Transcript

The Supremacy of Christ In Creation and Crucifixion

Colossians 1:15-21
Sunday, October 21, 2001
Pastor Randy Smith

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A portion of the heresy basically went like this: God is good because He is a spirit and matter (anything materialistic) is evil. Because a good God could not have created the evil matter that exists in the world, the false teachers taught that God sent forth emanations. It was one of the lesser emanations, far removed from the presence of God that created the world and all existing matter. Jesus Christ, at best, is only a good emanation sent from God. His goodness is dependent on accepting His spiritual nature, but definitely denying any humanity since materialistic properties are inherently evil. Since bad emanations provided a barrier between God and man, only a superior knowledge, coupled with the help of good emanations, would allow man to reach God. In short, the heresy denied the humanity (flesh is evil), the deity (He was only an emanation) and the sufficiency (knowledge must be added) of Christ for salvation. This is the heresy that threatened the Colossian church in the first century. You are the Apostle Paul. What do you say?

I've been told that bankers are trained to spot counterfeit bills not by studying error, but rather by knowing how to identify legitimate money. In the same way, the Apostle Paul, in the Colossian letter, immediately responds by presenting the true person of Jesus Christ. In comparison to Him, all error becomes obvious. The 6 verses this morning under consideration are some of the most definitive teachings in the Bible on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. The text was written 2,000 years ago.

Unfortunately, heresy regarding Christ was not limited to the first century. Possibly our generation's misunderstandings of the Person of Jesus Christ are unparalleled in the history of the world. We too need a proper understanding of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. The text applies for us as well. The best protection against error is properly understanding the sufficiency of Christ.

Since Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, I encourage you to listen carefully. There is not any other issue on the planet that deserves greater attention and accurate understanding. Eternity hinges on this particular issue. The echoes sound forth from the corridors of history, "Who is this Jesus?" Lord willing, we'll answer that question biblically this morning.

1. OUR GOD (vs. 15)

First point- far from Jesus being one of many emanations from God, He is God! Verse 15 says, "And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. Now at first reading, it may appear that this verse teaches exactly the opposite. How can Jesus be God if He is only the image of God? How can Jesus be God if He is the first-born, implying a created beginning (as we know, God has no beginning because He is self-existent)? Many cults (Many!) use this verse as an argument to deny the deity of Christ. Maybe you had a few at you door this week. Are they right? What would you say in return? I think we need to examine these two points individually.

Image of the invisible God

A key adjective in understanding this difficult clause is the word "invisible." The word is used 5 times in the New Testament, 4 of those times to refer to God Himself. God is invisible; He cannot be seen, so how can He be known? As we know, God took the initiative. In Christ the invisible God became visible. John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." Four verses later the apostle commented, "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him (exegeomai-literally, Jesus exegeted God)." Paul said in Philippians 2:6 that "(Jesus Christ) existed in the form of God." The writer of Hebrews 1:3 concurs, "And He (Jesus Christ) is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature." Even elsewhere in Colossians we read, "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him" (Col. 1:19). Jesus Christ manifested the invisible God for all of us to see. Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (Jn. 14:9).

The word "image" in the verse is the Greek word eikon. It is the word where we get our English word "icon." David Garland in his commentary provides some excellent background regarding this word. "In Greek philosophy, the image has a share in the reality that it reveals and may be said to be the reality. An image was not considered something distinct from the object it represented, like a facsimile or reproduction. As the image of God, Christ is an exact, as well as visible representation of God illuminating God's essence." Jesus Christ is not a copy of God, but rather the exact representation and manifestation of God. He is a full embodiment of the divine. Later in this epistle Paul said, "For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form" (Col 2:9). The glory of the invisible God has been visibly manifested to the people through Christ.

First-born of all creation

Well, if that takes care of the image of the invisible God, what are we to do with first-born of all creation? Certainly that implies that Jesus Christ was a created being and inferior to God the Father! Right?

In the Scriptures, the term "first-born" can mean one of two things: the first created being, as in the "eldest," or that, which has precedence and priority. The greatest determining factor between these two options is the immediate context (remember, context is king). The following verse in our account settles the dispute, "For by Him all things were created" (Col. 1:16). He is not created, and He definitely did not create Himself. Rather, Jesus Christ is the Creator, the preeminent One.

