extra step. We want to know why we have take this new extra step.
Were in class and we have to do an assignment we don’t think is worth our time. We ask why.
We all at different times and places have asked the question why.
Colossians 1:3-14 is a two part prayer.
The first, Colossians 1:3-8,
we saw how Paul praised God for the Faith of the Colossians.
The second part, Colossians 1:9-14,
we saw how Paul prayed that the Colossians would be dependent on the Gospel.
However, have you ever wondered why?
Why should we give God praise for the Gospel and why should we live lives that are dependent on the Gospel?
Like my children, like anything else in life, it is good to ask these questions.
Why we should believe in the Gospel?
In Colossians 1:15-16 Paul gives us the reason why.
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.
We must believe in the Gospel
We must believe in the Gospel
Transitional Statement: And we are given 4 characteristics of Christ that show us why.
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The first reason,
(1) He is in the image of the invisible God.
(1) He is in the image of the invisible God.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
What does it mean that Christ is the image of the Invisible God?
The title “the invisible God”
speaks of the unseen Spiritual world
[[[[ of which we as physical, visible, humanity are unable to see. ]]]]]
- He is the “invisible God” which sovereignly rules the universe.
- This title is connected to the idea that God displays his invisible attributes upon the created world.
Romans 1:20 connects the invisible God to ruling the visible world, with his attributes.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Here is a rough sketch of those attributes.
Creation teaches that Christ is the -
(a) Self-Existent – “that perfection of God whereby He is elevated above all temporal limits and all succession of moments, and possesses the whole of His existence in one indivisible present. (Louis Berkhof)
(a) Self-Existent – “that perfection of God whereby He is elevated above all temporal limits and all succession of moments, and possesses the whole of His existence in one indivisible present. (Louis Berkhof)
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Creation teaches that Christ is the -
(b) Immutable – God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations. (Wayne Grudem). He does not change. He is always the same.
(b) Immutable – God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations. (Wayne Grudem). He does not change. He is always the same.
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Creation teaches that Christ is the -
(c) All powerful – by His exhaustive power, God can do all things consistent with His nature and purpose. (McCune)
(c) All powerful – by His exhaustive power, God can do all things consistent with His nature and purpose. (McCune)
What kind of power is required to sustain creation,
an infinite power.
- Consider the power of Creation
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.
- Consider the power of Sustainment
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
(d) Independent – He is absolutely independent of all that is not God, infinitely distinct from all things created (McCune)
(d) Independent – He is absolutely independent of all that is not God, infinitely distinct from all things created (McCune)
What creature is able to control God?
Nature demonstrates the fragile nature of humanity.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord,
or what man shows him his counsel?
Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
Creation teaches that Christ is
(e) Sovereign– God rules over his creation. There are no accidents.
(e) Sovereign– God rules over his creation. There are no accidents.
For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
So Paul is connecting the attributes of God observed in creation as Christ being in the same image.
He is the same person.
Self-Existent
Immutable (Does not change)
All Powerful
Independent
Sovereign
We must believe in the Gospel,
because Christ is God.
The second reason,
(2) He is “the firstborn of creation”.
(2) He is “the firstborn of creation”.
How is Christ the firstborn of creation?
First,
it is not stating that Christ was created.
Remember, this titles is first qualified by Christ being in the image of the invisible God.
Those attributes mean he is the self-existent one.
Therefore, it would be an oxymoron to say that he is the invisible God – While at the same time saying he is the first created one.
Then,
what does this mean.
As the creator he is the firstborn.
All things created flow out of the first born, thus, all things are flowing out of Christ.
So as the firstborn or first being all things are flowing out of Christ.
We must believe in the Gospel,
because he is above Creation - and creation flows out of him.
In fact, that is exactly the clarification that Paul gives in the following verses.
Third reason,
(3) He created all things.
(3) He created all things.
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.
“All things”
What is stressed in “all things”?
Everything.
It is a word the leaves nothing else.
This passage tells us the origin of the universe.
> How did this world and ourselves come to be?
He, Christ, was the instrument by which all things, every created object in this universe, was formed.
“in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible”
> What is being communicated by the contrast?
The unseen invisible world of heaven, the place where God
and his created Spiritual beings reside, and the physical, material world of earth.
