Evening Sermon

February 17, 2008

Jesus Above All

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We ended last week with a reminder about Jesus, the one "in whom we have redemption." Remembering the gospel so clearly expressed in verse 14, that redemption is "through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." And so that great promise of the gospel is the motivation for Christian living, the motivating impulse that Paul identifies as he prays for the people of the church at Colosse that they might "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

So these things all fit together completely. There is that prayer of thanksgiving, that encouragement and challenge to the exercises of a godly life full of good works, that reminder of the proper motivation for our obedience, namely Jesus. And now we have a description and definition of Jesus himself. And so today we will tie together the last two sermons in a glorious conclusion. These verses could well be used as the foundation for the doctrine of Christ, often called Christology. The study of Jesus. The doctrinal formulation of the person and work of Jesus Christ. But this is not mere theology, not than the study of theology should ever be "mere" theology. This is a foundation for our faith, the foundation of our worship. Namely, the excellence and preeminence of Jesus.

Most especially and most clearly, this Jesus whom we worship, in whom we have redemption, is God. Fully and completely divine in his very essence. He is divine in his nature. He is God, with a capital "G".

We will begin with that fact that,

I. JESUS IS GOD THE CREATOR. Creation is a doctrine that separates Christians from non-Christians. It really is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith.

Heb. 11:3 "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."

By this faith, by this belief in creation, we believe that there is a God and entirely separate and completely distinct from God, there is creation. The creator and the creation. You must always preserve and maintain that distinction. The creator and the creation are two fundamentally different things.

And so we begin this evening with, v.15 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."

"The image of the invisible God," now what does that mean? Let me answer that question with Scripture. Let the Scripture interpret Scripture.

First, 2 Cor. 4:4 mentions, 2 Cor. 4:4 "...the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Christ's glory is God's glory. It is the glory of God because he is the image of God. And to be sure you understand that phrase correctly, turn with me to,

Heb. 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Jesus is the "express image" of God. That means an image marked or stamped with an engraved impression. It is well translated, "an exact representation." Jesus is an exact representation of God. He is God. He is the very essence of God, of the same essence as God.

A. Jesus is fully and completely God. And so we read, John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God."

Don't get all confused by the Mormons, who insist that means that Jesus was "a god," just like we can be "a god." The idea of the Greek language is not "a god." But "God." Not only was he with God in the beginning, but he was God! Period.

Therefore Paul describes Jesus with these words,

1 Tim. 6:15 "...He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen."

Thus, as God, fully and completely,

B. Jesus is God in distinction from all creation. The language here in Colossians 1 is that Jesus is "the firstborn over all creation." Now, don't take that out of context, nor in conflict with the rest of Scripture, in order to conclude that Jesus is part of that creation. Don't think that "firstborn" here means that Jesus himself is a member of that creation. Rather, he is "the firstborn over all creation."

Again, Heb. 1:1 "...whom He has appointed heir of all things."

The idea of Jesus as the firstborn of all creation is the idea of his distinction from that creation. For example,

Ps. 89:27 "Also I will make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth."

And that idea is obviously the emphasis of verse 16, where Paul himself explains what he means by the phrase, "the firstborn over all creation." He means this, v.16

So Jesus is the creator.

II. JESUS IS THE POWER OF GOD OVER CREATION. "By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth."

A. Jesus is the author of all creation. Everything, "visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers."

We get the same idea in, 1 Cor. 8:5 "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live."

Let me go back to, John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."

That is as clear as it can possibly be. Jesus is distinct from creation because he is the creator. He is the power of God in that creation. So go with me back to the account of creation found in,

Gen. 1:1 "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light."

There is the word, the word of God. God the Word. God spoke the Word, and it was so. God spoke, and out of nothing all things were created. All things. Not just the physical, natural world. But the non-physical spiritual world. The supernatural world. Not just the visible but also the invisible. Even those things we would call spirits.

v.16 "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers."

Don't ever forget that things in the spiritual realm are still real. Angels and demons are real creatures. Created by God, by the power of Jesus. But there is something else in all of this.

v.16 "All things were created through Him and for Him."

Jesus is not simply the means by which all things came into existence, not simply the method by which God brought the world into existence, but he is the very purpose of it all.

B. Jesus is the purpose of all creation. This is a very small word, a preposition. "For him." With reference to him. With a focus upon him.

This is the highest and most sublime expression of religious thought possible. It is the necessary antidote to the selfish, self-absorbed, self-preoccupied spirit of our age, and the proper response to all the efforts of man in every age to worship the creature rather than the creator. And that really is the essence of many false religions, the attempt to fashion a god in our own image. The desire to acknowledge and even worship a higher power who is greater than us but still, ultimately, one of us.

Fallen man sees himself at the center of the universe, and worships at that altar, choosing to deny anything as truth that cannot be proven at the bar of his own reason or judgment. Man makes himself the measure of truth, even the truth of creation. But God will have none of that.

God made all things, Jesus made all things, for his own glory. Jesus is the very purpose of all creation.

