WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.440 Good morning, everyone. Happy Palm Sunday. Can you guys hear me all right? Awesome. 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:12.259 Like Sean had mentioned, my name is Andrew Rim. I'm a pastoral intern here at Trinity Cambridge Church, 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:17.760 ! And it's a joy and an honor and a privilege to be able to preach God's word to you guys this morning. 00:00:18.300 --> 00:00:25.460 And so if you guys could turn with me to Colossians chapter 1, verse 15 to 20. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:33.620 We're taking a quick break from our series through the Gospel of Matthew, 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:39.100 where we are currently in the Sermon on the Mount. And we're now jumping to Colossians chapter 1, 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:40.780 verse 15 to 20. 00:00:40.780 --> 00:01:02.680 Before I pray for the reading and preaching of God's word, as we are worshiping, I just thought of Psalm 148. 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:32.659 And it reads, 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:41.560 Let's pray. 00:01:41.560 --> 00:01:48.540 Lord, we praise you. 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:52.219 Lord, all of creation praises you. 00:01:52.219 --> 00:01:57.879 And this morning, we want to praise you through the reading of your word. 00:01:58.539 --> 00:02:06.200 We want to praise you by meditating on your word, delighting in it, and seeing that you are Lord over all, Lord. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:12.340 Lord, remind us why we gather together on Sundays. 00:02:12.460 --> 00:02:16.780 Remind us why we gather as the body of Christ through your word today. 00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:25.460 That we gather to glorify you, to magnify you, to make your name great. 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:28.820 So be with us this morning. 00:02:29.740 --> 00:02:31.719 I want your spirit to pierce our hearts. 00:02:32.640 --> 00:02:36.939 I want your spirit to speak to us and remind us of your majesty. 00:02:36.939 --> 00:02:40.319 We pray all this in Jesus' name. 00:02:40.500 --> 00:02:40.680 Amen. 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:47.539 Please stand with me as we read Colossians chapter 1, verse 15 to 20. 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:49.539 Amen. 00:02:55.859 --> 00:03:00.479 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 00:03:01.819 --> 00:03:07.000 For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:14.539 Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. 00:03:14.539 --> 00:03:22.500 and he is before all things and in him all things hold together and he is the head of the body 00:03:22.500 --> 00:03:30.359 the church he is the beginning the first born from the dead that in everything he might be preeminent 00:03:30.359 --> 00:03:37.399 for in him all the fullness of god was pleased to dwell and through him to reconcile to himself 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:46.719 all things whether on earth or in heaven making peace by the blood of his cross this is god's holy 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:48.599 and authoritative word you may be seated 00:03:48.599 --> 00:04:03.960 this palm sunday morning uh we're taking uh like i mentioned before we're taking a vacation from the 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:08.820 sermon on the mount in the gospel of matthew and we're instead looking at this passage here in 00:04:08.820 --> 00:04:18.280 colossians 1 15 to 20 this passage is one that pastor john piper calls perhaps the greatest 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:21.720 exaltation to christ in all of the bible 00:04:21.720 --> 00:04:30.160 the late pastor rc sprawl calls this passage one of scripture's clearest and most stunning 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:38.640 declarations about the divinity of christ these are high commendations given to this passage here 00:04:38.640 --> 00:04:46.180 and rightfully so because how we view christ must be both exalting in worship 00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:55.379 and clear in understanding and this passage does both of those things the apostle paul he writes this 00:04:55.379 --> 00:05:02.819 description of jesus in response to some heresies that false teachers in colossae are spouting to 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:09.920 the colossian church and so in order to correct and address the church paul writes this letter to the 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:16.879 church and right before our passage in verses 9 to 12 he says this we have not ceased to pray for you 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:22.759 asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:29.219 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the lord fully pleasing to him bearing fruit in every good work 00:05:29.219 --> 00:05:34.139 and increasing in the knowledge of god being strengthened with all power according to his 00:05:34.139 --> 00:05:40.920 glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy giving thanks to the father who has qualified you 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:47.620 to share in the inheritance of the saints and lights paul's encouraging the colossians to be filled 00:05:47.620 --> 00:05:52.920 with the knowledge of god with the knowledge of god to increase in the knowledge of god so that they 00:05:52.920 --> 00:06:00.019 might walk in a manner worthy of the lord bearing fruit in every good work being strengthened with all 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:08.240 power for all endurance and patience with joy basically paul is saying and he's praying that the 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:14.959 colossian church may know god rightly so that they may be able to worship god rightly 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:24.299 in his book worship matters bob coughlin writes the better and the more accurately we know god through 00:06:24.299 --> 00:06:30.899 his word