TEXT:  Col. 1:14-23

INTRODUCTION:

A.    THERE WAS NEVER ONE SO GREAT AS JESUS.

B.    IN Col. 1 WE SEE THAT HE IS PREEMINENT IN ALL.

C.    PAUL DESCRIBES HIM IN SEVERAL RELATIONSHIPS.

I.     HIS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD ( vs. 15a ).

A.    THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD - "PERFECT MANIFEST."

        A portrait, "...the very nature and being of God have been perfectly  

          revealed in him. - that in him the invisible (God) has become visible (Son of God ).

          ( John 1:18;  Heb. 1:1-3;  John 14:7-8 ).

B.    FIRST BORN OF ALL CREATION - Barclay,  "to have the

          atmosphere for more of primacy in honor rather than mere priority in time. 

          The highest honor creation holds"

        ( Psa. 89:27;  Jer. 31:9;  Heb. 3:4-5 ).

II.     RELATION TO ALL CREATION( vs. 16-17 ).

A.    IN HIM ALL THINGS CREATED, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

        ( John 1:1-3;  Heb. 1:2 ).  Thrones, dominions, principalities, powers.

B.    BEFORE ALL THINGS(John 1:1; 8:58;  17:5;  Rev. 1:8, 17;  22:13 ).

C.    IN HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST - THE SUSTAINER.

        Consist - sunistemi, "continue, endure, exist." A&G.

III.   RELATION TO THE CHURCH ( vs. 18 ).

A.    HEAD OF THE CHURCH.

        1.     Authority( Matt. 28:18 ).

        2.     Possession( Matt. 16:18 ).

B.    PREEMINENCE IN "ALL THINGS"( Both creation and the church ).

IV.  RELATION TO GODHOOD( vs. 19, 2:8-10 ).

A.    FULLNESS:  plemora, "denotes fullness, God in the completeness of his being" ( Vine ). 

          "Sum total, full measure, of deity" ( A&G ).

B.    SINCE FULLNESS OF GODHOOD DWELLS IN HIM, IN HIM IS  

          SUMMED UP THE FULLNESS OF REVELATION  - NOTHING TO       ADD( Col. 2:8 ).

V.   RELATION TO MAN AND SIN - HIS WORK –

     RECONCILIATION( vs. 20-23 ).

A.    MEANS OF RECONCILIATION -

THE BLOOD OF THE CROSS( vs. 20 ).

B.    US - THE RELATIONSHIP TO GOD & ITS CHANGE( vs. 21-23 ).

        1.     Past - relation to God ( vs. 21 ).

        2.     Present - reconciled( vs. 22a ).

        3.     Future - holy, without blemish, unreprovable.

C.    CONDITIONS ( Col. 1:23 ).

        1.     Continue in the faith.

        2.     Not move away from the gospel.

CONCLUSION:

A.    CHRIST SHOULD HAVE PREEMINENCE IN OUR LIVES.

B.    BECAUSE OF HIS WORK IN OUR RECONCILIATION.

C.    WHAT WAS THAT GOSPEL PREACHED UNTO THEM?

        ( Acts 2:34-38 ).