Sermon #1251
Title: The Pre-eminence of Christ - The Father’s Love for and Honor of His Son
Text: Colossians 1:18
Reading: John 5:17-47
Subject: Christ’s Pre-eminence
Date: Sunday Morning - September 29, 1996
Tape # S-96
Introduction:
I trust God the Holy Spirit will
enable me to bring one more message to you on The Pre-eminence of Christ. I have not begun to even scratch the
surface of Paul’s words in our text.
Colossians
1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence."
But
I have tried to show you that it is the
purpose of the triune God “that in all things he might have the preemnence.”
God has determined to give Christ the glory of and pre-eminence in all things
as the reward of his obedience to the Father’s will as our Mediator and
Substitute. Today, I want to show you that Christ’s pre-eminence is the display
of The Father’s Love for and Honor of
His Son.
John 3:35-36 "The Father
loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he
that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on
him."
John 5:20-24 "For the Father
loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show
him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. (21) For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he
will. (22) For the Father judgeth no
man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (23) That all men should
honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son
honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. (24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and
believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."
The
Lord Jesus Christ is everything to his Father. The Father loves the Son,
delights in the Son, honors the Son, exalts the Son and magnifies the Son.
Therefore he has determined that in all things his Son shall have the
pre-eminence. Christ is to his Father what Benjamin was to Jacob, the Son of
his love. The Father’s love for the Son is evident for all to behold in the honor
he has put upon him in giving the pre-eminence in all things and over all
things.
Proposition: Nothing can more effectually comfort and challenge the
believer’s heart than the knowledge of Christ’s pre-eminence.
Illustration: Spurgeon after the Surry Gardens Tragedy
In Colossians 1:15-20 we are given a picture of our Savior, drawn by
the pen of the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What a
glorious picture it is! Here we see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our
Redeemer, our Savior, our Friend, our great King holding all things in his
almighty hand. He who loved us and gave himself for us has got the whole world,
the whole universe in his hand! He who died upon the cross knows the most
distant star by name. He not only knows it, he fuels its light by his constant
command. Still better, he who holds the universe in his hands guides it and
controls it with such absolute, sovereign power that he makes it serve the
interests of his people.
Romans 8:28 "And we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose."
THE FACT OF CHRIST’S PRE-EMINENCE
ASSURES US OF FOUR THINGS.
1.
The Lord Jesus Christ is an all-sufficient Savior. As in our day, there were many in Paul’s day, especially at
Colosse, who taught that Christ is not enough. They taught that Christ alone
was insufficient, inadequate, and incapable by his own merit and grace to save
sinners. To dispel this heresy, Paul simply declares that Christ is pre-eminently
all-sufficient as our Savior.
Colossians
1:9-13 "For this cause we also, since the day
we heard it, do not cease to pray for
you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in
all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
(10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto
the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light: (13) Who hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son:"
2.
The Lord Jesus Christ is not only an all-sufficient Savior, he is also a
sovereign Savior. He who died at Calvary rules all things absolutely.
Nothing can ever separate him from the people he loves. No harm shall ever
befall those who are loved of him who rules all things. No evil shall happen to
the just (Pro. 12:21). We shall never perish! To the fearful, trembling,
anxious, fretful believer, our text says, “Let not your heart be troubled.
Christ is pre-eminent.”
3.
The Lord Jesus Christ is a rich and bountiful Savior. He has all things;
and he freely gives all things to all his people. Yet, his riches are never
diminished. To you who worry about your daily needs, to you who fret about the
lean years that may lie ahead, to you who fear you will have no pension in your
old age, the Holy Spirit says, “Be content with such things as you have. Christ
is pre-eminent.”
4.
The Lord Jesus Christ is a Savior worthy of our hearts’ trust and devotion. You can safely trust this great God, our Savior, in all
things and give him the devotion of your heart. He is pre-eminent in all things
and over all things. He who owns the universe does not need me. If he accepts
me into his kingdom, if he receives any love, honor, service, gift, or praise
from me, it can only be because of his love and goodness to me. He to whom God
the Father has given pre-eminence should have the place of pre-eminence in our
hearts.