the more genuine our worship will be in fact the moment we veer from what is true about god 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:38.799 we're engaging in idolatry regardless of what we think or feel there is no authentic worship of god 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:48.460 without a right knowledge of god if we have an improper small view of who god is there are detrimental 00:06:48.460 --> 00:07:00.259 effects in our lives if we see god as a small god if we don't see god correctly we won't trust that jesus is 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:07.780 lord over our lives we'll instead trust in man in our own selves and we'll follow our own desires and wants 00:07:07.779 --> 00:07:16.279 rather than submit to god will succumb to our fears and anxieties and turn to worldly pleasures like money 00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:25.919 sex influence to number ourselves from these preoccupations as bob said an incomplete or small view 00:07:25.919 --> 00:07:33.679 of god will lead to the sin of idolatry and continuous unrepentant idolatry will lead to our ultimate 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:43.180 eternal demise church in order for us to worship god and jesus christ rightly we have to have a right 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:49.720 view of who he is that he may not be diminished or falsely represented by our worship 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:57.460 even if we say that we know who jesus is we gather together like this we gather together as a church on 00:07:57.459 --> 00:08:04.379 sundays as the body of christ not just to learn new things about god but to remind ourselves over and 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:13.120 over and over again who jesus christ is what he's done and to worship him as our supreme lord and savior 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:21.939 and so please join me this morning in making much of christ in magnifying jesus and glorifying him 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:31.000 and so this is what i'll be preaching as the main idea in colossians 1 15 to 20 magnify and rejoice in 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:38.159 the supremacy of jesus christ who reigns over all creation and all redemption i'll be touching on two 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:43.940 points this morning christ supremacy over all creation and christ supremacy over all redemption 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:54.000 so we start in verse 15 verse 15 lays out the main thesis of our first point that christ reigns supreme 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:56.000 over all creation 00:08:56.000 --> 00:09:07.720 we see first in the first part of verse 15 christ is the image of the invisible god christ is god 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:15.340 while god the father is spirit and he's invisible jesus the person of the son of the holy trinity 00:09:15.340 --> 00:09:23.200 is god's ultimate self-revelation of himself by coming to this world in the form of man and to dwell 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:26.740 amongst humankind in physical and visible form 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:32.600 man was not able to see this invisible god 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:41.800 moses inquired to see god's face to which god replies in exodus 33 20 you cannot see me for man 00:09:41.800 --> 00:09:48.540 shall not see me and live in isaiah 6 the prophet isaiah he saw on a vision the lord sitting on his 00:09:48.540 --> 00:09:56.320 throne and cried out woe is me for i'm lost for i am a man of unclean lips for my eyes have seen 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.220 man the king the king the lord of hosts 00:09:58.220 --> 00:10:07.420 man is not able to directly see the full glory of god and live and can only see him when his glory is 00:10:07.420 --> 00:10:14.580 veiled like moses could only see god's back or isaiah could only perceive god's glory in his prophetic 00:10:14.580 --> 00:10:15.000 vision 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:22.340 and this is why jesus is the ultimate revelation of god 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:33.580 christ is the image of the invisible god he's not unimage one of many he's not made in the image of 00:10:33.580 --> 00:10:41.259 god just as man was he is the image of the invisible god the very embodiment of the word of god the logos 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:49.379 who took on flesh and dwelt among us so that we can see god's glory as it said in john 1 14 when we 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:53.299 see jesus we see god the father 00:10:53.299 --> 00:11:01.639 pastor arshese sprawl he recounts jesus teaching the same principle to his oblivious disciples in john 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:09.720 14 he says jesus deals with his disciples and they say to him at the last days jesus show us the father 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:16.620 and it's a fifth of us that's what we want to see we've seen all kinds of fantastic things 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:21.899 watched you walk on the water feed 5 000 people raise people from the dead we saw the transfiguration 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:30.100 which was incredible now do the biggie for us yeah show us the father and what does he say 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:37.840 whoever has seen me has seen the father jesus is saying as clearly as he could say in so many categories 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.240 i am god 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:47.759 jesus doesn't need to do the biggie he is the biggie 00:11:47.759 --> 00:12:02.340 jesus is the image of the invisible god the divine incarnation that reveals god's glory directly to us 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:10.600 john chapter 1 verse 18 says no one has ever seen god the only god who is at the father's side he has 