TEXT: Colossians 1:15-23

SUBJECT: Colossians #4: Who is Christ?

Today brings us to sermon number four in our study of Colossians. The author is Paul. He wrote it to combat an error that was threatening the faith of a church in Asia Minor. The error took nothing away from the Gospel, but added something to it. What was that? Human wisdom. Does the Church need human wisdom? It does not. Why not? Because Christ is Enough!

That's the theme of the Epistle or its "big idea". Thus far, Paul has only hinted at it. But now, beginning in v.15, he makes it plain.

These verses answer the question: Who is Christ? Long ago, the replies varied, "John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets" and so on. We have the same thing today: Jesus was "a great teacher, a good man, a social reformer, a innocent victim" and more. Some of these things are true. But none is adequate. Who is Christ? Paul knows. He makes it plain, under four headings.

IN RELATION TO THE FATHER

He tells us, first, how the Lord Jesus relates to the Father. He is, v.15a, "the Image of the invisible God".

We've read this a hundred times and so maybe we've lost its force and majesty. This is one of the Bible's most shocking statements. For if the Old Testament made anything clear, it was this: God cannot be seen and must not be made into an image.

Did you ever wonder why? Why was making an image proof that you "hated" God? Isn't that rather extreme? No it isn't. And here's why: Because the image got Him wrong. Nothing we imagine could possibly represent God. How do you picture infinity, eternity, invisibility? The glory of God is utterly beyond the mind of man. Thus every image--even works of genius--debase God and make Him what He is not.

Every Image, that is, but Christ. God doesn't want us to picture Him as He isn't, but as He is. And He is revealed--fully revealed--in Jesus Christ.

He is "in the form of God" says Philippians 2:6. He is "the brightness of His glory and the express image of His Person" says Hebrews 1:2. "Whatever [He] sees the Father do, [He] does" says John 5:29. Therefore, "Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father" says our Lord Jesus.

If this is true, then human philosophy isn't needed.

"Christ is Enough!"

IN RELATION TO THE UNIVERSE

Having said how Christ is related to the Father, Paul goes on to tell us how He is related to the universe, vv.15b-17.

This is every heretic's favorite verse. To them, it proves our Lord is not Divine, but part of creation. The best part, maybe, but still He's only created.

How do we answer the heretics? We ought to be honest about it. Their interpretation is possible in terms of the words and grammar of the verse. Not necessary, but possible.

But does it agree with the context? This "Creature" as they have it, "created all things"; is "before all things"; "all things are made for Him"; and in Him "they consist". Does this sound like an exalted creature to you--or the Creator Himself? It sounds to me like He's the Creator. And the Creator is God.

And so, if it doesn't mean our Lord is a created being, what does it mean? Well, what is a man's "firstborn"? He is his heir. That's what it means here: As the Son of God, Jesus Christ is heir of all things. That's precisely what Hebrews 1:1-2 teaches:

This is an interesting passage. For it stresses our Lord's creation of things invisible. "Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers". What are these? It seems they are angels or one kind or another.

Christ made the angels and made them for Himself. So? So worshiping angels (see 2:18) is both foolish and wicked. Why? Because they're not worthy of your worship. But Christ is.

The word "consist" means "to hold together". Christ not only made the world long ago, but preserves it to this day.

If our Lord is the Creator of the universe, its sustainer, and heir, why worship or serve any part of the universe? Why worship the earth? Why worship the heavens? Why worship a man? Why worship a set of ideas? Why not worship the Lord Jesus?

"Christ is Enough!"

IN RELATION TO THE CHURCH

In vv.18-23a, Paul tells us how Christ is related to the Church. To the Church, He is three things:

The "head" is where the thinking goes on; it gives direction to the whole body and overrules impulses that come from its baser desires. So Christ leads His Church by Word and Spirit. He is the Head of the whole Church universal and of every local church. It is our duty, therefore, to find out what His will is and to follow it consistently and from the heart.

The beginning? The beginning of what? Not of all things--for Paul has covered that already. Rather, He is the Beginning or Source of the Church.

Man made movements peter out in time. This is true of politics, of religion, of philosophy, of Empires, and more. The reason, of course, is that the founders die and leave their movements to lesser men who can't keep them going for long.