Furthermore, this word for "first-born" (prototokos) is used frequently in the Greek Old Testament (LXX) to indicate priority and sovereignty of rank. For instance, Israel in Exodus 4:22 is called God's "first-born." Though they were not the first nation in existence, they held a special place of election and honor. Additionally, David is called the "first-born" in Psalm 89:27 despite the fact that he was the youngest among many brothers. Jesus Christ is not the first-created. That is a completely different Greek word (protoktistos). He was the first-born, the supreme One who has primacy over all creation.

2. OUR CREATOR (vs. 16)

Jesus Christ, the exact representation of the invisible God, the supreme and sovereign One over all Creation, outranks all of creation. Why? The most obvious reason is found in verse 16- He created everything! "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him" (Col. 1:16). In our first point, Paul shatters the heretical belief that Jesus was only an emanation from God. Jesus is God! Now Paul tackles the belief that all matter is evil and is produced by a lesser emanation. To counter, Paul says God in the Person of Jesus Christ created all things.

Various biblical writers also teach this doctrine. The author of Hebrews said in 1:2, "In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." The apostle John in his gospel said, "All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (Jn. 1:3). Why is Christ preeminent over creation? Because He made all things!

Possibly one of my favorite John Piper illustrations demonstrates this point well. While preaching on the supremacy of Christ in Hebrews during the 1996 summer Olympics, he envisioned Jesus sitting in the room with all the decathlon athletes. In turn each was boasting how he excelled in a specific field of the competition (100 meter dash, shot-put, long jump, etc.). Jesus took no opportunity to boast of His athletic accomplishments, provoking one of the other men to say, "What about you? What do you have to say for yourself? Why should you be considered the best?" To that Jesus simply said, "I made all you guys!"

In addition to athletes, Christ created everything! He created the little things like bugs. It is reported that there are 10 million species of insects, including some 2,500 varieties of ants alone. He created the big things like the star I read about this week named Betelgeuse. I read that is has a diameter of 100 million miles, a diameter larger than Jupiter's orbit around he sun. I read that its 425 light years from the earth. I read that our sun could hold 1.3 million planets inside of it the size of the earth and Betelgeuse is more than 1000 times larger than the Sun, and shines 60,000 times brighter. Then I read that the star evolved through a process called the "big bang theory" 10-20 billion years ago!

The Scriptures speak nothing of a "big bang" theory. They say nothing of an unsupervised, impersonal, unpredictable explosion occurring by chance! Look at verse 16, it says all things were created by Him both in the heavens and on the earth, both the visible and invisible, even thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities (all angelic beings) were created by Him. There are no exceptions! No part of the universe is excluded!

I see His blood upon the rose,

And in the stars the glory of His eyes,

His body gleams amid eternal snows,

His tears fall from the skies.

I see His face in every flower;

The thunder and the singing of birds

Are but His voice-and carven by His power

Rocks are His written words.

All pathways by His feet are worn,

His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,

His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,

His cross is every tree.

All things were created in Him, by Him, through Him, and For Him! Where do you get that? Look at the end of verse 16. Creation exists for Christ.

I came across one scientist on the Internet this week who said, "However the Big Bang-theory seems to be accurate, many questions stay unanswered. One question shall always remain unanswered, what was there before the Big Bang? Space and time have no meaning there. And the answer to the biggest question of them all shall also remain unanswered: 'Why did the Big Bang happen?' or 'Why does the universe exist?'" In addressing that perplexing question, Robert Jastrow, an astrophysicist and director of NASA's Institute for Space Studies, got it right when he said, "For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been there for centuries."

Why does the universe exist? Verse 16 answers that question. Everything exists for Christ. Christ is the goal of all creation. Do you want to know why the stars were created-For Jesus Christ! Do you want to know why the earth was created-For Jesus Christ! Do you want to know why you were created-For Jesus Christ! Our sinful hearts don't want to accept that plain fact, because the moment I recognize Him as my Creator, I must bow to Him as my Lord. I stand before Him accountable.

All things will ultimately work in one way; God's way manifested in Christ. Christ is the meaning of creation and the purpose and goal of life. Everything else is irrational. The only way to make sense of life and "find yourself" is to recognize God's purposes in Christ. You can ignore it, but you cannot resist it. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:10-11). And Christian, you can't have Christ in your heart and keep Him out of the universe!