Divisions: I
realize that parts of my message this morning will be repetitious. I will
intentionally reiterate and re-emphasize some things that need to be clearly
understood and remembered. I want us to stand in utter awe before our great,
glorious, highly exalted, universally pre-eminent Savior. So I ask for your
attention as I try to answer four questions regarding the
pre-eminence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1.
How has the
Father given the Son pre-eminence?
2.
Wherein is the
Lord Jesus Christ pre-eminent?
3.
Why should
Christ have the pre-eminence?
4.
How can I give
Christ the pre-eminence?
I. HOW HAS THE FATHER GIVEN THE
SON THE PRE-EMINENCE?
As I have stated to you so many times, in his essential
Deity as the second Person of the holy Trinity the Father gives nothing to the
Son, because the Son is in every way one with and equal to the Father. But in
his mediatorial character and office, as the Surety and Representative of his
people, the Father has made the Son pre-eminent and has given him the
pre-eminence in all things.
A. Christ our Mediator is
pre-eminent in the affection of the Father’s heart.
Proverbs
8:30-31 "Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and
I was daily his delight, rejoicing
always before him; (31) Rejoicing in
the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men."
Nothing is so dear to the Father’s
heart as his only-begotten, well-beloved Son. The Father values, prizes, and
cherishes the Son. He prefers his Son to all and chooses his Son above all. The
Father loves his Son. If we could pry
into the very heart of God, we would see nothing but his dear Son, the Lord
Jesus Christ. That is pre-eminence! The Father says of Christ, “This is my
beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased” Matt. 3:17). God the Father is pleased with and delights in his Son...
·
The
Righteousness of His Son.
·
The Sacrifice
of His Son.
·
The
Intercession of His Son.
·
His People in
His Son and for The Sake of His Son.
B. As Christ is the pre-eminent
object of the Father’s love, so too he is the pre-eminent object of the
Father’s trust.
God the Father has entrusted
everything to the Son. He has put everything into the hands of his Son.
John 3:35 "The Father
loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."
1.
The Father trusted the Son with his people.
Ephesians 1:12 "That we should
be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ."
2.
The Father trusted his Son with all his creation.
Psalms 2:7-8 "I will declare
the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (8) Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."
John 17:2 "As thou hast
given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as
thou hast given him."
3.
The Father trusted the Son with his very glory.
1 Corinthians
15:28 "And when all things shall be subdued
unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all
things under him, that God may be all in all."
C. God the Father has made Christ
pre-eminent over all things by giving him the place of highest honor, majesty,
and dominion.
The Father has placed everything and everyone under the rule
of his dear Son, as the reward of his obedience and death as our Substitute.
Romans 14:9 "For to this
end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the
dead and living."
Philippians
2:9-11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted
him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father."
Hebrews 1:3-9 "Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the
express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,
when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the
Majesty on high; (4) Being made so
much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they. (5) For
unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a
Son? (6) And again, when he bringeth
in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God
worship him. (7) And of the angels he
saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. (8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of
righteousness is the sceptre of thy
kingdom. (9) Thou hast loved
righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy
fellows."
Hebrews
10:11-14 "And every priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take
away sins: (12) But this man, after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God; (13) From henceforth expecting
till his enemies be made his footstool.
(14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified."
D. God the Father will give his
darling Son everything he asks of him.
·
The Salvation
of His People.
·
The Travail of
His Soul.
·
The Joy Set
Before Him.
This matter of Christ’s pre-eminence
is more much, much more than words of adulation, pretty phrases, and religious
sentiment. The crown he wears is not a figure-head’s crown, but the crown of an
absolute Monarch. Indeed, our Savior is the only absolute Monarch who ever
existed. And he is a worthy Monarch. God himself has given his dear Son the
pre-eminence by devoting himself, his heart, his creation, yes, his very Being
to the glory and honor of his Son. We must, in our measure, do the same thing!