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:19.600 made him known god is revealed to us in jesus christ we don't have to seek out mystical or spiritual 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:24.920 experiences apart from christ nor do we have to isolate ourselves in the desert and force ourselves 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:32.100 into an ascetic self-flagellant lifestyle in order to see god like so many people nowadays think must be done 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:43.860 we get to know god in jesus jesus is the way jesus is the truth jesus is the life and no one comes to the 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:46.720 father except through jesus 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:52.740 because he is the image of the invisible god 00:12:52.740 --> 00:13:01.400 in the second part of verse 15 we read that jesus is also the firstborn of all creation 00:13:01.399 --> 00:13:11.159 at a glance this is a bit of a confusing statement wasn't adam technically the firstborn of creation 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:18.360 how can jesus be called the firstborn if he comes into the world long after the genesis creation narrative 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:27.799 in one sense the word firstborn firstborn can be viewed from a temporal perspective based on time 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:34.559 christ is the firstborn of all creation because he's the eternally begotten son of god 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:42.799 eternally begotten doesn't mean that jesus was a product of god's creative creative acts he's not a 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:51.539 product a product of god's creative works but he's existed with god the father in eternity past as the 00:13:51.539 --> 00:13:59.079 person of the son of the son in the holy trinity as it said in john 1 jesus was the word in the beginning 00:13:59.079 --> 00:14:07.639 who was with god and was god and so while jesus was not born in eternity past he was chronologically 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:16.799 pre-existing before adam but while this explanation of jesus as the pre-existing firstborn is true 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:26.639 it seems more likely that that word firstborn is being used instead as a designation of rank and tier 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:36.339 that christ is superior as the creator of all things contextually it makes more sense to see christ as 00:14:36.339 --> 00:14:42.719 the firstborn as the supreme rather than the pre-existent since this entire passage is focusing 00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:50.940 on christ's supremacy not his pre-existence we see that word firstborn being used in this way of 00:14:50.940 --> 00:15:00.259 ranking in psalm 89 verse 27 and 29 where god proclaims of david of king david and i will make him the 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:06.480 firstborn the highest of the kings of the earth i will establish his offspring forever in his throne as 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:14.639 the days of the heavens though david was the youngest of his brothers he is referred to as the firstborn 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:26.759 because of his role and position given to him by god to be king and ruler over all of israel david was 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:35.100 named the firstborn because he was ruler of all of israel this is also consistent with adam's given role 00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:42.899 and charged in genesis 128 when god commanded him to subdue the earth and have dominion over every 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:49.740 living thing that moves on the earth adam was given kingship as the firstborn of mankind to rule over 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:57.620 creation in the garden of eden and so in the same way paul is using the language to refer to christ as the 00:15:57.620 --> 00:16:02.539 firstborn the firstborn the principal king and ruler over all creation 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:11.620 hebrews chapter 1 verse 6 declares of jesus's majesty and supremacy that when god brings the firstborn 00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:19.259 jesus into the world he says let all god's angels worship him just as we proclaimed in our call to worship 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:27.480 let all god's angels worship him jesus is to be worshiped and revered even by the heavenly host of angels 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:32.600 because he is the firstborn the supreme over all creation 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:41.480 verses 16 and 17 explain the significance of christ being the image of god and the firstborn of all 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:49.360 creation for by all things by him all things were created and all things were created through him 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:56.480 paul is saying that jesus is the agent of all creation and jesus is the means through which all 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:01.039 things are created whether they're animate or inanimate whether they're visible or invisible 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:09.059 on earth or in heaven paul is describing the whole range of the created order and how they all originate 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:15.640 from jesus as their maker jesus is the creator of all things 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:23.460 it's also written in verse 16 that christ is the creator of all things whether thrones or dominions or 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:30.019 rulers or authorities paul uses these terms thrones dominions rulers authorities throughout his letters 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:36.940 to refer not just to earthly kings and kingdoms but also spiritual entities and powers including angels 00:17:36.940 --> 