The place where we reside.
> What does this comparison leave out?
- There is nothing that is not either physical or spiritual.
- There is nothing that is not visible or invisible to us.
He created all things.
“whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities”
– Paul continues. Now there is an interpretive decision that in some ways we need to contemplate.
This passage can legitimately be understood in two ways:
1. The continuation of the comparison.
Paul could be continuing the comparison between visible and invisible objects that Christ has created.
Appropriately, “thrones and dominuions” would refer to physical earthly human powers.
While, “rulers or authorities” would be understood as spiritual beings.
2. A clarification of the Invisible.
The second possibility is that this refers instead to only Spiritual beings.
The “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” are spiritual authorities created by God.
If we would look at the usage of these words every one of them can be used of human authorities or spiritual authorities. None of them are exclusively used for human or spirit beings.
My personal opinion is for the second - that Paul is emphasizing the invisible world and Christ creation of it.
One of the false teachings that the Colossians are adding to the Gospel is worship of angels.
Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to say that Christ created angels, so don’t worship them.
Neither position changes Paul’s Point.
He has already clarified that all physical and spiritual beings were created by God. He is simply elaborating on why this is important.
He gives us a second emphasis of this:
“All things were created through him and for him”
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.
ILLUSTRATION:
What gratitude and debt do we owe our dad’s?
For one, they provided for us!
Since everybody is here I assume that your Dad’s gave you food, a place to live, healthcare. They provided for you.
Further, how many of our skill sets came from our Dad’s.
How much has Ted learned from his father about Auto body or life in general?
Ally Baysinger can tell you all kinds of things about oil fields because of her had.
My kids can tell you all things about the Navy because of their dad.
So we learn a lot from our dad.
Perhaps, at the very least we are in debt because we have life because in part to our fathers.
The picture of father’s provision, of a life and physical, material needs, is a small picture of what Christ has done for us.
How much more has Christ as the creator provided life and physical, material needs to us.
What debt do we owe to the creator?
We must believe in the Gospel because he is the creator of the world.
The fourth reason,
(4) He Holds existence together.
(4) He Holds existence together.
The right response to the creator is given to us in v. 17.
And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
We owe a debt to Christ for the life we have,
but further for the life we continue to have.
What does it mean “in him all things hold together”?
ILLUSTRATION:
How important is air to us?
- In the Army, every soldier is a rifleman.
- In the Navy, every Sailor is a fireman.
You get a really good idea how important air is when you are fireman.
I remember once,
I put on an airpack, same as you would see the local fire department have,
and I was responding to fortunately a simulated toxic gas leak.
I went to take some equipment through small round hatch,
and caught the back of my helmet
and ripped my mask off.
As I am standing there, I am realizing I would be dead if this was a real toxic gas leak.
I got a really good idea how important air is for survival.
Paul tells us that Christ holds all things together.
The air we breathe,
the water we drink,
the food we eat,
is all sustained by Christ.
He holds are existence and the visible world’s existence together.
We owe him praise because our lives are a product of his goodness.
We must believe in the Gospel because Christ holds all together.
Conclusion:
Therefore, we must believe the Gospel.
Paul gives us 4 reasons why must believe in the Gospel.
- He is in the image of the Invisible God
- Firstborn of Creation
- He Created All Things
- He holds our existence together.
Consider it this way,
ILLUSTRATION:
When we lived in Hawaii,
we had some friends who adopted a brother and sister from Ghana.
They flew to Ghana to pick them up.
They paid for the flight, visa’s, legal adoption fee’s, and applied for U.S. Citizenship.
Upon arrival in the U.S. their new adopted parent’s provided them a home, clothes, a place to live, and loved them as if they were their own parents.
What should be the proper response of those two children to their adopted parents?
They should gratefully love them for the incredible provision and position they gave them in their family.
Humankind’s relationship to the Lord is a lot like that.
Christ has given us life and he sustains us in that life.
What should I response be to Christ?
We should believe Christ above all other things.
We should believe in the Gospel above all other things.
We must believe in the Gospel because
- He is in the image of the Invisible God
- Firstborn of Creation
- He Created All Things
- He holds our existence together.
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