“JESUS” IS SUPREME Colossians 1:15-20 Ps. John Chan 27-7-2017

THE COLOSSIAN HERESY 1. False teachings regarding Jesus Christ. 2. False teachings regarding religious practices, Jewish traditions and ceremonies. 3. The deviant teachings of Gnosticism. 4. The practice of ‘asceticism’. 5. The practice of ‘mysticism’. 6. The practice of ‘legalism’.

GNOSTICISM ASCETICISM MYSTICISM FALSE TEACHINGS

THE COLOSSIAN EPISTLE Purpose : To combat false teachings of ‘SYNCRETISM’ in the church. written in prison, Rome around 60 AD. written to the church at Colossae, Asia Minor. presenting Christ’s preeminence and deity, absolute supremacy, sufficiency and centrality as Lord.

1. Highest in rank or authority. 2. The most important or powerful. English Oxford Living Dictionary ‘SUPREME’ (Greek : Anotatos) The word refers to : 1. Highest in rank or authority. 2. The most important or powerful. 3. Very great or the greatest. 4. Preeminent, surpassing all powers.

“TO AFFIRM THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST IS TO AFFIRM THAT JESUS IS GOD!” Charles Swindoll

THE SUPREMACY OF JESUS Colossians 1:15-18 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

Colossians 1:18-20 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

7 REASONS WHY JESUS IS SUPREME Colossians 1:15-20 1. He is the image of the invisible God. 2. He is the firstborn over all creation. 3. In Him all things were created. 4. He is the head of the Church. 5. He is the firstborn among the dead. 6. All of God’s fullness dwells in him. 7. Peace with God through His blood.

“He is the image of the invisible God” (v.15) JESUS IS SUPREME “He is the image of the invisible God” (v.15) He is the perfect resemblance and representation of the Father God (John 14:9). Jesus is the perfect image, likeness and glory of His Father (Colossians 1:15). In the person of Jesus Christ, the unknowable God becomes known (John 1:18).

“The firstborn over all creation” (v.15) JESUS IS SUPREME “The firstborn over all creation” (v.15) He preceded the whole creation. He is Sovereign over all creation. He was not created, but the Creator over all things.

“In him all things were created” (v.16-17) JESUS IS SUPREME “In him all things were created” (v.16-17) All things were created by him and for him. In him all things hold together. Everything in the universe continues to exist because of him. Christ reigns supreme over all creation.

“He is the head of the church” (v.18). JESUS IS SUPREME “He is the head of the church” (v.18). The church is the invisible body of Christ. Believers receive the Holy Spirit when they believe Christ as their Saviour.

“He is the firstborn among the dead” (v.18). JESUS IS SUPREME “He is the firstborn among the dead” (v.18). He died but he rose and never to die again. His resurrection marked his triumphs and supremacy over death forever. He is exalted over all creation by God the Father.

“All of God’s fullness dwells in him” (v.19) JESUS IS SUPREME “All of God’s fullness dwells in him” (v.19) The divine nature in all its fullness dwells in Christ. The fullness of deity dwells in bodily form, the incarnate Christ. Jesus is the absolute and perfect God with the deity abides permanently and supremely in him.

“Peace with God through Christ’s blood” (v.20) JESUS IS SUPREME “Peace with God through Christ’s blood” (v.20) He reconciled us with God through his blood shed on the cross. Our reconciliation is appropriated through faith in Christ Jesus. We are reconciled to God by Jesus.

“JESUS CHRIST” WONDERFUL COUNSELOR; MIGHTY GOD; EVERLASTING FATHER; PRINCE OF PEACE (Isaiah 9:6). KING OF KINGS ; LORD OF LORDS (1Timothy 6:15). SON OF GOD (Matthew 2:15). WORD OF GOD (Revelation 19:13). REDEEMER (Job 19:25). HOLY ONE (Acts 3:14). ALPHA & OMEGA (Revelation 1:8). IMMANUEL (Isaiah 7:14). LAMB OF GOD (John 1:29). LORD OF ALL (Acts 10:36). MESSIAH (Daniel 9:25) etc.

THE EXALTATION OF JESUS CHRIST Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

WATCH OUT FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST! 1John 2:22-23 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

“WHAT DOES THE SUPREMACY OF JESUS MEAN TO US TODAY?”

JESUS IS TRULY GOD! John 10:30 “I and the Father are one.” He is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the God incarnate. He is the resurrected Christ.

WORSHIP JESUS Matthew 14:33 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” He was worshipped by the Magi (Matthew 2:11). Worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24).

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN! Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” No one knows when he will come again (Mark 13:32-33) Be ready for the Son of Man to come again (Matthew 24:43-44).