00:17:45.259 who are subject to jesus's work of creation and paul is most likely including this categorization of 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:50.720 creation to address the heresy being taught by the false teachers in the colossian church 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:58.660 because they were teaching that christians needed to be worshiping angels they need to be worshiping 00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:04.960 angels along with adhering to other ascetic rituals and philosophies in order to be qualified as faithful 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:16.339 christians they were making the worship of angels a requirement to be counted as faithful if anything the this 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:23.679 angelic worship would be an act of idolatry because the angels themselves serve and worship god alone 00:18:23.679 --> 00:18:32.279 to worship them would detract from the worship of their creator jesus who is of a higher order and rank to them 00:18:32.279 --> 00:18:39.839 as an example of this we see that an angel of the lord stopped the apostle john from worshiping him 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:48.639 in revelation chapter 19 verse 10 the angel exclaims you must not do that i am a fellow servant with you 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:57.259 and your brothers who hold to the testimony of jesus and so worship god and so paul is making the 00:18:57.259 --> 00:19:04.159 points here that christ is the creator and master of these angelic beings and so it will be an abominable 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:10.519 sin to dare worship anything of a lower echelon that has been created to serve christ 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:19.680 church the false teachings of angel worship is not as far-fetched as we may think it is in our context 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:28.840 today at its core this heresy was one of idolatry worshiping something that was not god 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:38.859 and we can all agree that idolatry still runs rampant today all around us right and we're all 00:19:38.859 --> 00:19:43.000 subject to be tempted to idolize something in our lives 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:52.419 how many of us need to check ourselves to make sure that we're not prioritizing our families over god 00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:58.480 how many of us need to check ourselves to make sure we're not prioritizing our careers 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:05.360 over god our relationships our money our resources over god 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:11.339 idolatry can even appear in matters related to our faith 00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:19.319 we can idolize miracles and gifts rather than worshiping god the miracle maker and the gift giver 00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:27.339 we can idolize grace and cheapen it to cover our sinful behavior and our overindulgent lifestyle 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:36.019 neglecting the call to live a life that is pleasing to the lord we can idolize righteousness and god's law 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:45.659 and become legalistic and pharisaical and working out our salvation forgetting that we have been saved by grace 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:56.400 all of these things that we have been saved by christ and serve to bring glory to the creator 00:20:56.400 --> 00:21:03.519 but we need to be vigilant that these things like the angels do not take priority over god 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:08.480 that they do not take away from the full worship that christ deserves 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:15.920 and so christ is the creator of all heavenly and spiritual thrones dominions rulers and authorities 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:23.440 but these thrones dominions rulers and authorities aren't just good spirits aren't just good angels 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:30.960 the same greek word for dominion and authority is used in colossians 1 13 and 2 15 in reference to christ 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:39.680 delivering us from the domain of evil and darkness delivering us from the authority of darkness and evil 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:48.680 church there are evil angels there are evil spirits originally created by christ only to be corrupted 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:56.340 by the fall and yet even so these powers these spirits these angels that were twisted into forces of evil 00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:59.059 were created by jesus 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:09.799 the fact that jesus is the creator of all things including things that are evil as a result of the fall 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:13.459 may be really unsettling to some of us 00:22:13.459 --> 00:22:24.419 but imagine the opposite scenario imagine that jesus isn't the creator of the things that have become evil 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:29.220 what if he doesn't have control over these things 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:39.380 for example what if a loved one in our lives is terribly sick would it be better to know that god is 00:22:39.380 --> 00:22:47.300 there and even amidst the sickness he's in control or do we remain hopeless thinking that god is not there 00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:51.379 at all and that he cannot control fallen and broken things 00:22:51.379 --> 00:22:56.019 the latter option would be terrifying 00:22:56.019 --> 00:23:04.819 that may be an even more unsettling reality for us that there are things that the god we worship 00:23:04.819 --> 00:23:09.139 cannot command cannot subdue cannot defeat 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:17.700 but church we can find great comfort through