But the Church's Founder never dies. And never turns things over to other men. The Church, therefore cannot die out, for its Source "is alive forever more".

To make this clear, Paul reminds us that our Lord is "the firstborn from the dead". What does this mean? Not that He was the first man to rise from the dead. Others rose long before He did. But His resurrection differed from theirs. For when they rose, the re-entered the same life they had left. But Christ? He entered a new life, the fulness of life.

And so, in fellowship with Christ, the Church cannot die, for the life it receives is "eternal life". Our Lord put it this way,

"Because I live,

You shall live".

Because our Lord is the Head and Beginning of the Church, it follows, "He must have the preeminence". And nobody else.

This is a big problem with our people. Whom I love dearly. Sickened by the chaos of most churches, we invest the elders with too much authority. Our "esteem" for them borders or worship. This cannot be right! Not if Christ is the "Head of the Church and [its] Beginning".

This is Paul's argument in I Corinthians. People were following men--good men by the way: Paul, Apollos and Peter. How does Paul answer them? "I'm better than the others, follow me only?" No; that's not what he says. He says, "Who is Paul? And Who is Apollos?" The implied answer is: Paul is nothing; Apollos is nothing. Well, if they're nothing, who is Something? You know that one, don't you?

"He who glories, let him

glory in the Lord".

This is our big problem, but it doesn't seem to be the problem in Colossae. They weren't putting men in the place of Christ, but other things. Paul identifies some of them in the next chapter: Sabbaths, traditions, philosophy, angels, and extreme self-discipline.

Of course, these problems are not longer with us. If only! Even today secondary things (even matters of indifference) become tests of fellowship and approval. "You're one of us because you don't watch TV on the Sabbath"; "You're welcome here because you homeschool your kids"; You can't join this church if you smoke!" In these controversies, Christ no longer has the preeminence.

Why must He be preeminent (even over things we love and cherish)? Here's why, v.19: "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fulness should dwell".

The fulness of God Himself with all His Divine Glory. They dwell (or abide) in one place only: Jesus Christ.

"He reconciles all things to Himself...by the blood of His cross".

Whom does He reconcile? Not those who deserve it or even want it, really--but those "once alienated and enemies in [their] minds by wicked works". Mankind is separated from God. And the separation is not "natural", but chosen. Untouched by grace, we know God, but want no part of Him. God is "found by those who did not seek Him".

How does He reconcile? "In the body of His flesh, through death". Our Lord's teaching does not reconcile anyone to God. His example doesn't either. It is only "through death" that Christ brings us back to God.

The result of His death is our holiness. "To present you holy, blameless, and irreproachable in [God's] sight". The work of Christ, in other words, not only changes our status with God, but our lives too.

A warning is attached to the promise--"If we continue in the faith" and so on. This doesn't imply a true believer may fall from grace and be lost forever. But only that we are responsible to believe in Christ--not once and then forget it--but to "keep on believing in Christ". Only this one has the promise of eternal life.

"He who perseveres to the end,

the same shall be saved".

IN RELATION TO PAUL

The last thing Paul tells us about Christ is how He relates to the Apostle. What is Paul? He is our Lord's "minister" or servant.

Thus, Paul can be trusted. He's not preaching himself, his ideas, his prejudices, and so on. He's preaching Christ.

He had a special calling, of course. We don't; we're not Apostles. But, like Paul, we are servants of Christ. Hence, we ought to speak up for Christ with a glowing love for Him. What a privilege it is to serve such a Master--the Creator, Sustainer, and Heir of all things. The Head of the Church, the source of its life. And the One who makes peace by the blood of His cross!

"Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,

And publish abroad His wonderful name;

The Name, all victorious, of Jesus extol;

His Kingdom is glorious, and rules over all".

CLOSE

If these verses say anything practical at all, they say this: Christ is enough! He's enough for you now. He's enough for you when you lay dying. He's enough for you when you stand at the Bar of Divine Justice.

If Christ is enough, "count all [competing] things as loss and dung" in comparison to the excellency of Him.

May God make Christ enough for you and me both. Amen.