WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 Good morning. Happy Mother's Day once again to the mothers. 00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:08.419 It's a pleasure, Lorna. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:14.120 Let's pray together and let's ask God to bless the preaching of His Word. 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:27.539 Father, we come before you this morning to once again get our lives and our eyesight and our vision restored. 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:33.859 God, we want to see the world as it really is, which means we want to see it through your eyes. 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:38.640 We want to understand who you are and we want to know what you're doing in our world. 00:00:38.799 --> 00:00:42.299 And so this morning, God, as we come to your Word, won't you speak to us? 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:45.519 Oh, Holy Spirit, how we need you. 00:00:48.519 --> 00:00:52.799 God, come and take the words of your Scripture and apply it to our hearts, we pray. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:54.420 Come open our eyes to see. 00:00:54.420 --> 00:00:59.640 We pray, God, even now, prepare our hearts, Lord, to receive from you, God. 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:04.799 And so we pray these things in your wonderful and powerful name. 00:01:05.900 --> 00:01:07.540 Amen. Amen. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:13.299 This morning, we are in week two of our study of the book of Colossians. 00:01:13.960 --> 00:01:18.760 Colossians is one of the most incredible and wonderful books in the Bible. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:23.600 And so I'm very excited for the next eight weeks, or this week plus six more, 00:01:23.939 --> 00:01:28.840 we're going to be going through the book of Colossians together on Sundays and in many of our CGs. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:36.700 As we get up close and personal with the Bible's teaching about the supremacy of Christ over all things 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:41.480 and what it means for those of us that are followers of Jesus, that we are in Christ. 00:01:41.600 --> 00:01:43.280 That's what the book of Colossians is all about. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:48.340 Now, today's passage of Scripture that Echo read to us is one of the most famous, 00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:56.900 one of the most wonderful passages of Scripture for churches like ours that love the teaching of God's sovereignty over all things. 00:01:57.379 --> 00:02:03.579 As a church, we love to pray about God's sovereignty and teach about God's sovereignty and sing about God's sovereignty. 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:07.859 The fact that Jesus is not just good, He is Lord of all. 00:02:07.859 --> 00:02:14.199 And for churches like us, this passage of Scripture is like poetry to our ears, right? 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:22.680 But the Scripture we read this morning is far more than just a statement or an exclamation about the bigness and the majesty of God. 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.120 It is that, but it's also telling us more. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:32.099 And so in order to understand it, let's just go back and once again look at the context of Colossians and the context of chapter 1. 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:37.560 So Colossians is written, the Apostle Paul is in Rome under house arrest. 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:38.879 He's been preaching the gospel. 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:40.159 He's been arrested. 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:42.139 He's in house arrest in Rome. 00:02:42.799 --> 00:02:49.459 And his old friend Epaphras that started this church in the town of Colossae is also arrested in Rome. 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:52.479 And Epaphras tells him about the church in Colossae. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:55.859 And he says things are going really well, but there's a couple of challenges. 00:02:56.340 --> 00:03:00.500 The challenge is the church is being influenced by a bunch of groups. 00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:04.780 The one group is saying, Jesus is good, but he's not enough. 00:03:04.860 --> 00:03:12.759 You need to add to Jesus a whole bit of religious duties and observations, religious days and Sabbaths and all these festivals. 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:18.039 And another group are saying, look, Jesus is good, but he's not all that he's made out to be. 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:22.879 You need to add to Jesus some secular thinking and modern philosophy and all these things. 00:03:23.420 --> 00:03:27.259 And so Paul writes to this church to encourage them around three things. 00:03:27.259 --> 00:03:30.139 To encourage them about the supremacy of Christ. 00:03:30.579 --> 00:03:32.259 That Christ is over all things. 00:03:32.359 --> 00:03:34.379 That Christ is in a category of his own. 00:03:34.459 --> 00:03:36.219 There is no one else like him. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:39.379 He writes to encourage them that the gospel is powerful. 00:03:39.859 --> 00:03:47.780 The gospel isn't just another philosophy that a bunch of people believe because we think this is the most appropriate way to address life. 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:52.439 The gospel is the power of God that gets inside of us and changes us. 00:03:52.439 --> 00:04:01.419 And then the third thing Paul writes to encourage them is what does our life as a follower of Jesus look like now that we are in Christ and Christ is in us? 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.900 And so that's the second half of Colossians chapters 3 and 4. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.859 It's all about what does the life of a Christian look like? 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:12.139 What does it mean for your work and your home and your family and all these things? 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:15.159 And so that's what the book of Colossians is all about. 00:04:15.819 --> 00:04:19.339 Now, the apostle Paul was a very brilliant man. 00:04:19.339 --> 00:04:22.979 If you've read much of the New Testament, I'm sure you can agree, right? 00:04:23.299 --> 00:04:32.419 One of the most outstanding church leaders, church planters, a great apostle, obviously loved God, incredibly wonderful man. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.879 But I have one thing against the apostle Paul. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:35.699 Do you know what it is? 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:38.599 He writes the longest sentences. 00:04:39.719 --> 00:04:40.739 Have you ever found that? 00:04:41.479 --> 00:04:45.359 The most incredibly long sentences that are sometimes hard to understand. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:52.480 And in fact, the passage that Echo read to us this morning is only the second half of one of the longest sentences in the Bible. 00:04:53.080 --> 00:05:01.060 In Colossians chapter 1, from verse 9, which is what we looked at last week, all the way to almost the end of what was read this morning is one sentence. 00:05:02.020 --> 00:05:09.080 And what that means is to understand the passage we read this morning, we've got to go back a bit, remind ourselves of what we looked at last week and see how that flows. 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:12.079 So last week, verse 9 starts like this. 00:05:12.539 --> 00:05:12.800 He says, 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:17.019 We've heard about your love for Christ and your love for all the saints. 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:17.639 And then he says, 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:23.000 Therefore, since the day we heard about you, we haven't ceased praying for you. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:24.500 And this is what he prays. 00:05:24.839 --> 00:05:27.319 That you will be filled with the knowledge of God's will. 00:05:27.799 --> 00:05:30.299 That you will have wisdom and understanding. 00:05:30.599 --> 00:05:35.680 Okay, so Paul prays for these Colossian Christians that they'll know something of what God's will is. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:43.220 And we said last week, it doesn't just mean to know the Bible technically, like a tax consultant knows, you know, the tax code. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:50.019 It doesn't just mean to know what is God's will in every situation, like, should I wear a blue tie today or a red tie? 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:51.579 That's not what it means to know God's will. 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:59.259 To know God's will is to have the mind of Christ, to have wisdom and understanding, to see the world the way God sees it. 00:05:59.980 --> 00:06:01.759 And I guess it's to answer these questions. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:04.699 Who is God and what is God doing in the world? 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:11.180 To know what the mind and the will of God is, to have wisdom and understanding, is to know who is this God? 00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:13.800 And what on earth is he doing in the world? 00:06:14.159 --> 00:06:17.219 And it's amazing how you can have a PhD in theology. 00:06:17.480 --> 00:06:23.759 You can understand all the Greek and the Hebrew and know all the stories of the Bible and not know the answer to those questions. 00:06:24.539 --> 00:06:27.659 Who is God and what is he doing in the world? 00:06:27.660 --> 00:06:37.420 And then Paul writes and says, if you know that, if you get the will of God inside of you, if you understand this gospel paradigm, it will lead to a couple of things. 00:06:38.040 --> 00:06:41.420 And what, Mark, if we want to be a church that is bearing fruit, that's the first thing. 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:44.580 If we want to be a church that is walking in the ways of God. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:48.560 If we want to be a church that is walking in the ways of God such that please him. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:57.939 And if we want to be a church that Colossians 1 says is strengthened and is steadfast to go the distance when life gets tough and things aren't always easy. 00:06:58.280 --> 00:07:03.560 When we are strengthened and because there's something inside of us that can allow us to go the distance. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:05.939 We've got to be a church that can answer those questions. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.360 And so in light of that, we get to our passage this morning. 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:11.740 Who is God and what is he doing in the world? 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:17.139 And so let's look at Colossians chapter 1 verses 15 to 23 this morning. 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:20.220 Now, I've got three points as always. 00:07:20.379 --> 00:07:22.139 Every good sermon has only got three points. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:24.480 I promised Edwin yesterday I'd have two points. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:25.340 But I'm sorry, Edwin. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:27.699 I snuck another one in there this morning. 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:28.740 So three points. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:29.960 Jesus and creation. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:32.079 The problem of creation. 00:07:32.819 --> 00:07:33.960 Jesus and redemption. 00:07:34.340 --> 00:07:34.579 Okay? 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:37.519 So let's dive into our scripture this morning. 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:39.639 Look at verse 15 with me. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:41.300 Paul writes this. 00:07:41.740 --> 00:07:46.319 He, that's Jesus, he is the image of the invisible God. 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:54.220 I'm not sure about you, but when I consider the awesome magnitude of creation, and I don't 00:07:54.220 --> 00:08:00.639 even understand a one-hundredth of what creation is all about, when you understand the fact that 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:05.540 there are hundreds of billions of galaxies that we know about, who knows what we don't even 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:11.340 know about, that each one of those galaxies consists of hundreds of billions of stars, 00:08:11.740 --> 00:08:14.340 it is all quite overwhelming, isn't it? 00:08:14.780 --> 00:08:19.660 When you think of the vast expanse of our cosmos, it all can be overwhelming. 