this reminder in verse 17 00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:22.420 that in christ all things hold together 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:29.700 all things hold together in christ 00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:34.420 jesus is not only the chief designer of all creation 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:39.060 he's the sovereign preserver and maintainer of it 00:23:39.060 --> 00:23:46.820 he's not like dr frankenstein unable to influence his own creation and creature once it comes to life 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:53.539 nothing is out of jesus's control even when we feel like our world is tearing apart 00:23:54.820 --> 00:24:01.300 even when we feel like everything around us is falling apart because jesus is sovereign over everything that he has created 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:04.819 and all of creation is under his command 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:09.859 there's the same jesus in the gospels who walks on water 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:16.500 who calmed storms who commanded demons to be cast out and who raised people from the dead 00:24:17.139 --> 00:24:20.579 in all of these things jesus was in control 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:29.700 brothers and sisters do we ever consider that it's jesus who first spun the earth around the sun 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:36.259 and he continues to do so to create the perfect amount of gravitational pull that we don't float away 00:24:36.259 --> 00:24:39.380 into outer space nor be flattened to a pancake 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:47.700 by that force of gravity or do we ever consider that jesus designed our bodies so intricately that 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:53.140 our blood and our organs can fend for themselves and build immunity against harmful bacteria 00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:58.020 church do we ever look at earthquakes 00:24:58.580 --> 00:25:07.780 forest fires tsunamis and other natural disasters rampaging through our world and remember that jesus brings life even out of these natural disasters 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:11.860 or do we ever witness tyrannical leaders 00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:19.140 persecuting nations civil unrest war famine greed tearing through this world all throughout this world 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:31.540 russia ukraine israel palestine syria sudan myanmar even in the united states and do we still remind ourselves that christ is sovereign and in control 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:34.500 no matter what it is 00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:37.060 all things 00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:42.980 all things are created by christ and all things are ultimately dependent 00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:56.500 all things 00:25:56.500 --> 00:26:01.380 all things were created for christ 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.140 for christ 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:07.620 we see at the end of verse 16 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:10.500 all things were created for him 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:17.059 the goal of creation is christ 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:23.299 creation exists and continues to exist for christ 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:31.620 to display his creative power his lordship over all creation to display his glory 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:37.539 all creation should point to glorifying christ and christ alone 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:41.700 the world 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.659 i'm always amazed 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:44.099 when 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.899 people 00:26:44.899 --> 00:26:46.740 get these tubs of 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.099 legos 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.819 just lego blocks garbage bags full of them 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:56.579 and without any instruction manual without any directions 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.859 they're able to manage to build 00:26:57.859 --> 00:27:00.659 a 10 foot tall empire state building 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:03.859 or a motorized lego roller coaster 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:07.139 or an exact replica of hogwarts castle 00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:12.579 i like look at these lego marvin these lego sets and marvel for a while 00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:15.939 and then finally all i could do is arrive at the conclusion whoever made this 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:18.100 has to be some sort of genius 00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:20.500 they're built different 00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.220 the legos are built different 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.299 and 00:27:26.100 --> 00:27:29.220 in a way these lego creations these lego sets 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:32.019 they ended up bringing recognition 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:35.220 acclaim and maybe even glory 00:27:36.100 --> 00:27:37.620 to the lego creators themselves 00:27:37.619 --> 00:27:47.459 but how many of us look at all creation how many of us look around us even in this dimly lit 00:27:47.459 --> 00:27:54.500 falling apart auditorium how many of us look at all creation all created things and think about 00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:58.819 jesus as the genius and all powerful creator 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:04.339 i'm gonna admit i'm gonna confess i don't 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:14.339 