The church at Colosse had people who thought they could believe God and hold to the beliefs of the gnosticism in their day. They believed Jesus was not here in bodily form; otherwise he couldn’t have been God. His mother Mary sure could have told them she went into labor and had a physical baby. Some today still hold to this belief and there have been variations of it down through history. Meditation, yoga and other types of beliefs have origins in this. It’s all about trying to deceive people and dilute God. The book of Colossians is here to keep us straight about who Jesus is. Paul sums it up in two verses.
Colossians 1: 17 And he is before all things, and by 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 might have the preeminence.
Preeminence means several things. When it comes to Jesus it means he is absolutely first whether people believe it or not, whether they acknowledge him as such or not. Regardless of whether I put Jesus first in my life, he is still first. He is still preeminent. What we do changes nothing about his status. He deserves it and has preeminence over everything. Jesus is equal to God the Father. Never once did he say “I am greater than the Father.” He did say that he and the Father are one. He is equal to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit leads us in all truth and will speak of Jesus.
We become linked with Jesus when we get saved. We empty ourselves in order for him to have preeminence. The first longing of the Lord is for sinners to be saved. The second is to be King in the heart of every believer. In old times no one was higher than the King. In the Kingdom of God, Jesus is King and we are the servants. Even if the entire world doesn’t acknowledge him, he is still Lord with preeminence. He is superior.
The word of the day is empowerment. We have no power. Regardless of positions held in this world, we are nothing. The devil is succeessful in getting people to quit depending on each other or God. Everyone is a celebrity with power over something or someone. The only one with power is God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and ending, the first and the last. I may achieve something you haven’t and you may achieve something I haven’t but we weren’t the first to do it. As high as anyone can be elevated, Jesus is still way above that. David said the Lord would make his enemies his footstool. You and I are not superior; we’re just sinners saved by grace. I’m a child of God because of the Son of God—JESUS!
Verse 13 says he hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. He’s our creator because all things were created by him. Verse 16-17 state 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. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
The biggest news in the world is not in politics. It is the fact that God loves us. He died for us. We’re alive because he keeps us alive—we consist because of him. He deserves more than just a place in my life. He should be above everything.
Every generation has tried to step on Jesus. The devil wants to cut off the head of the body of Christ. The head is firmly in place! When it all falls apart, God will still be God. Jesus will still have preeminence. Don’t concern yourself with what may happen in this world. Concern yourself with giving Jesus the preeminence he deserves in your life. Yield yourself to him and let him truly be Lord of your life. As his people, let’s be his people. If we’re saved, we belong to God. He is the Preeminent One with all creation but gives you and me a choice. Let him be who he is. Put your trust in the Lord and don’t be afraid.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 