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:24.439 And yet, in the Old Testament, the people of God, as they looked up in the night sky, 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.300 and they saw, they understood that God was magnificent. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:29.500 God was awesome. 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.280 He was very different from themselves. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:34.240 He wasn't just a slightly better version of themselves. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:37.220 There was something majestic about the God of creation. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:42.519 And yet, at the same time, they had witnessed his involvement in the world. 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:46.159 They saw his dramatic deliverances from Egypt and their enemies. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:49.299 They saw his provision in the desert, in the wilderness. 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:53.419 They encountered his appearances to men and women of old. 00:08:53.419 --> 00:08:57.240 They saw his demonstrations of power through people like Elijah. 00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:02.639 Sometimes they saw and understood God's providence, his leading and his guiding through people 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.259 like Queen Esther and Joseph. 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:07.719 And then, of course, his word that he spoke through the prophets. 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:12.719 And so, in the Old Testament, the people of God knew, though God is transcendent, in other 00:09:12.719 --> 00:09:17.879 words, he's distinct from us, he's not like us, he is other and out there, he's also imminent, 00:09:18.319 --> 00:09:22.099 which means he's close, he's personal, he's involved in our lives. 00:09:22.100 --> 00:09:28.460 But still, though the people of God got to experience God and encounter him in so many different ways, 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.680 through the priests, through the prophets, through the temple, through dreams, through angels, 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:38.180 through God's deliverance, still, what is he like? 00:09:39.040 --> 00:09:40.040 Who is this God? 00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.080 They got to see glimpses of him, but what is this God really like? 00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:45.779 I think of Moses. 00:09:45.920 --> 00:09:51.040 Remember, in the Old Testament, God describes Moses as somebody who speaks to God face to face, 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.599 like a man speaks to a friend. 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.799 And yet, even Moses said, God, show me your glory. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:58.299 Let me see your infinite worth. 00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:01.799 And God hid him in a cave and then passed by him. 00:10:02.199 --> 00:10:04.279 Then you cannot see me for all that I am. 00:10:06.039 --> 00:10:10.980 And yet, here we see that Paul says Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:16.159 In Jesus, we somehow get to see the nature and the character of the eternal God, 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:18.740 perfectly revealed, perfectly made known. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.719 As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians, 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:24.179 in the face of Christ, we get to see the glory of God. 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:29.219 We get to see the infinite worth and the majesty of God in the face of Christ. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.240 In Hebrews 1, it talks about Jesus like this. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:32.579 It says, 00:10:32.580 --> 00:10:48.520 Remember, back in the day, 00:10:49.079 --> 00:10:50.059 when you used to travel, 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:53.059 before thumbprints and eye retina displays, 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:55.000 you used to have this thing called the passport, right? 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:56.319 I guess we still have passports, 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.639 but they don't really look at them these days. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.340 Remember back in the day, 00:11:00.379 --> 00:11:01.879 they used to actually stamp the passport? 00:11:02.740 --> 00:11:03.720 When we came to Hong Kong, 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:06.720 we had a piece of paper, employment pass, put in there. 00:11:07.079 --> 00:11:08.019 They stamped the passport, 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:10.100 stamped employment pass, you're good to go. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.159 That stamp is the exact representations, 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:14.559 like stamp one, stamp two. 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:16.720 If you're Singaporean, talk about the chop, right? 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:17.860 Chop one, chop two. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:19.220 Do we talk about that here in Hong Kong? 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.340 No, okay. 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:22.340 In Singapore, stamp is a chop, right? 00:11:22.800 --> 00:11:24.399 So stamp one, stamp two. 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:26.800 The one image is the exact picture 00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:28.700 or representation of the other. 00:11:29.019 --> 00:11:30.200 The one is not a drawing, 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:31.659 it's not an artist's impression. 00:11:32.220 --> 00:11:33.860 You stamp once, you stamp twice, 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:34.899 the exact same picture. 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:38.100 Jesus is the image, the exact representation. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.820 When we see Christ, we see something of who God is. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:43.539 And remember, as human beings, 00:11:43.539 --> 00:11:45.779 we're created in God's image. 00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:47.820 We are meant to bear God's image on earth. 00:11:47.860 --> 00:11:49.399 And yet, as human beings, 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:52.139 we have a long history of falling short, 00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.980 of doing that very well. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.440 But not Jesus. 00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:59.019 Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:03.360 The perfect representation of what this invisible God is really like, 00:12:03.600 --> 00:12:05.440 we see it in Jesus. 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:07.600 Because verse 19 says, 00:12:08.080 --> 00:12:10.720 in Him was the fullness of God pleased to dwell. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.180 Perfect God. 00:12:12.680 --> 00:12:13.480 Perfect man. 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:16.180 All coming together in the person of Christ. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:18.740 Jesus, the image of the invisible God. 00:12:19.180 --> 00:12:21.080 But not only that, look at what Paul says next. 00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:21.460 He says, 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:23.720 He is the image of the invisible God, 00:12:23.820 --> 00:12:26.000 the firstborn of all creation. 00:12:26.779 --> 00:12:29.360 Now, I think if you are of Asian descent, 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:33.960 you probably understand this better than Western counterparts like me, right? 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:36.139 This idea of the firstborn. 00:12:36.740 --> 00:12:39.840 Firstborn doesn't necessarily only mean first in time. 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:42.759 It means first in rank, first in status, right? 00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:44.480 First in position of prominence. 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:47.480 I think the Chinese word is something like John T. 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:48.200 Is that right? 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:50.340 Did I get that even remotely right? 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:51.759 Okay, nodding head. 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:53.620 The idea of firstborn. 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:56.220 So in ancient cultures, think about this. 00:12:57.139 --> 00:13:00.860 In ancient cultures, your land was your wealth, right? 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.060 Your family's wealth was tied up in the land. 00:13:03.160 --> 00:13:04.160 Land was so important. 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:07.740 And so you've got a plot of land that your family farms. 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:11.840 And it comes time to hand over the wealth to the next generation, 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:12.500 your inheritance. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.759 Now, in the ancient cultures, they didn't just say, 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.420 Listen, I've got six or seven kids. 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.860 I don't really, but just imagine. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:20.259 I had six or seven kids, 00:13:20.440 --> 00:13:23.000 and I'm going to split up my land six or seven ways. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:24.019 Because what will happen? 00:13:24.460 --> 00:13:28.079 After another generation of each having six or seven kids, 00:13:28.199 --> 00:13:30.120 the land gets split six ways, 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:32.699 and then another 40 ways, 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.980 and then the next generation. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.279 Eventually, after two or three generations, 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:39.579 your farm has been split up hundreds of ways. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:41.139 It's now the size of the piano. 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:44.159 And you're not going to get a lot of farming done on the piano, right? 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:46.279 That's not going to produce a lot of wealth. 00:13:46.819 --> 00:13:47.579 So what would happen? 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:49.460 To preserve the family's wealth, 00:13:49.939 --> 00:13:52.159 the family would hand on the entire estate, 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.600 the whole inheritance to the firstborn son. 00:13:55.199 --> 00:13:56.539 And everything went to him, 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:59.819 but then it was his responsibility to look after the family 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:00.939 and to provide for them. 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:01.480 Okay? 00:14:01.939 --> 00:14:02.519 So in other words, 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:05.299 the firstborn is not just first in time. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.819 It's also first in status. 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.159 It's first in prominence. 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:09.000 In a sense, 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:12.139 the firstborn son is kind of like the dad, 00:14:12.219 --> 00:14:13.439 like the father in the family. 00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:16.500 Now, look at what Paul says here. 00:14:16.500 --> 00:14:18.220 Using this imagery, 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:18.899 he says, 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:21.379 Jesus is not just a billboard 00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:23.519 to show us what God is like in human form. 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.759 More than that, 00:14:25.080 --> 00:14:27.720 he is the firstborn of all creation. 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:29.500 He is first in rank, 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:30.559 first in status. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.759 He has the highest 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:33.720 and the most prestigious stank 00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:35.320 in all of creation. 00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.679 It's not just of all human beings, 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.019 in all of creation. 