i'm too busy focusing on what i need to do what i have to accomplish that i lose sight of jesus's majesty through his creation 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:18.500 but we should see everything around us 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:27.459 all creation and stand in awe being reminded of god's glory and being reminded of his majesty 00:28:29.379 --> 00:28:30.500 you know who's good at that 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.099 kathy 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:36.259 kathy is great at doing that 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:41.460 she goes out on a run and when she returns i ask her 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:44.579 how's the run i'm expecting her to tell me 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:50.259 oh i ran at a nine and a half minute pace my average heart rate was 145 bpm 00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:53.380 average stride length two and a half feet per step 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:56.579 and i was at optimal vo2 levels 00:28:56.579 --> 00:29:00.899 i don't even know what vo2 is and i've been running for like three years four years 00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:05.299 instead how she usually responds is this way 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:07.779 oh it was great 00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:11.460 the flowers were so beautiful and blooming 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:17.699 the clouds were really pretty today and i saw a mom deer and her baby in the woods and i stopped and 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:22.259 stared at them for a while wow god's creation is so beautiful 00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.980 or some variant of that 00:29:26.580 --> 00:29:27.860 kathy approved of this message 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.100 thank you kathy 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:43.299 my point is all creation whether it's the flowers or the deer whether it's the beating of our own heart our heart rate or our perceived oxygen intake as we run 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:49.299 all things should point to glorifying christ because he created them all 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:50.899 church 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:53.220 all things 00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:55.220 invisible or visible 00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:58.579 whether we can perceive it or not 00:29:58.579 --> 00:30:07.059 all things are created by christ and they're created to point to his glory his majesty his beauty 00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:09.619 supremacy 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:12.980 church 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.019 we too 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:19.139 we too as humans are created by and sustained by christ 00:30:21.139 --> 00:30:28.099 we're uniquely different from the rest of christian in that we were created in the image of god the imago dei 00:30:28.899 --> 00:30:31.220 and he saw that this was very good 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:33.539 how incredible is that 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:37.940 that every single one of us were made by him 00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:41.700 made through him and made for him 00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:47.059 that's why everything that we do everything that we say everything that we think 00:30:47.940 --> 00:30:51.700 is to be for christ to point to his glory 00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.900 church we're so selfish 00:30:55.700 --> 00:31:00.740 we're so prone to put ourselves to put humanity at the center of the universe 00:31:01.220 --> 00:31:06.500 and to put all else including god around us to serve our needs our wants 00:31:08.100 --> 00:31:10.900 but scripture shows us that it's not us 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.299 we're not that guy 00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:17.700 it's not us but it's god 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:23.700 who sits enthroned at the center of all things at the center of the universe 00:31:25.380 --> 00:31:26.740 he's the one who's created us 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:34.900 he's the one who sustains us and he's the sovereign ruler of all things from the tiniest unit of a cork 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:45.779 to the largest cluster of galaxies christ our supreme god and creator deserves our service our glory and our worship 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.259 he deserves it all 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:56.579 and this leads to my second and final points 00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:59.539 that christ supremacy 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:02.579 is over all redemption 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:09.460 if christ were to be glorified just because of his creative works just because of his sustaining works 00:32:09.859 --> 00:32:11.460 just because he is the lord creator 00:32:11.460 --> 00:32:16.579 that would still be sufficient and reasonable and warranted for christ 00:32:18.420 --> 00:32:22.100 but our colossians passage shows us that christ is to be glorified 00:32:23.220 --> 00:32:27.299 and that he's supposed to be seen as the supreme for another reason 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:34.180 and that's because he reigns supreme over all redemption over the new creation 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:42.500 in verse 18 we see that christ is the head of the body the church 00:32:44.340 --> 00:32:48.259 just as christ has authority and kingship over all creation 00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:54.340 christ has authority and kingship over the church the redeemed body of believers 