Sunday 02:23:14

Colossians - The Supremacy and Sufficiency of Christ Jesus Is More Than Enough Paul wrote to the church in Colosse because of what has been termed, the Colossian heresy. We don't know exactly what the Colossian heresy was, except by the arguments that Paul made against it. We have to kind of reverse engineer what the false teaching was. Over all, the heresy taught that Christ was not enough. Ceremonialism - had strict rules about what to eat and drink and religious festivals and circumcision - like an extreme form of Judaism It also had some aspects of something like an early form of Gnosticism Secret knowledge - of supernatural beings Asceticism - harsh treatment of the body, perhaps from the idea that what is physical is evil, so you should not take pleasure in physical things. The Colossian heresy said that Jesus Christ is not enough. You have to be religious about what you eat and drink and about special religious days. It taught Christ was not enough, you have to follow rules. Do not handle, do not touch. Avoid temptation of physical things. It taught Christ was not enough, you have to know and worship supernatural beings Paul would respond in the letter that Jesus Christ is enough. Jesus is supreme over all and is sufficient for us. He will argue that in all Jesus' fullness, he fills us. The key verse: Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Paul is going to explain Jesus' relationship to God, his relationship to all creation, and his relationship to the church. Colossians 1:15-18 V. 15 "Image of the invisible God" - we think of image as a representation or a reflection. Like a picture or a reflection in a mirror is an image of someone, but it is not the person. Paul does not mean that Jesus is a reflection of God, but that Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God. He is the manifestation of God. Christ possesses all the power and authority of God because he is God. In John 14:9, Jesus said, "anyone who has seen me, has seen the Father." Hebrews 1:3a, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." Who is Jesus in relation to God? He is the visible expression of the invisible God. Who is Jesus in relation to creation? "The firstborn over all creation" In Biblical times, firstborn meant not only the first born in time, but the first in importance. The firstborn son received his father's inheritance. Here Paul is referring to Jesus' importance over creation. Jesus is his Father's representative and heir of all creation. It refers to his place over creation. Who is Jesus in relation to creation? Jesus is Lord over all creation - everything that you can see and even over invisible, supernatural powers. Paul further explain Jesus' Lordship over creation with three prepositional phrases: V. 16 all things were created by (or in) him - he was the originating center, creation occurred within the sphere of his power. Through (or by) him - he was the mediating agent through whom the creation came into being. For him - everything was created for him. He is the end for which all things exist. There no higher reason, no greater purpose than for Jesus Christ. V. 17 - he is before all things - he existed before everything AND he is higher than all in authority. "In him all things hold together" - he is both the creator of the universe and it's sustainer. He actively upholding the universe. He is the unifying principle of all creation. Who is Jesus in relation to creation? Jesus is Lord over all creation. He is creator and sustainer. Creation is by him, through him, and everything is for him. V. 18 Who is Jesus in relation to the church? "He is the head of the church" He is The Lord of every believer and the body as a whole. He has the authority and the right to guide, rule, and direct my life and yours and our fellowship. "The beginning" - he created and initiated the church by his blood, he created a new people, cleansed from their sin, accepted by the Father, heirs of glory. "Firstborn from among the dead" - the first to come from death into true resurrected life. "So that in everything he might have supremacy" may mean that because of his resurrection from the dead, he has supremacy over both the old creation and to the new as well. His preeminence is universal over all creation and over all God intends in the new heaven and new earth. Who is Jesus in relation to the church? "He is the head of the church", her reconciler, her peace maker. Colossians 1:19-23 V. 19 - it was God's will that all His fullness dwell in Jesus. Everything that is God dwells in Jesus. V. 20 - it was God's will to reconcile everything to himself. Jesus is the mediator that brings God together with all things. Reconcile is to change - he changed us from enemies of God to friends of God. "Making peace through his blood" - God made peace, brought peace, even though mankind brought sin and rebellion. V. 21 - you were once enemies - we were hostile toward God in our thoughts and this was expressed outwardly in evil behavior. V. 22 - he reconciled us to be holy - set apart. This speaks of how we are cleansed from our sins now, and will be presented to Christ one day. V. 23 - if you continue in faith - it will be proven genuine. Perseverance is proof of reality. Who is Jesus in relation to God? He is the visible expression of the invisible God. Who is Jesus in relation to creation? Jesus is Lord over all creation - he is creator and sustainer, it is all by him, through him, and everything is for him. Who is Jesus in relation to the church? "He is the head of the church", her reconciler, her peace maker Paul argues that Jesus is enough. He is the source of all things. He is the one through whom and by whom everything was created. He is the One for whom everything and everyone was created. Who is Jesus to you? Is he enough for you? Have you been looking everywhere else - or to anyone else - to be for you who only Jesus Christ can be? Tenth Avenue North, By Your Side: Why are you striving these days Why are you trying to earn grace Why are you crying Let me lift up your face Just don't turn away Why are you looking for love Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough Jesus Christ is more than enough for us.