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.820 Never has anyone or anything 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:42.799 come close to his supremacy 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:44.299 and his authority. 00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:45.259 Jesus, 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:46.839 the firstborn of all creation. 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.399 And then Paul explains 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.699 why this is the case. 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:50.199 Now, 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.919 you may think 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.419 the reason why Jesus is firstborn 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:55.199 was because he was the first one 00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:56.019 who was made, 00:14:56.359 --> 00:14:56.639 right? 00:14:57.099 --> 00:14:58.199 Jesus made us, 00:14:58.259 --> 00:14:59.899 but he was made before all of us. 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:01.399 And so because he was made first, 00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:03.939 he has a position of rank or status. 00:15:04.039 --> 00:15:05.399 But that's not what the Bible says. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.159 Look at verse 16 with me. 00:15:07.479 --> 00:15:07.679 It says, 00:15:08.099 --> 00:15:09.939 he is distinct from all created beings 00:15:09.939 --> 00:15:11.779 because he is the source 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.819 of all created beings. 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:14.379 Or as verse 16 says, 00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:16.060 for by him, 00:15:16.640 --> 00:15:17.960 all things were created 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:19.960 in heaven and on earth, 00:15:20.260 --> 00:15:21.820 visible and invisible, 00:15:22.260 --> 00:15:24.200 whether thrones or dominions, 00:15:24.640 --> 00:15:25.980 rulers or authorities, 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:28.400 that's all created things, 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.540 angels, demons, 00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:32.360 all things were created through him. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:33.600 It doesn't matter 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.420 where you go in the cosmos. 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:36.580 You can go to the moon, 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.540 you can go to heaven, 00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:38.540 you can go to earth, 00:15:38.880 --> 00:15:40.000 you can go to Mars 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.419 or to the furthest reaches 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.179 of our galaxy, 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:43.639 you'll still be within 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:45.139 Christ's created order. 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.399 It doesn't matter 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.259 whether you understand it or not. 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.720 Things visible and invisible, 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.039 even some things 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.700 we don't understand, 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:54.679 even things that we have not invented 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:56.179 and have not yet discovered 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:56.879 about the world, 00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:58.139 Christ made them. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.320 It doesn't matter 00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.759 what power or authority 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.600 such a thing has, 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:03.080 whether physical power, 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.600 emotional power, 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:06.500 psychological power, 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.159 spiritual power, 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.200 all things in heaven 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.919 and on earth, 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.299 visible and invisible, 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.960 whether thrones or dominions, 00:16:14.139 --> 00:16:15.820 rulers or angels or authorities, 00:16:16.419 --> 00:16:17.879 all things were made 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.600 through him and by him. 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:22.159 Remember, 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:24.059 at this time 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:25.259 in the city of, 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.419 the town of Colossae, 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:28.200 the Colossian Christians 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.080 are being pressed 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.879 because the people around them 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:31.379 are saying, 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.899 yeah, Jesus is good, 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.480 you know, 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:34.379 we'll give you that, 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:36.779 but there's also Apollos 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.320 and there's, 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:37.659 you know, 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:38.519 Aphrodites 00:16:38.519 --> 00:16:39.439 and there's Hermes. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.379 They're the other gods as well. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:43.080 And Paul writes and says, 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:43.639 no, 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.539 Christ is supreme 00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:47.259 above every other being 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:49.019 in the entire cosmos 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:49.779 or universe. 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.419 Christ is different. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:52.340 Christ, 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:53.559 the man who died on the cross 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.659 just 30 years before, 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.980 is different from every other being. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.000 And friends, 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.840 whether you're a Christian here or not, 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:02.000 and especially if you're not a Christian, 00:17:02.820 --> 00:17:04.480 this question about who is Jesus 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.279 is a question you have to answer. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:08.220 You have to come to the place 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.640 of working out who is Jesus. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.380 Who is this man that died on the cross? 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:13.180 What do I make him out to be? 00:17:13.619 --> 00:17:14.740 Is he really the name 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:15.819 above every other name? 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:17.940 Is he really the only one 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.940 who can ever save? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.880 We sang about it earlier. 00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:22.880 Jesus is the name above every name. 00:17:23.319 --> 00:17:24.579 Jesus is the most powerful man. 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:25.759 Is that really who he is? 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.960 And in our day and day, 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:29.480 we may not be tempted 00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:31.299 to trust in Apollo 00:17:31.299 --> 00:17:32.420 or Hermes 00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:33.599 or the other Roman gods, 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.839 but we are tempted 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:36.240 to trust in other things 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.539 to secure a good future for us. 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.079 Things that we expect 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:41.079 will provide us 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:42.039 with a good life. 00:17:42.799 --> 00:17:43.879 We get the right boss. 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.740 Maybe the market forces. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.500 Things go well in the market 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:50.140 or maybe a relationship. 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:51.799 Maybe the things 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:52.960 that are more nuanced than that. 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.920 Things like our intellectual ability. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:57.980 Our reasoning or our rationality. 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:58.920 Things that we trust. 00:17:59.059 --> 00:18:00.359 These things will secure us 00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:01.000 the good life. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.299 And Paul's assertion here 00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:04.440 is that all things, 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.759 visible or not, 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.440 material or immaterial, 00:18:07.619 --> 00:18:08.920 all things come to existence 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:10.400 because of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:11.539 And therefore, 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.920 he is Lord over all things. 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.319 I was talking to a friend 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.599 just recently this week 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.259 who at work, 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:18.480 there's some challenges, 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.920 there's some retrenchments coming, 00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.980 and some people in the office 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.119 are going to lose their jobs. 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:26.059 And maybe his job is on the line. 00:18:26.119 --> 00:18:26.759 He doesn't know. 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.659 And so there's a lot of tension 00:18:28.659 --> 00:18:29.859 and angst in the office. 00:18:29.959 --> 00:18:30.679 What's going to happen? 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.739 Do we have a job? 00:18:32.479 --> 00:18:33.659 And this friend, 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:35.619 who's a follower of Jesus, 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.179 was not particularly worried. 00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:38.879 And so his colleagues 00:18:38.879 --> 00:18:39.919 eventually said to him, 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.359 what's up with you? 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:42.679 Why are you not worried? 00:18:42.719 --> 00:18:43.619 All of us are worried. 00:18:43.679 --> 00:18:44.899 You don't seem to be worried. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.639 And this is his answer. 00:18:47.219 --> 00:18:48.359 Do you really think 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.199 that my God, 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.059 who made the entire universe, 00:18:51.219 --> 00:18:52.579 cannot provide for my family? 00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:55.359 My God is the Lord of all things. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:57.559 Friends, you see how practical this is? 00:18:58.119 --> 00:19:00.960 I don't know what challenges you're facing. 00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.399 Maybe you've been to the doctor 00:19:02.399 --> 00:19:04.019 and you're waiting for a medical report. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.099 And you don't know 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:06.419 what that report is going to say. 