3. OUR SUSTAINER (vs. 17)

Christ is our God, our Creator, and even our Sustainer. Verse 17, "And He is before all things (that speaks of His pre-existence), and in Him all things hold together." The Deist would say that God created the universe and left it to its own accord. The Bible, however, says that God created the universe through Christ and sustains the universe through Christ as well. Christ is the divine glue that holds everything together. Everything apart from the presence of Christ would disintegrate. Every material item composed of billions of atoms would cease to be. Every atom composed of protons and neutrons and electrons would become detached unleashing potential nuclear reactions. I read this week that our earth, roughly 93 million miles from the Sun, travels along at a velocity of 66,000 miles per hour, rotating at 667 miles per hour on a tilted axis of 23.5 degrees. Tamper with these figures ever so slightly and life as we know it ceases to exist. As Professor Moule once said, "He keeps the cosmos from becoming chaos."

Christ holds all things together. Hebrews 1:3 says, "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." Our world is not sustained by a law or impersonal force, but rather it is sustained by a personal God. All things are therefore dependent on Christ. And if Christ can sustain the world, should we ever doubt His ability to sustain His beloved church? Especially when He takes such a prominent role as our Founder, Builder and Head.

4. OUR HEAD (vs. 18)

Colossians 1:18 says, "He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything." There's no doubt that Christ loves His creation, for the Psalmist says that the heavens declare His glory (Psm. 19:1). But one day this creation as we know it will all be destroyed. Yet the church will remain forever in continual praise of her Savior. It is of this church that the Cosmic Creator and Sustainer of the universe promises to be head in an intimate way.

The headship of Christ refers to His control over the church and the church's dependence on Him for life, power and direction. This verse provides great comfort for the Christian. We need not depend on a gifted CEO to lead our institution. We need not worry about the status of the NASDEC for the success of our organization. We need not wonder about the future of our establishment. The Creator and Sustainer of the universe ensures us that He will lead His church. It is a leadership that guarantees our survival and ultimate victory. It is a leadership so personal, that His people are actually called members of His body whereas His purposes are lived out through the redeemed lives that constitute His church. The church cannot fail because it is run by a God who cannot fail, a God who works all things for His glory. The church is the manifestation of the glory of Christ.

Yet this verse also provides a great warning for the believer as well. If the believer is to claim this victory, he or she must remain connected to the head. In my childhood years we had a big snake that lived in our bushes near our patio. It was predictable, every time we were out that snake would come out and scare my sister and I to death. Unaware of the species, my dad had had enough with that snake. He put on his rattlesnake boots and armed himself with some tree trimmers. The next time that snake showed his face, my dad loped off its head. I can still remember that bisected snake squirming both sides of his body, but shortly both sections stopped moving. For amputating the head destroys the life. We must remain connected to our Head if we are to experience any spiritual life. Elsewhere in this letter Paul said, "Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visionshe has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God " (Colossians 2:18-19).

As individual believers, as a church, we must remain connected to our head. The moment we take our mind and heart and eyes off of Jesus Christ and His words, human authority and traditions and trivialities will fill the vacuum. Our spiritual head is essential for nourishment and spiritual growth. Apart from Him we spiritually wither up and die. The only remedy (and the purpose for all that Christ has done) is to give Him the preeminent place of honor.

Look at the end of verse 18, "So that He Himself might come to have first place in everything." Everything! How does the church stay focused on their head? Give the first place to Christ! Why did Christ create both a universe and a church? So that He may have first place! What is the role and expectation of every human being? To give Christ first place in their lives! Just as you can't take Christ for your Savior and ignore Him as your Lord, you can't give Christ Sunday mornings and keep the rest for yourself. Christ expects to have first place in your wallets and pocketbooks, in your time, in your marriage and with your children, in your hobbies and interests, in your profession, in your thoughts, in your future plans, in your pleasures, in your music, in your worship and in your love. He expects it, and He deserves it! Are you giving it to Him? Does Jesus Christ occupy the position of first place in your life? Or is He chugging behind your busy self-driven life pulling up the rear? In listing your priorities, does He even make the top-ten?

Some years ago, the distinguished publishing house of Grosset & Dunlap brought together a panel of 28 educators and historians and asked them to select the hundred most significant events of history, and then list those events in order of importance. After months of labor, the panel reported that they considered the most significant event of history to be the discovery of America. In second place was the invention of movable type by Gutenberg. Eleven different events tied for third place, and five events tied for fourth place. The events tying for fourth were the writing of the Constitution of our country, the development of ether, the development of the x-ray, the discovery of the airplane, and the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus tied for fourth.

