He is the image of the invisible God

The Nicene Creed  I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.  Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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. Colossians 1:15-20

Who is God? 60AD  Biblical teaching  All powerful God, Creator of the Universe  God of holiness, justice, mercy, love  Yahweh of the Jews  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ  Pagan teaching  179 gods and goddesses in the Roman Pantheon  At war with one another, fickle, immoral, capricious  Harsh and unpredictable toward humans

Who is God? 2006  Biblical teaching  All powerful God, Creator of the Universe  God of holiness, justice, mercy, love  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ  Common conceptions  Benign tolerant grandfather who’s obligated to bless us  Not sure there is one  No God necessary  Impersonal spiritual force present in all things

Who is God? 2006  Grandfather in the Sky, Man upstairs, the Good Lord  Remnant of Biblical God, tamed, dumbed down, made more comfortable  Old man, long white beard  Weak, benign, permissive  Rules: 10 suggestions  You can talk to him but don’t expect an answer  Purpose of life: enjoy what you can  Comes through ever once in a while  Heaven for all good people where they get to do what they most enjoyed on earth  Just believe in God and try not to hurt people

Why Johnny isn’t impressed with the Gospel  Thinks he’s got it made. “God owes me.”  Instead of understanding the Bible’s complex teaching about God and mankind, settles for ‘sound bites,’ ‘doctrine lite.’ “Believe in God and be nice to people.”  Refuses to read the instructions or understand the contract, just does it.  Living life is a fulltime occupation plus pleasures, entertainment and distractions.

Misconceptions about God The real God as He actually exists. Revelation about God in nature and in the Word so we can have knowledge about Him. Developing a life transforming relationship with God Christ in you, the hope of Glory! Believe there is a God and try not to hurt others Try to be a better person

He is the image of the invisible God Christ in you, the hope of Glory!