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:08.359 Maybe you are pregnant 00:19:08.359 --> 00:19:09.319 with your first child 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:10.379 and you aren't sure 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.659 about the health of that child. 00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:14.079 Maybe you want to become pregnant. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.460 You're trying for kids. 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:17.559 Friends, God in heaven 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:19.119 is Lord of all things. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.480 And your life is safely in his hands. 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:23.420 But even that is not enough 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:25.019 because look at what Paul goes on to say. 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.460 He says, 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.839 For by him all things were created 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.240 in heaven and on earth, 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.400 visible or invisible, 00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:32.019 whether rulers, authorities, 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:34.620 dominions or powers, 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:36.900 all things were created through him 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:39.759 and for him. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.420 In other words, 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:44.240 not only is Christ before all things, 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.819 before anything was made, 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.400 at the end of all time, 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.079 when the world is wrapped up, 00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:50.960 all things will come down 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.179 before Christ, 00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.720 before all things were made 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:55.519 for him or to him. 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.559 We often think 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.500 all things were made by him 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.519 for us. 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.259 And that's not what the Scripture sings. 00:20:01.319 --> 00:20:02.919 All things are made for him. 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:04.079 Or another way of saying that 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.000 is for the praise of his name. 00:20:06.419 --> 00:20:07.539 At the end of history, 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.720 when the world is wrapped up, 00:20:08.899 --> 00:20:10.199 every created being 00:20:10.199 --> 00:20:11.740 will fall down on their knees 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.179 and say, 00:20:12.399 --> 00:20:13.899 You are God and I am not. 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:15.259 All things were made 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:17.299 for the praise of his name. 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:19.079 And so here we have Christ 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:20.099 before all things, 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.339 creator of all things, 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.639 and at the same time, 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.700 we have Jesus Christ, 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.500 the end goal, 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.460 the one for whom 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.619 all things were made. 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:28.519 And so Paul summarizes this 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.339 in verse 17. 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.299 Look at what he says. 00:20:31.059 --> 00:20:31.480 He says, 00:20:32.019 --> 00:20:33.359 He is before all things 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.519 and in him 00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.399 all things hold together. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.779 Christ is before all things, 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.879 he's at the end of all things, 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.180 and he's currently holding 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:41.899 all things together right now. 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.299 And it's a remarkable summary 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.799 of the supremacy 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.740 and the sufficiency 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.079 of the man 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.700 who just 30 years before 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.460 was being nailed 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.440 to a Roman cross 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:52.259 for this remarkable claim 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.480 that he really is God. 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.279 Jesus hung on the cross, 00:20:55.379 --> 00:20:56.259 but he didn't stay there. 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:56.879 And so here, 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.460 within one generation, 00:20:59.180 --> 00:20:59.779 Paul is saying, 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:01.339 this man who hung on the cross 00:21:01.339 --> 00:21:02.720 really is Lord of all. 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.519 You see, 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.419 sometimes we think, 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.099 oh, well, 00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:05.460 you know, 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:05.839 Jesus, 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.940 the myth has grown 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.200 over a couple of generations 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:09.759 and over hundreds of years, 00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:10.859 the story of Jesus 00:21:10.859 --> 00:21:12.759 grew into this elaborate fable 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.819 where now hundreds of years later 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:16.299 people are talking about him 00:21:16.299 --> 00:21:17.200 as being the Lord of all. 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:17.559 No. 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.200 Within one generation, 00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.980 within one generation, 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:22.039 the church knew 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:22.819 that this man, 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.180 Jesus, 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.279 who died on the cross 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.480 is who he said he is. 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:26.740 He's the Lord of all. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.299 But what's even more astonishing 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:28.859 is this, 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.740 that the apostle Paul, 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:32.980 the man who wrote these words 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:35.079 just a few years before this, 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.680 one of the most brilliant 00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.579 Jewish minds, 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.579 one of the most outstanding 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.420 intellectuals of his day, 00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:43.120 this man who was bent 00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:44.279 on eradicating 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.120 and destroying 00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:46.100 the Christian faith, 00:21:46.580 --> 00:21:47.960 a man who had given his life 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.220 to destroying 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:51.200 any traces of faith in Jesus, 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.140 stands up now and says, 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:53.960 it's true. 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:55.120 It's true. 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:56.300 This man, 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:56.680 Jesus, 00:21:56.800 --> 00:21:58.000 who I tried to destroy 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.340 with everything inside of me 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.980 really is who he said he is. 00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.480 He is the Lord of all. 00:22:02.800 --> 00:22:04.120 He is not just like other gods. 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.380 He is not just a good force. 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.560 He is not just a man 00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.519 from whom we can learn 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.240 some good things. 00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.600 He is the supreme 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.839 Lord of all creation 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:12.519 for he is before all things 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.139 and in him 00:22:13.139 --> 00:22:15.319 all things hold together. 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.359 Friends, 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:16.859 Christ, 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.299 the Lord of all creation. 00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:20.159 Secondly, 00:22:20.699 --> 00:22:21.819 the problem of creation. 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:22.759 Now, 00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.139 this understanding 00:22:24.139 --> 00:22:25.319 that Jesus is sovereign 00:22:25.319 --> 00:22:26.240 over all things 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:28.059 raises a question 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.659 because if Jesus 00:22:29.659 --> 00:22:31.219 really is the Lord of all, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:32.980 if Jesus really is supreme 00:22:32.980 --> 00:22:34.119 over all things, 00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:35.759 why is our world 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.679 in such a mess? 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:37.740 Well, 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.879 the human world anyway. 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.680 You could argue 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.400 that the cosmos 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.160 and the galaxies 00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.980 are doing all right 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.540 on their own, 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.240 but why is our world 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.320 in such trouble? 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.800 There's wars, 00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:47.940 there's hatred, 00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:49.400 there's fighting, 00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.620 there's oppression 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:52.240 of ethnic minorities, 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.440 oppression of children, 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.440 oppression of women, 00:22:55.080 --> 00:22:55.680 there's hurts, 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.460 there's hatred 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.300 in our hearts, 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.800 and not only that, 00:22:58.860 --> 00:22:59.500 there's disease, 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.900 our bodies are aching, 00:23:01.300 --> 00:23:02.020 and not only that, 00:23:02.080 --> 00:23:03.460 the physical world itself 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:05.080 seems to be taking strain. 