00:32:55.299 --> 00:33:01.380 over us trinity cambridge church as we too are part of the universal body of christ 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:03.700 christ 00:33:03.700 --> 00:33:09.460 the second half of verse 8 verse 18 explains why christ is called the head of the church it's because 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:18.900 he is the beginning the firstborn from the dead he is the beginning the firstborn of resurrection life 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:28.420 we arrive at this word firstborn again and this time this word firstborn is used in temporal 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:35.779 designation christ being the firstborn from the dead means that he's the first to ever be resurrected 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:37.940 from the dead for good 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:42.900 he's been resurrected from the dead for good 00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:45.539 once and for all 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:49.220 in the gospels while lazarus 00:33:50.019 --> 00:33:56.740 jirus's daughter and the widow's son were all raised from the dead by jesus at the end of their lives 00:33:56.740 --> 00:33:58.180 they returned to the dead 00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:01.940 once they reached the end of their lives 00:34:03.620 --> 00:34:04.740 they returned to the grave 00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:15.139 but jesus jesus died and resurrected and instead of returning to the grave he ascended into eternal life 00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:16.420 with the father in heaven 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:21.059 he was the first to do that he was the og 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:27.700 and not only that jesus's resurrection defeated the curse of sin and death 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:35.300 the wages of sin are death without christ anyone who sinned including us 00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:39.460 was guaranteed an eternal fate of damnation 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:46.740 but by dying on the cross as the propitiation and the atonement for human humanity's transgressions 00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:54.820 jesus took on the burden of our sin and died the death that we deserved only to rise again and stand 00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:59.940 victorious over the grave church he was the first to do that 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:05.380 he was the first to resurrect from the grave and be raised into eternal life 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:11.300 so that he could bring us the redeemed out of the grave and into eternal life as well 00:35:11.860 --> 00:35:18.099 it's through christ's death and resurrection that those who believe in him may have access to his resurrection power 00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:19.940 to this eternal life 00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:23.300 they are a new creation 00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:28.900 meaning that they have been redeemed by the blood of christ and are being made 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:33.059 righteous and perfect by the sanctification of the holy spirit 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:38.340 and this is why jesus is called the beginning in verse 18 00:35:39.139 --> 00:35:41.700 he's the beginning the firstborn from the dead 00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:48.260 just as all things were created for christ to glorify him jesus's death and resurrection 00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:56.340 signals the beginning of new creation that all things renewed and reconciled might also be for christ to 00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:59.220 point to his glory his preeminence 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:05.620 and so jesus's resurrection shows that he reigns supreme over all things 00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:09.300 in the realm of the living and of the dead 00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:19.220 and finally in verses 19 and 20 we're told that jesus is preeminent that he is glorified and worthy to be 00:36:19.220 --> 00:36:20.100 called supreme 00:36:20.099 --> 00:36:26.019 so he reigns because the fullness of god was pleased to dwell in jesus christ 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:30.339 the image of the invisible god 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:30.339 00:36:50.099 --> 00:36:56.400 of man, to die on the cross and to resurrect from the dead in order for grace, peace, and 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:59.599 forgiveness to be extended toward God's people. 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:08.500 Jesus could have been glorified by coming into this world as God, but not as a man. 00:37:09.779 --> 00:37:13.799 He could have come and enacted righteous judgment on all the earth. 00:37:13.800 --> 00:37:21.480 He could have wiped out anything that had even an ounce of imperfection or sin, and he 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:26.760 could have cleared everything out into a clean slate, a clean canvas, and started over again. 00:37:29.100 --> 00:37:36.360 But God saw this world, this imperfect, broken, sinful world, and he saw it fitting to come 00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:41.720 into the world as fully God and fully man through his son, Jesus. 00:37:44.680 --> 00:37:52.440 This Jesus experienced the same hunger, the same achings, the same grief, the full range 00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:58.980 of human emotions and mortal limitations that we did, and yet he was without sin. 00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:06.400 And the sinless son of God, he saw it fitting to die a humiliating death on the cross. 