060423...“Jesus: The Sovereign Christ”... Colossians 1:15-20 (Part 2)
Colossians 1:18...“…so that He might come to have first place in everything.”

Gnosticism...
-A false, heretical teaching
-From Greek word “gnosis” meaning “to know”
-Jewish legalism + Mysticism + Greek Philosophy
-In N.T. times= taught that Jesus could not be God because the body was evil & God could not be joined with evil

“Key Verse” In Colossians...“I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments.” -Chapter 2, verse 4

Colossians 1:15-20...“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

Sermon In A Sentence: Jesus is both the image of the invisible God; and the image of God in man, undamaged by sin, Who reconciles everything to Himself.

“Who, then, is this man, that even the wind & sea obey Him” -Mark 4:41

“Who is this man, who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sin but God alone?” -Luke 5:21

“John the Baptist I have beheaded, but who is this man, of whom I hear such things?” -Luke 9:9

“When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was moved, and asked 'Who is this man?'" -Matt 21:10

“…What do you think about the Christ? Who do you say that I am?” -Matt 22:41-42

Why Must Jesus Have 1st Place In Everything? Because:
-He is the exact image of the invisible God
-He is preeminent over all of creation
-He is the One who created everything
-He is the eternal, pre-existent One
-He is the One who holds everything together
-He is the Head of the body, His church
-He is the fullness of God in human form
-He is the One who reconciles all things

“…whoever has seen Me has seen the Father…” -John 14:9

“No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known” -John 1:18

“Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith… Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” -Hebrews 13:7,17

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits— we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies” -Romans 8:22-23