00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:06.919 There's floods, 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.799 and there's earthquakes, 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:09.240 and all these things. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.879 If Jesus is Lord 00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:12.019 of the whole world, 00:23:12.419 --> 00:23:13.960 what's he doing about it? 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:15.919 How's he looking after it? 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:16.799 Remember, 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:18.419 Paul was writing this letter 00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:19.399 at the time 00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.659 when Nero 00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:22.199 was emperor of Rome, 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.759 which was not a good time 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.359 for Christians 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:25.259 to be in Rome. 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.379 And so, 00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.399 the Christians 00:23:27.399 --> 00:23:28.299 might have been thinking, 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.039 well, 00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:30.599 you say that Jesus is Lord, 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:31.619 but it doesn't look like 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:32.759 he's doing a very good job 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:34.180 because things aren't going 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:35.059 so well for us. 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.359 Nero's persecuting 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:36.839 the Christians, 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.960 he's about to set fire 00:23:37.960 --> 00:23:38.559 to Rome, 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.539 the church is under persecution. 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.259 Where is this Lord of all 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.740 that we're supposed to worship? 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.140 Who is this Lord of creation, 00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:47.379 and what is he doing about it? 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:48.119 Well, 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.119 before we get there, 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:50.119 we need to understand 00:23:50.119 --> 00:23:51.339 the reason for this mess. 00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:53.019 And what's caused 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.559 the problems 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.359 that we encounter? 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.400 And the Bible's answer 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.619 is that we have. 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.099 We have. 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.640 The problem with the world 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.839 is the problem of humanity. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:02.740 It started off 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:04.099 with our very first ancestors, 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:06.419 the very first moral agents 00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:07.519 made in God's image 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.279 that God made 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.839 for us to reflect him, 00:24:09.939 --> 00:24:10.559 to love him, 00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.359 and serve him. 00:24:11.939 --> 00:24:13.240 And they went off 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.039 on their own. 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.759 And we, 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.559 as humanity, 00:24:15.679 --> 00:24:16.039 have followed 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:16.699 in their footsteps. 00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:18.000 We want our own autonomy. 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.039 We want the God 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.799 that made us 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.839 to serve us. 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:22.539 We want to be 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.299 our own masters. 00:24:23.459 --> 00:24:23.819 We want to be 00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.480 our own lords. 00:24:24.939 --> 00:24:25.480 We want to be 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.199 our own gods. 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:28.159 And while this takes 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.699 a million different shapes 00:24:29.699 --> 00:24:30.339 and forms, 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.299 and it looks different 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.399 in different ways, 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.559 the essence 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.519 of all of this 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.159 is what's wrong 00:24:35.159 --> 00:24:35.639 with the world. 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:35.980 That is, 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:36.939 human beings 00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:37.980 were made to love 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:39.019 and serve the God 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:39.619 that made us 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:40.619 in his image 00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:42.119 as an act of worship 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:42.759 and instead 00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:43.439 we've loved 00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.539 and we serve ourselves. 00:24:44.659 --> 00:24:45.339 And we've asked God 00:24:45.339 --> 00:24:46.359 to join our plans 00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:46.859 and to love 00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:48.399 and to serve us. 00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:50.259 And the problem of this, 00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.439 what the Bible calls sin, 00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:52.980 is it's a distortion 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.819 and a breakdown 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:55.000 of everything in the world. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.480 It means our relationship 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.000 with the God 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:57.679 that made us 00:24:57.679 --> 00:24:58.199 is broken 00:24:58.199 --> 00:24:58.819 and distorted. 00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:00.299 It means our relationships 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:01.179 with one another 00:25:01.179 --> 00:25:01.799 are broken 00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.480 and distorted. 00:25:02.679 --> 00:25:03.259 That's why you have 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:04.200 things like racism 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.059 and sexism 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.679 and oppression 00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:06.259 of people. 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.679 It means our relationship 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.960 with our physical world 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.919 is broken 00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.539 and distorted. 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.159 We now use the world 00:25:12.159 --> 00:25:12.839 to serve us 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.779 rather than serving 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.279 our world 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.059 to the glory of God. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.039 But also, 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:17.059 it means our relationship 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.019 with our very selves 00:25:18.019 --> 00:25:18.639 is broken 00:25:18.639 --> 00:25:19.319 and distorted. 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:21.099 We are conflicted inside. 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.619 We don't even 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.799 understand ourselves. 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:24.240 And so the problem 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.839 of sin is that 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:26.179 all our relationships 00:25:26.179 --> 00:25:26.819 with God, 00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.500 with each other, 00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.119 with the world, 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:28.819 with ourselves, 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:30.299 is distorted 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.599 and broken. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.819 And verse 13 00:25:32.819 --> 00:25:33.880 of chapter 1 00:25:33.880 --> 00:25:35.140 talks about 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:36.299 being captured 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.160 by the domain 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.779 of darkness. 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.539 One author said it 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.079 like this, 00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.539 In other words, 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:42.500 while Christ 00:25:42.500 --> 00:25:43.700 is the supreme one, 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.640 the one in whom 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.420 all things 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:46.299 find their origin, 00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.640 on whom all things 00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:48.440 depend for their 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.240 very existence, 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.680 to whom all things 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.220 belong, 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.940 he does not now 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.660 seem to be 00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.619 the head of all things 00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:55.460 as he ought to be. 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.559 All powers 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.400 do not presently 00:25:57.400 --> 00:25:58.660 recognize his supremacy. 00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.819 There is sin, 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.940 there is darkness, 00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:02.079 there is death. 00:26:02.840 --> 00:26:03.720 And so the question is, 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.819 what is this sovereign, 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.440 majestic, 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.819 or supreme God 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.779 going to do 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.559 about his world 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:10.259 that is out of order? 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.400 Third thing, 00:26:12.600 --> 00:26:14.000 Jesus and redemption. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.900 You'll know that 00:26:16.900 --> 00:26:17.380 Claire and I 00:26:17.380 --> 00:26:18.620 have two wonderful children, 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.960 and they love Claire's cooking, 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.140 as you heard earlier. 00:26:22.819 --> 00:26:23.759 And our children 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.840 are four and six, 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.459 and our children 00:26:25.459 --> 00:26:26.919 love drawing pictures, 00:26:27.179 --> 00:26:27.879 coloring in 00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.899 and drawing pictures. 