II. WHEREIN IS THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST PRE-EMINENT?
Our text declares, “that in all things he might have the
pre-eminence.” That means exactly what it says, “in all things” the Lord Jesus Christ has the pre-eminence by the
purpose and arrangement of God the Father. In recent weeks, I have shown you
the pre-eminence of Christ in the purpose, works, worship, and Word of God. I
have shown you our Savior’s pre-eminence in preaching, in salvation, and among
his people. This morning we will limit our thoughts in this regard to that
which is revealed in the immediate context of Colossians chapter one.
A. Christ is pre-eminent in the
salvation of God’s elect.
Colossians
1:14 "In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of
sins."
Be sure you do not miss the fact that the Holy Spirit here declares redemption
and the forgiveness of sins to be tantamount to the same thing. All who
were redeemed by the blood of Christ have, by that same blood, been forgiven of
all their sins. This is a clear declaration of particular and effectual
redemption.
B. Christ is the pre-eminent
Revelation of the invisible God.
In verse 15 he is called “the image of the invisible God.”
He is the embodiment of God (Col. 2:9). If we would know God we must know
Christ. There is no other way for men to know God but by Christ (John 14:6). Look at verse 15 again.
C. Christ is pre-eminent in the
creation.
Our Lord is not here called a creature of God, but “the
firstborn of every creature.” He is the One from whom, through whom, by whom,
and for whom every creature exist. He is “the beginning of the creation of God.
·
Adam was made
in the image of him who is the image of God.
·
Christ is the firstborn of every creature also in the
sense that he is the pre-eminent, praiseworthy one, for whose honor all
creation exist.
·
He is himself
the Creator of all things. - "For by him were all things created.”
D. Our Lord Jesus Christ is
pre-eminent in providence.
Colossians
1:16 "For by him were all things created,
that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by
him all things consist."
1.
He upholds all
things.
2.
He rules all
things.
3.
He disposes of
all things.
4.
He shall have
the praise of all things.
E. Christ is pre-eminent in and
over the church of God.
Colossians
1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence."
In
the church and kingdom of God Jesus Christ is everything. He is...
·
The Foundation
of the Church.
·
The Head of
the Church.
·
The King of
the Church.
·
The Law-giver
of the Church.
·
The Example of
the Church.
·
The Bridegroom
of the Church.
·
The Builder of
the Church.
·
The Strength
of the Church.
·
The Preserver
and Keeper of the Church.
·
The Peace and
Point of Unity in the Church.
·
The Message of
the Church.
·
The Glory of
the Church.
F. The Lord Jesus Christ is
pre-eminent in the resurrection.
Colossians
1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence."
1.
He was the
first to rise from the dead to die no more.
2.
He is he only
one raised by his own power.
3. His resurrection is the pledge, promise, and pattern of
ours. If he is the first, that means
others are to follow!
4.
His
resurrection is the proof of our justification (Rom 4:25).
G. Christ is pre-eminent in his
mediatorial possessions.
Colossians
1:19 "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"
1.
All the
fullness of the eternal Godhead is in Christ.
2.
All the
fullness of grace is in Christ.
3.
All the
fullness of the glory of God is in Christ.
H. Christ is pre-eminent in the
work of reconciliation.
Colossians
1:20-22 "And, having made peace through the
blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (21) And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath
he reconciled (22) In the body of his
flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in
his sight."
1.
He has
reconciled the offended God and us, his offending people, by the blood of his
cross.
2.
He has
reconciled us to God by effectually applying to our hearts the blood of his
cross.
3.
And the day is
coming when he will reconcile all things unto himself. Everything that is, has
been, or shall hereafter be shall give praise to him!
Isaiah
45:22-25 "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the
ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. (23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return,
That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. (24) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. (25) In the LORD shall all the seed of
Israel be justified, and shall glory."
In a world, wherever we look, in
heaven or in earth, in time or in eternity, among men or in the immensity of the
infinite God, even in hell itself, Christ has pre-eminence in all things!
