The Preeminent Christ

So… I just listened to this GOD GLORIFYING sermon on the preeminence of Christ based on Colossians 1:17 – 18.

And 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, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Colossians 1:17-18 ESV

Man, this was a… beautiful sermon. Ever hear a sermon that just makes you sit there in awe ? This was one of those.

A few of my notes so you guys can have an idea of what it was about.

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Christ holds all things together, giving life and light. He is the creator of ALL things… not just the heavens and earth, but even emotions. Since He created and sustained all of these things, it would be obvious that He is the KEY to understanding all of these things. He gives us life and gives us light so that we may understand this life. You cannot ultimately understand and have a full grasp on anything unless you understand it in relation to Jesus Christ. We must understand Christ’s centrality to understand the created order itself. Without Christ, we cannot have a full understanding. Apart from the redemptive work of Christ, we cannot understand the true nature of things. All things are subject to the Lordship of Christ. Any discipline under heaven – Jesus Christ is Lord. He creates and sustains it. He is Lord of all including economy,ecology, mathematics, physics, literature, art, etc. They all are subject to His Lordship.

In v18, when Christ is referred to as the head, it is not necessarily referring to an anatomical part of the body. The head is the source and end. Christ is the source and the goal of the Body for life andlight. He fills the Body w/a fullness. His role is far beyond the role of an anatomical head. He is the sole, sufficient sustainer.

The resurrected church will dwell in the new heavens and new earth. We will live a communal life of PERFECT WORSHIP (!) directed to its source – JESUS CHRIST!!!

He is the beginning of the great work of redemption, of the new heaven and new earth.

In ALL things, Christ WILL be preeminent. He is lacking in nothing and infinitely glorious and worthy of all praise and honor.

Our lives should be lived to acknowledge His preeminence. He is sufficient. All we need is Christ. We don’t need Christ PLUS something else. All things exist so that Christ would be preeminent.

If we acknowledge Christ’s preeminence in all of our ways, what would our lives look like ? For He is far greater than we have confessed and shown Him to be.

DEFINITION:
Preeminent – Superior above all, peerless, supreme.