00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.240 I'm sure all children 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.980 that age do it, 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.559 but our children 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.439 especially love it. 00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.299 And they love 00:26:33.299 --> 00:26:34.139 drawing pictures 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:35.059 for other people, 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.000 writing cards 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.659 for other people. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.879 I'm sure some of you 00:26:37.879 --> 00:26:39.019 have received their cards. 00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:40.399 They are forever 00:26:40.399 --> 00:26:41.179 writing letters 00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:42.039 for others, right? 00:26:43.179 --> 00:26:44.259 But seldom do they 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.439 get it right first time. 00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:47.579 Very often they start 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.240 and something 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.439 invariably goes wrong. 00:26:49.579 --> 00:26:50.899 They spill water over it 00:26:50.899 --> 00:26:51.679 or they draw out 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:52.399 of the lines 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.599 or something goes wrong, 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.799 and there's big tears. 00:26:56.179 --> 00:26:57.119 There's big drama 00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:58.199 in our household, right? 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:00.000 And Shiloh's got this line, 00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.939 my youngest daughter, 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.599 the four-year-old, 00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:01.980 who says, 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.699 it's all ruined, 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:05.319 and she'll scrunch it up 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.939 and throw it on the page 00:27:06.939 --> 00:27:08.099 and put her head down 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.059 and cry, right, 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:09.899 when she's messed up 00:27:09.899 --> 00:27:11.919 her precious Picasso drawing. 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:13.859 Well, friends, 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.819 is that what God does 00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.480 with our world? 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.799 When God, 00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:17.859 the Supreme Creator, 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.919 looks at this world 00:27:18.919 --> 00:27:19.519 that He made 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.839 and sees it gone wrong, 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:22.660 does He just scrunch it up 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:22.799 and go, 00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.720 it's all ruined, 00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.500 time to start again? 00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.900 Is that what He does? 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.279 No. 00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.619 What Paul is going to show us 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:32.859 is that just as it pleased God 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:34.720 through the power of Christ 00:27:34.720 --> 00:27:36.079 to create the world, 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.519 so in the same way 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.299 it pleases God 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.299 through the power of Christ 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.779 to recreate the world 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:42.480 or to redeem the world 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:44.619 or to heal His broken world. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.559 In other words, 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.639 what is God doing right now? 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:49.720 He is sovereignly restoring 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.640 His supremacy. 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:52.080 He is becoming 00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:53.620 what He already is 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:55.920 by renewing creation. 00:27:56.280 --> 00:27:57.700 But He's not going to do it 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.640 the way that we think 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.360 He might do it. 00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:00.320 He doesn't do it 00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:01.259 by scrunching it up 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.300 and throwing it aside. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:03.900 He doesn't do it 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:05.320 by sending in the armies 00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:07.100 to go and destroy His enemies 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.380 that have destroyed the world 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:10.940 and eliminate all His enemies. 00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:12.700 He doesn't do it 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:14.020 by taking all the Christians 00:28:14.020 --> 00:28:15.580 out of this horrible, 00:28:15.780 --> 00:28:16.040 puffy, 00:28:16.540 --> 00:28:17.200 physical world 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.000 up into heaven 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.840 to a spiritual, 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.759 ethereal world 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.559 where we can just 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.519 live in this 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.440 on the clouds 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:23.200 and play harps. 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.080 That's not how He's 00:28:24.080 --> 00:28:24.940 renewing His world. 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.279 He's doing it 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:27.440 by entering His world. 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.400 He's doing it 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:29.860 by taking on human flesh. 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:30.779 He's doing it 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.880 by recreating it 00:28:31.880 --> 00:28:33.220 from the inside out. 00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.240 He's doing it 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.840 by changing 00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:36.279 one individual life 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.240 at a time. 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:39.120 Look at verse 18 with me. 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:41.120 Jesus came not 00:28:41.120 --> 00:28:42.200 to eliminate humanity 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.100 but to fix it. 00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.700 Not to destroy humanity 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.680 but to free it. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:46.620 to take that 00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.240 which is lost 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.759 and broken 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.700 and recreated 00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.340 in His image. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.259 Look at verse 18. 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:51.460 So we've just heard 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.200 about how Christ 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.759 is supreme 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.500 over all things. 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.360 All things are made 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:54.900 by Him 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.880 and through Him 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.860 and for Him. 00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:58.100 He upholds all things 00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:59.340 and now verse 18 says 00:28:59.340 --> 00:29:00.860 He is the head. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.120 But this time 00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.120 not just the head 00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.759 of creation, 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:04.920 not just the head 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.640 of all things 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.240 in general, 00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.039 He's the head 00:29:07.039 --> 00:29:08.060 of something specific. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.759 He's the head 00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.160 of His body 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:11.580 which is the church. 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.500 The English 00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.019 gives away 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.700 the punchline 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:13.960 there. 00:29:14.139 --> 00:29:15.139 The Greek just says 00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:15.920 He's the head 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.740 of the gathering, 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.119 the head 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:17.839 of the assembly 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.440 of people. 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.859 So Jesus is now 00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:20.379 the head 00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.319 of a body 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:21.900 of people, 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.440 some kind 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.119 of gathering 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:23.740 or assembly. 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.200 But who is this body? 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.160 What's so special 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.579 about them 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:27.139 that Jesus 00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:28.180 is now the head 00:29:28.180 --> 00:29:29.200 of this body? 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:29.920 Well, 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:30.839 let's keep reading. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:31.799 It says He's the head 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:32.480 of His body, 00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.359 the church. 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.480 He is the beginning 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.599 or more specifically 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.920 the new beginning. 00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.160 We know He was there 00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:38.680 at the beginning 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.559 of all creation 00:29:39.559 --> 00:29:41.079 but now He's the head 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.240 of a new kind 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:42.659 of beginning, 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.720 a different beginning, 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.379 a recreation. 00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.339 He's the head 00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.519 of a new beginning, 00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.740 not just a scrunch 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.740 it up and start again 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.419 kind of beginning, 00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:53.059 not just a destroy 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:53.700 His enemies 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.099 and repopulate 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:55.519 the world 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.299 with new people 00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:56.859 kind of beginning. 