All has been created that Jesus Christ may have first place. He will settle for nothing less! In Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting of The Last Supper, our Lord's hands are empty. And therein lies an inspiring story. Da Vinci dedicated three years to this painting, determined that it would be his crowning work. Before the unveiling, he decided to show it to a friend for whose opinion he had the utmost respect. The friend's praise was unbounded. "The cup in Jesus' hand," he said, "is especially beautiful." Disappointed at once Da Vinci began to paint out the cup. Astonished, the distinguished friend asked for an explanation. "Nothing," Da Vinci explained, "must distract from the figure of Christ." Da Vinci focused attention solely on Christ by removing the distraction of the cup. Having removed the cup, he had to do something with the hand. The left hand was already outstretched just above the table, lifting, as if to bless and command. Now the right hand, also empty, was also outstretched invitingly.

5. OUR SAVIOR (vs. 19-20)

Jesus Christ is our God, our Creator, our Sustainer, Our Head, and finally our Savior. Verses 19 and 20, "For it was the Father's good pleasure (two things, first) for all the fulness to dwell in Him, (second) and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. We've spent considerable time discussing the first aspect; let's close this message with an examination of the second. After spending a large portion covering the cosmic ramifications of Jesus Christ, Paul closes this section reminding the reader that this preeminent sovereign Christ also came to the earth as a man. The cosmic King of the universe took on human flesh to bleed and to die. Why?

Genesis 1:31 says, "And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good." Originally God created a world that met His divine approval. It was without sin. Man and woman, the apex of His creation reflected His perfect image and lived at peace with the rest of creation. But in Genesis 3 we read that sin came into the world and estranged: humans from God and God from humans, humans from humans, humans from creation and creation from humans. The world as we understand it knows no settled peace. "For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God" (Rom. 8:19). "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Rom. 1:18). Apart from God's intervention, every human being would live in a state of rebellion against God. There is a desperate need for reconciliation, a need to bring things back into harmony with God.

Verse 20 says, "all things" will be reconciled to God, "things on earth or things in heaven," whether they acknowledge it or not. Some will willingly surrender; others will forcefully surrender. Some we see submitting now; others will submit at the culmination of time. But make no mistake about it; Jesus Christ will be acknowledged Lord of the universe. Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess.

But how, how does God reconcile a world defaced by sin and out of harmony with Himself? Verse 20 provides the answer, "having made peace through the blood of His cross." The world is dependent on God to take the initiative, to make peace. And this He did, when He sent His Son, the Creator and Sustainer of the world to endure pain and a bloody death on a cruel Roman cross. Christ appeased the wrath of God. Christ provided a way for humankind to be forgiven. Christ did all the work; humans are simply left to respond appropriately.

One commentator said, "The cross is the ultimate evidence that there is no length the love of God will refuse to go to accomplish reconciliation." "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things" (Rom. 8:32)? "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8). Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18-19).

Colossians 1:15-20, what an amazing collection of 6 verses. The invisible God made Himself visible in the person of Jesus Christ who is His image and exact representation. Through Jesus Christ, God created and sustains the world, so Jesus Christ may be the Head of the church and have first-place in everything. Jesus Christ, God Himself, took on human flesh to bleed on a cross in order to reconcile all things to God the Father.

Science is beginning to conclude how meaningless humans actually are. They say we are a modest glob of flesh, evolved in a swamp, living a modest span of time, dwelling in a modest galaxy amongst billions of other galaxies. They say it all evolved. The Scriptures say that the whole of created order owes its existence to Christ. They say humans are insignificant. The Scriptures say that Christ loves those globs of flesh called humans so much that He willingly suffered, bled and died for them to be reconciled to God.

There is no doubt that Jesus Christ is worthy of praise! He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End! He is the keeper of Creation and the Creator of all! He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and He always will be Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone! He was bruised and brought healing! He was pierced and eased pain! He was persecuted and brought freedom! He was dead and brought life! He is risen and brings power! He reigns and brings Peace!

The world can't understand him. The armies can't defeat Him. The schools can't explain Him, and the leaders can't ignore Him. Herod couldn't kill Him. The Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, and the people couldn't hold Him! Nero couldn't crush Him. Hitler couldn't silence Him. The New Age can't replace Him. He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right. His word is eternal. His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me. He is my Redeemer. He is my Savior. He is my guide, and He is my peace! He is my Joy. He is my comfort. He is my Lord, and He rules my life! I serve Him because His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life. I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the overcomers, and the sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come. He will never leave me, never forsake me, never mislead me, never forget me, never overlook me. When I fall, He lifts me up! When I fail, He forgives! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I am hungry, He feeds me! When I face trials, He is with me! When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts me! When I face loss, He provides for me! When I face Death, He carries me home! He is God. He is faithful. I am His, and He is mine! God is in control. I am on His side, and that means all is well with my soul.