00:38:06.720 --> 00:38:12.820 He died a sinner's death to atone for our sins, our guilt, and shame so that we can be in right 00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:16.440 standing before God the Father and be reconciled to him. 00:38:18.660 --> 00:38:23.080 This is how God, this is how Jesus was glorified. 00:38:24.640 --> 00:38:30.600 This is how God chose to reveal the glory, the supremacy of Christ to us. 00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:36.180 Through Jesus' death and resurrection, his blood poured out on the cross. 00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:42.960 Christ bestowed onto us, God's grace and mercy, and he redeemed us from the bondage of sin 00:38:42.960 --> 00:38:48.500 and death, that we can be in eternal fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit 00:38:48.500 --> 00:38:52.419 in the new heavens and the new earth forever and ever. 00:38:54.239 --> 00:38:56.039 This does not make sense. 00:38:56.039 --> 00:39:15.860 The Puritan revivalist and preacher Jonathan Edwards says this of the mystery and wonder of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:24.820 how astonishing is it that a person who is blessed forever and is infinitely and essentially happy 00:39:24.820 --> 00:39:31.500 should endure the greatest sufferings that were ever endured on earth that a person who is the 00:39:31.500 --> 00:39:36.480 supreme lord and judge of the world should be arraigned and should stand at the judgment seat 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:43.920 of mortal worms and then be condemned that a person who is the living god and the fountain 00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:50.260 of life should be put to death that a person who created the world and gives life to all his 00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:57.519 creatures should be put to death by his own creatures that a person of infinite majesty and 00:39:57.519 --> 00:40:04.900 glory and so the object of the love praisiness and adorations of angels should be mocked and spit upon 00:40:04.900 --> 00:40:12.500 by the vilest of men that a person infinitely good and who is love itself should suffer the greatest 00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:19.559 cruelty that person who is infinitely beloved of the father should be put to inexpressible anguish 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:28.539 under his own father's wrath that he who is the king of heaven who has heaven for his throne and earth 00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:32.500 for his footstool should be buried in the prison of the grave 00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:46.219 how wonderful is this and yet this is the way that god's wisdom has fixed upon as the way of sinner's salvation 00:40:46.219 --> 00:40:51.940 as neither unsuitable nor dishonorable to christ 00:40:51.940 --> 00:41:04.139 it was pleasing to god to send his one and only son to die on the cross for us 00:41:04.139 --> 00:41:14.079 it was pleasing for god to glorify christ through that to make him supreme lord over all 00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:23.299 from him through him and to him are all things 00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:45.039 church when jesus entered jerusalem on what we commemorate as palm sunday the people of jerusalem 00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:56.719 cried out hosanna save us lord they welcomed and worshiped jesus expecting him to be a warrior king 00:41:57.679 --> 00:42:04.880 a human conqueror who would overthrow the roman empire and restore israel to its former glory 00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:11.360 brothers and sisters how much greater than should our worship be 00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:18.740 knowing that jesus is far greater and far more than just a human ruler and conqueror of israel 00:42:18.740 --> 00:42:26.720 but that he's the savior that he's the redeemer that he's the reconciler of all things 00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:36.480 jerusalem cried out hosanna hosanna we need a savior 00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:48.559 this morning and forevermore let us shout with joy and acclamation hallelujah hallelujah we have a savior 00:42:50.000 --> 00:43:02.559 let's pray 00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:10.880 jesus 00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:20.880 how wonderful how beautiful how marvelous you are 00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:28.639 the name above all names the one who is exalted high 00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:34.480 the one who created all things the one who sustains all things 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:39.760 the one who holds all things in his hands 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:46.559 lord our words can't fully express how majestic 00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:50.320 how supreme you are 00:43:50.320 --> 00:43:56.720 and yet you call us to worship 00:43:56.480 --> 00:44:01.840 you allow us to worship 00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:08.720 we thank you so much for this opportunity 00:44:08.720 --> 00:44:15.760 we thank you so much that you died on the cross for our sins that we can come into your presence 00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:18.800 to worship you to make much of you to glorify you 00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:28.560 and we ask that you remind us lord remind us of your lordship remind us of your sovereignty 00:44:30.800 --> 00:44:33.920 remind us that you are controlling in control of all things 00:44:33.920 --> 00:44:43.920 and remind us that you're preserving us through the power of your holy spirit and sanctifying us 00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:49.039 that one day we will be able to see you face to face 00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:58.320 and we'll be able to worship you in fellowship with the father the son and the holy spirit forevermore 00:44:58.320 --> 00:45:10.480 we thank you and we love you we pray all this in jesus name amen 00:45:10.480 --> 00:45:14.480 you