1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Jesus’ Supremacy Over the Church Colossians 1:18-23
Jesus is preeminent over creation - Colossians 1:15-17
Jesus is the image of God existing before time and the architect, maker, possessor & sustainer of creation
Jesus is preeminent over the Church – Colossians 1:18-23

3. Jesus’ Position Head of the Body, the Church – Vs. 18
Church, ejkklhsiva / ekklêsia, is better translated as congregation or assembly
The congregation is made up of those who belong to the same community and hold the same citizenship
The congregation is the “body”of Christ - Colossians 1:18; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 3,4,5

4. Jesus’ Position Head of the Body, the Church – Vs. 18
The body is an organism, not an organization
Each part of the body works in harmony for the benefit of the whole body
Jesus is the head of the body, and not any other person or group of people

5. Jesus’ Position Head of the Body, the Church – Vs. 18
Church leaders are to carry out God’s directives, not be authoritarian
Church leaders have authority (Heb. 13:17; Acts 20:28-31, etc), but it is used with meekness - 1 Peter 5:1-3

6. Jesus’ Position Head of the Body, the Church – Vs. 18
Jesus has the authority to command & power to enable His followers to carry out His will (Matt. 28:18-20)
Jesus builds His church. His followers simply need to obey and do things His way

7. Jesus’ Position The Beginning – Vs. 18
ajrchv / archê in this context means beginning in the sense of being the origin
The church has its origin in Jesus (Matthew 16:18) through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

8. Jesus’ Position The First-born of the Dead – Vs. 18
Elijah raised the widow’s son (1 Kings 17)
Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son (2 Kings 4)
Jesus raised:
the widow’s son (Matt. 9)
Jairus’ daughter (Luke 7)
Lazarus (Luke 11)

9. Jesus’ Position The First-born of the Dead – Vs. 18
“First-born” (prwtovtoko" / prôtotokos) here has same meaning as in vs foremost in importance
Our hope of resurrection is bound in His resurrection (1 Cor. 15:22) and to be like Him (1 John 3:2)

10. Jesus’ Position The First-born in Everything – Vs. 18
By virtue of being the Creator He was already supreme in all Creation
By virtue of His incarnation, sinless life, atonement and resurrection He became supreme over the church

11. Jesus’ Nature Colossians 1:19
Fullness = full measure, totality. Context is in reference to attributes of deity and savior
Dwell here has idea of permanence rather than a temporary sojourning
Jesus has all the attributes of God and they are His permanently.

12. Jesus’ Work of Reconciliation Colossians 1:20
Without reconciliation man under God’s condemnation and abiding wrath
God’s kindness & patience should cause man to repent (Rom. 2:4), but man continues on his own way
Redemption is the price paid to rescue man from the domain of darkness and transfer to Christ’s kingdom

13. Jesus’ Work of Reconciliation Colossians 1:20
Reconciliation is the restoration of peace after the payment for the offense is made
“The blood of His cross” is Christ’s sacrificial death that atoned for sin - Hebrews 9:22
The redemption price allows for reconciliation - Romans 8:1; Romans 5:1

14. Jesus’ Work of Reconciliation Colossians 1:20
God has done His part & paid the price, but man must repent and believe accepting the gift of forgiveness
Christ’s death will free the earth from its slavery to corruption (Romans 8). ‘
Some unspecified reconciliation also happens in heaven due to Jesus’ atonement

15. Man’s Position & Nature Colossians 1:21 – see Eph. 2:1-4
Apart from Christ man is alienated, estranged, excluded, shut out from God - because man rejects God
The mind set on the flesh is hostile to God (Rom. 8:7), He loves the darkness because of his evil (Jn. 3:19)
Man’s religious quest is for a god he can manipulate to earn his own salvation and continue in sin

16. The Purpose of Reconciliation Colossians 1:22
Jesus died in His own fleshy body - Jesus was part of the material world
True Christianity is not an intellectual assent nor a cultural identity nor a practical Gnosticism
Redemption & reconciliation are not “fire insurance” allowing us to live as we desire

17. The Purpose of Reconciliation Colossians 1:22
We were reconciled so that our lives would be changed to reflect Christ in holiness.
Holy - set apart unto God - a life lived for God’s glory instead of self (Col. 3:2).
Blameless - without blemish - a life lived without disgraceful conduct
Above reproach - a life lived without cause of accusation and acquittal if accused

18. The Necessity of Perseverance Colossians 1:23
Perseverance of the saints - there will be struggles, but belief continues, grows and affects conduct of life
Not all who profess belief actually believe or are saved (John 8:31-59; Matt. 13:25-40; 1 John 2:19)

19. The Necessity of Perseverance Colossians 1:23
If faith can be moved away from the hope of the gospel, then it was not true faith in the gospel.
True faith will be challenged & may waver, but it works through doubt to become established & steadfast

20. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