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.980 There's something 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:58.599 different about 00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.139 this beginning. 00:29:59.859 --> 00:30:00.419 It's the kind 00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:00.899 of beginning 00:30:00.899 --> 00:30:01.460 that someone, 00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.000 it's the kind 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.759 of new start 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.740 someone experiences 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:05.159 when they've been 00:30:05.159 --> 00:30:06.059 enslaved 00:30:06.059 --> 00:30:06.599 and they're now 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.079 set free. 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.179 It's the kind 00:30:08.179 --> 00:30:08.919 of new beginning 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.779 that you get 00:30:09.779 --> 00:30:11.380 when someone's 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:12.440 been declared dead 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:13.519 and then the doctors 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.460 resuscitate them 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.360 and bring them to life. 00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:16.420 It's the kind 00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.120 of new beginning 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.660 that I think 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.620 Nelson Mandela 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.680 from my country 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.460 experienced 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:21.980 after being set free 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.700 from being in jail 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.840 for 27 years 00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:24.980 as a political prisoner. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.200 Set free. 00:30:26.300 --> 00:30:27.279 There's a new beginning 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:30.420 and this is what Jesus, 00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:31.200 this is what He's saying. 00:30:31.820 --> 00:30:32.580 This is what 00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:33.720 this new creation involves. 00:30:33.860 --> 00:30:34.640 Jesus taking 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:35.800 that which was lost, 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:37.100 that which was empty, 00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:38.500 that which was imprisoned, 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:40.099 that which was enslaved, 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:41.460 that which was dead 00:30:41.460 --> 00:30:42.500 and He gives it 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.220 new life 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.480 and that makes sense 00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.519 because the next line 00:30:45.519 --> 00:30:46.599 says He is 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:47.720 the new beginning, 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:49.380 He is the firstborn, 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.359 there's our word again, 00:30:50.640 --> 00:30:51.119 the chief, 00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:52.059 the preeminent one, 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.680 amongst those 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:54.559 who were dead. 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.859 You see what Jesus 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.440 is doing here? 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:58.160 Jesus is creating 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:59.359 a new humanity, 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:00.359 a new people, 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.420 a new body, 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:02.440 a new beginning 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:04.000 but this body, 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.940 this new people 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:06.000 is not made up 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.680 of those who have 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:07.579 got it all together 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.259 and are faithful. 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.779 It's not made up 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.779 of those who have 00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:12.779 always obeyed 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.339 all the rules. 00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:14.659 Jesus is not 00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:15.759 some political leader 00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.740 that's been kicked 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.500 out of power. 00:31:17.879 --> 00:31:18.919 He's now retreating 00:31:18.919 --> 00:31:20.619 to His faithful constituents 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.919 and regrouping 00:31:21.919 --> 00:31:23.059 and re-forming 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.220 a new political party 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:25.240 to take on the rebels. 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.220 That's not what's happening. 00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.199 Jesus is going off 00:31:28.199 --> 00:31:29.359 to the very people 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:30.139 that asked at Him. 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.899 Jesus is going off 00:31:31.899 --> 00:31:33.000 to the very rebels 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.559 that put Him 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.139 on the cross. 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.759 Jesus is going off 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:36.820 to the very people 00:31:36.820 --> 00:31:37.380 who cried, 00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.600 crucify Him. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.120 Jesus is going off 00:31:40.120 --> 00:31:40.520 to sinners 00:31:40.520 --> 00:31:41.460 like you and me 00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.900 and He's changing us 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:43.600 on the inside. 00:31:44.080 --> 00:31:45.500 He's recreating us. 00:31:46.040 --> 00:31:46.820 He's going off 00:31:46.820 --> 00:31:47.280 to the thing 00:31:47.280 --> 00:31:47.900 that went wrong 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:48.620 in the first place 00:31:48.620 --> 00:31:49.380 which is our heart 00:31:49.380 --> 00:31:50.100 and He's giving us 00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:50.900 a new heart 00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:52.500 and then He's welcoming us 00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.220 into His family 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.480 as a new body, 00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:55.860 as a new people, 00:31:56.300 --> 00:31:57.160 as His church. 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.800 Remember that old 00:31:58.800 --> 00:31:59.820 wonderful hymn? 00:32:00.620 --> 00:32:00.840 It says, 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.660 Behold the man 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.480 upon the cross, 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:04.560 my sin upon His shoulders. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.200 Ashamed I hear 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.460 my mocking voice 00:32:07.460 --> 00:32:08.640 crying out 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.759 amongst the scoffers. 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.259 It was my sin 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:11.960 that held Him there 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.200 until it was accomplished. 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.740 His dying breath 00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.779 has brought me life. 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:17.960 I know that it is finished. 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.800 Jesus is the head 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.380 of His body. 00:32:20.840 --> 00:32:21.279 He's the head 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.140 of the new beginning. 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.279 He's the head, 00:32:23.540 --> 00:32:24.180 the firstborn 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:25.660 of those who were once dead. 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:27.000 And look at verse 21 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:27.500 with us. 00:32:27.640 --> 00:32:28.400 Verse 21 says, 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:30.279 Don't you know you 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.980 who were once alienated, 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.940 who were once hostile in mind, 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.480 doing evil deeds? 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:37.299 He is now reconciled. 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:38.079 He is made new. 00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:38.899 He has restored 00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.660 the relationship 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:41.220 by His death 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.519 in order to do what? 00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.220 To present you holy, 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.180 to present you blameless, 00:32:46.399 --> 00:32:48.480 to present you above reproach 00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.160 before Him 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:50.920 if indeed you continue 00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:52.639 steadfast in the faith. 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.379 Friends, 00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:54.519 this body of people, 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.619 this new creation 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.940 is made up of those 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:57.619 who were once dead 00:32:57.619 --> 00:32:58.119 in their sins 00:32:58.119 --> 00:32:59.319 but are now alive again. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.359 Made up of those 00:33:00.359 --> 00:33:01.220 who were once broken 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:01.759 by sin 00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:03.039 but are now being made new. 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.240 Of those who were once 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.299 slaves to the domain 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:05.919 of darkness 00:33:05.919 --> 00:33:07.500 but are now being set free 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.279 on the kingdom 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:09.399 of His Son. 00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:11.139 And this body of people 00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.039 Jesus calls 00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.159 His church. 00:33:14.159 --> 00:33:14.339 Friends, 00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:15.019 do you see what God 00:33:15.019 --> 00:33:15.799 is doing in the world? 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.480 What is Jesus doing 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:17.679 in the world? 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.399 Who is God? 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.899 He's the sovereign supreme one 00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:20.720 of all the world. 00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.859 And what is He doing? 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.559 He's recreating the world. 00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:24.899 He's recreating, 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.659 but He's doing it 00:33:25.659 --> 00:33:26.779 one life at a time. 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.419 One individual at a time. 