And that answers a lot of very difficult questions that often arise about why God allows certain things to happen. I was in DeKalb, IL about a year and a half ago, visiting friends from when I was first ordained. I've seen the University of Northern Illinois. Why would God allow something like that to happen? We asked those questions last year at Virginia Tech. What is God's purpose with his creation? Why has he allowed and even decreed the certainty of the sinfulness of man?

Ultimately, and this has to be the ultimate answer and not a mere superficial explanation of specific circumstances, ultimately, the purpose of all things is for Jesus Christ. Right from creation.

Paul writes, Eph. 3:8 "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him."

God created all things through Jesus Christ for the purpose of making his glorious wisdom and mercy known. And he accomplishes that great ultimate purpose through "Christ Jesus our Lord." "All things were created through Him and for Him."

Specifically, for his exaltation. For his preeminence.

Jesus is not simply God, but with all the more emphasis,

III. JESUS IS EXALTED AS GOD. He is exalted!

Phil. 2:9 "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

It's all about him! It is all about Jesus.

That's what we've been studying in Revelation, too, isn't it? All these sermons on the wrath and judgment of God, they all began with the great dilemma of,

Rev. 5:1 "And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it."

No one qualified to inaugurate the new covenant. No one equipped to pronounce the judgment of God upon unbelievers nor able to redeem believers from the curse of the covenant. John wept much!

Rev. 5:5 "But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" 14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever."

That's what it is all about. That is the purpose of the creation of the whole world. That is why the fall was part of God's eternal decree. That's why everything has happened that has happened. For the glory and exaltation of the lamb of God.

Note what Paul identifies first in our text, v.17

A. Jesus is exalted in his eternity. He is before all things. "In the beginning, God created..." There is Jesus. In the beginning. With God. As God. There he was. Before the foundation of the earth. In all eternity.

Lest you be tempted to underestimate the importance of this, turn with me to,

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?" 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father." 39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father--God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."

All of that was just the preliminary for the real message. The eternity of Jesus.

John 8:51 "Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." 52 Then the Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.' 53 "Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom do You make Yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God. 55 "Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, 'I do not know Him,' I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." 59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by."

What a claim. The name of God, the name of eternity. "I am." The name which declares and eternal existence that knows of no beginning or origin. That is Jesus name, just "I am." In the fuller version of the Old Testament language, the name is, "I am who I am."

You see, our names all reflect our origin. We carry a family name, either from birth or marriage. Our identity is tied up with our age, our birthday. Our ancestry or heritage. Everything about you and me testifies to our finite, creaturely existence. And with God, it is exactly the opposite. Everything about God testifies to his eternity. Thus Jesus is highly exalted.

In his eternity, we read that "in Him all things consist." All things stand, in Jesus. All things are held together in Jesus. All things have their focus in the eternal nature of Jesus. All things are comprehended and explained and understood only in this one fundamental doctrine of the only true religion, that Jesus is before all things!

It is Jesus who upholds "all things by the word of His power." It is Jesus, and Jesus as God, who receives our praise,

Rev. 4:11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."

But there is more.

B. Jesus is exalted in his position within the church. v.18 "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead."

I'm not going to spend too much time on this since we looked at it extensively in our study of the church last year, but the idea is simple. Because of the eternity of Jesus, on the basis of that eternal nature, he reigns as head of the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, such that he himself is the origin and source of life itself.

And he is exalted as he lives and rules in the church. His eternal glory is made known, made evident or manifest, in the church! That's where we see the exaltation of Jesus here on earth. That's where the doctrine of his eternal nature becomes so very practical and personal. Here in the church, here is where the eternal glory of Jesus is revealed to the world.

With one great and glorious overriding objective, "that in all things He may have the preeminence."

C. Jesus is exalted in every way possible. So here is the conclusion, of life. Here is the purpose and focus of everything you believe and every application of that faith. Here is your chief end, or purpose, for all things.

v.18 "..that in all things He may have the preeminence."

That makes for a marvelous slogan. Indeed, it was the slogan for Covenant College, where Sharon went to school. "In all things, Christ preeminent."

It is a great motto for the church, a great slogan for advertising. It is an appropriate definition of who we are, what we are, and why we are. "In all things, Christ preeminent."

But it must be more than a slogan. This must be the driving force of your life. This must be the impelling motive for your zeal to do good works. This must be the incentive and intention for all your practice of obedience. This is how you practice that obedience, this is why you obey the law. This is why you strive to live a life pleasing to the Lord. This is why you seek to walk worthy of the Lord.

This is why you remember your redemption and think about your inheritance. This is why you take comfort in the forgiveness of your sins.

This is why you study doctrine and theology, and this is why you put all that you know into practice. This is why you repent of your sins and this is why you love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.

v.18 "...that in all things He may have the preeminence."

So let me ask you, is that the overriding constraint of your life, that compels you, even the purpose that drives you to do all that you do? That is a deep challenge, isn't it? For not one of us can claim to be rid of all desire for your own glory. It will be present in the depth of your soul, you can be most assured. And it must be put to death. The desire for your own glory and honor must be killed. For this is our song, and it must be our song together.

Ps. 115:1 "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth."

This is what we know about Jesus.

v.16 "All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

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