Sunday, August 26, 2007 Sermon Text:
Colossians 1:15-18 (New King James Version)
[15] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. [16] For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. [17] And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. [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 may have the preeminence.
Initial Reflection on the Text
This passage is interesting in light of the background of the problem at Colosse. The errorists in the church were implying that Jesus was less than deity. Here, Paul affirms that Jesus is not only God but that He is the agent of creation! Rather than God creating the world through a series of emanations (offshoots of deity each one being a little less god), Paul affirms that Jesus is "the image of the invisible God" (my emphasis). Paul is emphatically declaring that Jesus is the one and only emanation from God (to borrow from the language of the Gnostics), but more than that, He is completely all that God is!
The practical application of all of this is found in verse 18. Jesus, by virtue that He is the creator God, is the "head of the body, the church." Furthermore, because He is the head, in all things He is to have the preeminence (i.e., He is to be first, He is to be in charge). The body (the church) at Colosse was in danger of being a body that was out of control. Jesus was not being denied but He was being dethroned from His rightful place as "the head of the body."
Does Jesus have the preeminence in the body of Christ today? Are there areas in the body of Christ that are off limits to Him? What about our lives? Does Jesus have His rightful place in your life? In my life? What would be different in my life if Jesus was in charge? Is Jesus our co-pilot? Or the pilot of our lives?
Your observations and insights into this week's passage are welcomed and encouraged. I hope to hear from you this week.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
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1 comment:
It has always amazed me the extremes we Christians go to in order to control each other rather than being controlled by the “Head”. Some local churches want a dynamic, charismatic pastor that they blindly follow without each individual being lead by the “Head”, testing whether their pastor is being led by the “Head”. Other local churches are too afraid that the pastor will lead them astray. They want one that they can lead instead of allowing him to lead them by being lead by “THE HEAD”.
Bro. Joe, I would love to be amazed at what will be accomplished at Hebron when we all “…let go and let God...”
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