III. WHY SHOULD THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST HAVE THE PRE-EMINENCE IN ALL THINGS?
Why is it that all things are put under him? Why is it that
he has no rival? Why is it that nothing and no one can be equal to him? Why
does the Lord Jesus Christ possess this singular, high, and distinct honor? I
will give you five reasons for our Lord’s great, universal pre-eminence.
A. Christ must have the
pre-eminence in all things because God the Father said he must.
Psalms 89:27 "Also I will
make him my firstborn, higher than
the kings of the earth."
Why was Joseph made prime minister of
Egypt? Because Pharaoh wanted it that way and so decreed it! Why was Mordecai
led through the city with pomp and pageantry, while Haman led the horse?
Because King Ashasuerus wanted it that way and so decreed it! Jesus Christ is
pre-eminent because God Almighty wants it that way and has so decreed it!
B. Christ must have the
pre-eminence in all things because he was born to it.
Isaiah 9:6-7 "For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
(7) Of the increase of his government
and peace there shall be no end, upon
the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the
LORD of hosts will perform this."
As the firstborn Son, our Savior has
the right of inheritance. As the only Son of the Father, he rightfully
possesses all the Father’s property.
C. Christ must have the
pre-eminence in all things because he paid for it.
He who buys an estate is Lord of the
estate. And Christ bought the right to rule over and dispose of this world as
he will for the salvation of his people.
Isaiah 53:9-12 "And he made
his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done
no violence, neither was any deceit
in his mouth. (10) Yet it pleased the
LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to
grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD
shall prosper in his hand. (11) He
shall see of the travail of his soul, and
shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify
many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
(12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall
divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto
death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors."
D. Christ must have the
pre-eminence in all things because he alone is able to manage such
pre-eminence.
There are too many irons in the fire for anyone but him!
Isaiah 52:13 "Behold, my
servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very
high."
E. Christ must have the
pre-eminence in all things because he alone deserves it.
1.
He earned the
right to pre-eminence over God’s creation.
John 17:1-4 "These words
spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is
come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: (2) As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. (3) And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (4) I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work
which thou gavest me to do."
2. He has certainly earned the right to have the
pre-eminence in our hearts.
Psalms 116:12 "What shall I
render unto the LORD for all his
benefits toward me?"
It is truly but a small thing for me
to extol him and give him the pre-eminence of my heart and life. Would to God
that I could do so perfectly!
·
Who else has
loved me so freely?
·
Who else has
done so much for me?
·
Who but Christ
has given so much to me?
·
Who else but
Christ has been so constantly faithful to me?
IV. HOW CAN I GIVE CHRIST THE
PRE-EMINENCE IN ALL THINGS?
In much the same way as God the Father has given Christ the
pre-eminence, so I must give him the pre-eminence in all things. John
Gill was exactly right when he wrote, “Christ ought to have the
pre-eminence and first place in the affections of our hearts, in the
contemplations of our minds, in the desires of our souls, and in the highest
praises of our lips.” If I would give Christ the pre-eminence in
all things, I must....
·
Trust Him with All Things.
- (John 5:23-24) "That all men should honour the Son, even as they
honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which
hath sent him. (24) Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life."
·
Love Him above All Things.
- (Matthew 10:36-39) "And a man's
foes shall be they of his own
household. (37) He that loveth father
or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me. (38) And
he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. (39) He that findeth his life shall
lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
·
Yield to Him the Rule of All Thins.
·
Obey Him in All Things.
·
Render Praise to Him for All Things.
Application:
If God the Father has given Christ the
pre-eminence in all things, as indeed he has, then these two concluding
statements ought to be obvious to us all.
1. You must get
Christ!
1 John 5:12-13 "He that hath
the Son hath life; and he that hath
not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These
things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of
the Son of God."
2. If we would
be in harmony with God, we must give Christ all pre-eminence in all things.
In all our preaching, in all our worship, in all our
service, in all our affairs, in all our gifts, in all desires, in all our
relations, let us be in agreement with God our Father and determine “THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MIGHT HAVE THE
PRE-EMINENCE!”
Amen.