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.600 He's moving in 00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:30.539 and He's recreating us 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.700 from the inside out. 00:33:32.300 --> 00:33:33.820 Jesus is not recreating 00:33:33.820 --> 00:33:34.279 the world 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.500 by making new stars 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.120 and galaxies, 00:33:36.820 --> 00:33:37.960 by making new planets 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.840 and new cosmos, 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:40.000 new ecosystems. 00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.259 He's not doing it 00:33:41.259 --> 00:33:42.380 by making new countries 00:33:42.380 --> 00:33:43.080 or tribes 00:33:43.080 --> 00:33:43.900 or ethnicities, 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.080 but He is making 00:33:45.080 --> 00:33:45.740 a new people. 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.600 He's making a new Israel. 00:33:48.360 --> 00:33:49.519 He's making a new nation. 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:51.240 He's making a new body. 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.339 He does it 00:33:52.339 --> 00:33:53.059 by recreating 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:53.880 the very thing 00:33:53.880 --> 00:33:54.839 that caused the problem 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:55.539 in the first place, 00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.759 by recreating our hearts, 00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:57.839 by giving us 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:58.640 a heart of flesh 00:33:58.640 --> 00:34:00.279 that we will be included 00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.140 in His family. 00:34:01.299 --> 00:34:02.039 He is the head 00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.620 of His body, 00:34:03.160 --> 00:34:03.640 the church, 00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:04.240 the beginning, 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.440 the firstborn amongst the dead, 00:34:06.620 --> 00:34:07.759 that in everything 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:08.519 He might be 00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.739 what He already is, 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.380 which is preeminent 00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:12.840 over all things. 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.760 And how did He do it? 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.440 How did Jesus do this? 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:18.039 Well, verse 19 tells us. 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.420 It says, 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:19.539 For in Him 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:21.300 all the fullness of God 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.300 was pleased to dwell 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.440 and through Him 00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.880 to reconcile all things, 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.519 whether on earth 00:34:25.519 --> 00:34:25.980 or in heaven, 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.259 making peace 00:34:27.259 --> 00:34:28.039 by the blood 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:29.159 of His cross. 00:34:29.940 --> 00:34:30.219 Friends, 00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:30.940 the way that Jesus 00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:32.079 is reconciling the world 00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:32.639 to Himself, 00:34:32.779 --> 00:34:33.460 the way that Jesus 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.880 brings about a new creation 00:34:34.880 --> 00:34:36.480 is that He went to the cross. 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:38.059 He went and He hung there. 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.900 He took our sin 00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:39.739 upon His shoulders. 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.619 He took the very thing 00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:43.139 that was destroying us 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:44.219 upon Himself 00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:44.940 and let Himself 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.099 be destroyed on the cross. 00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.480 It is the only way 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:48.659 that Jesus could destroy 00:34:48.659 --> 00:34:49.780 the sin inside of us 00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:51.019 without destroying the people 00:34:51.019 --> 00:34:52.059 in whom sin dwelt. 00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:54.159 And so Jesus went to the cross 00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:55.500 and He took our sin 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.400 and He took our shame 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.119 upon Himself 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:58.460 and allowed that 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.179 to be destroyed. 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.019 And then Colossians 2 says, 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:01.840 In doing so, 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.460 He overcame His enemies. 00:35:03.559 --> 00:35:05.500 He triumphed over the very ones 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:07.539 that were causing this mess 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.380 in the first place. 00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.619 Jesus died on the cross. 00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.480 In verse 16, 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.240 we saw that in Him 00:35:14.240 --> 00:35:15.440 all things were created. 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.420 Verse 19 tells us, 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.820 In Him the fullness of God 00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.699 was pleased it will. 00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.880 In verse 16, 00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.300 we said, 00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.800 We saw that through Him 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:23.820 all things were made. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:25.500 And now we see that through Him 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:28.000 all things are being reconciled. 00:35:28.280 --> 00:35:29.039 In verse 16, 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.240 we saw to Him 00:35:30.240 --> 00:35:31.079 all things are made. 00:35:31.139 --> 00:35:32.300 And now we see to Him 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:33.880 all things will be reconciled. 00:35:34.579 --> 00:35:34.840 Friends, 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:36.019 the great rapture 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.380 in the unity of the world, 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:38.760 the great discord 00:35:38.760 --> 00:35:40.320 of the whole created existence, 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:41.599 the great dissonance 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.980 in the totality of all things 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.019 has been put right 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:45.920 to Christ's sacrificial death 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.880 and resurrection 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:49.220 because He has made peace 00:35:49.220 --> 00:35:51.119 by the blood of His cross. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.420 See, friends, 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:54.559 Jesus is Lord of all creation, 00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:56.079 but He's not just Lord of creation. 00:35:56.200 --> 00:35:57.700 He's Lord of redemption as well. 00:35:58.139 --> 00:35:59.800 He's the Lord of the new creation. 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:01.700 Just as God, 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:04.079 it is through God and God alone 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:05.180 that the whole world was made, 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:06.420 through God and God alone 00:36:06.420 --> 00:36:07.659 is the whole world to be saved. 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:10.059 Just as God needed no help 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:11.180 with His creation plan, 00:36:11.740 --> 00:36:12.740 God needs no help 00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:14.380 with His redemption salvation plan. 00:36:14.380 --> 00:36:15.760 Just as you and I 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:17.500 didn't contribute a single thing 00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:18.680 to the creation of the world, 00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:19.740 so we don't contribute 00:36:19.740 --> 00:36:20.559 a single thing 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.880 apart from our sin 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:24.160 to the salvation of our hearts. 00:36:24.240 --> 00:36:24.460 Friends, 00:36:24.579 --> 00:36:25.800 this is the amazing promise 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:26.740 of Colossians 1, 00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:29.000 that Jesus truly is God 00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:30.320 and He's Lord of all creation. 00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:32.680 And while it may not always seem so, 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:33.780 while it may seem 00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.840 that the world has fallen 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:36.240 and things are out of control, 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.900 the promise of Colossians 1 00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:39.340 is that God is gloriously 00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.300 and majestically 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:41.480 at work in His world, 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:43.360 restoring and recreating 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:44.539 all things. 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:46.840 He is as much Lord of redemption 00:36:46.840 --> 00:36:49.159 as He is of creation. 00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:50.340 Well, 00:36:51.119 --> 00:36:52.099 let's bring this to a close. 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:52.980 I want to close with 00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:54.240 asking this question, 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:54.940 so what? 00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.980 Very briefly, 00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.719 two things. 00:36:58.199 --> 00:36:59.059 What does this mean? 00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.099 What does this mean 00:37:00.099 --> 00:37:00.820 for the Colossians 00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.519 and what does it mean 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.699 for us in Hong Kong? 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:04.099 What does it mean tomorrow 00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:04.940 as you go to work? 00:37:05.059 --> 00:37:05.980 What does it mean tomorrow 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.780 as you're at home, 00:37:06.860 --> 00:37:07.880 as you parent your kids? 00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:08.820 What does it mean 00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:09.740 as you are retrenched 00:37:09.739 --> 00:37:11.339 or you need to do the retrenching? 00:37:11.619 --> 00:37:12.339 What does it mean 00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:14.059 as you receive that medical report? 00:37:14.819 --> 00:37:15.759 Two things it means. 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:16.939 First thing is this. 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:19.239 The Colossian Christians, 00:37:19.619 --> 00:37:20.599 2,000 years ago, 00:37:21.439 --> 00:37:22.500 in their head they knew 00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.799 that Christ is Lord of all. 00:37:24.299 --> 00:37:25.139 They had been told, 00:37:25.259 --> 00:37:25.719 they understood 00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:27.459 that Jesus is the supreme 00:37:27.459 --> 00:37:28.579 God of all creation. 00:37:29.159 --> 00:37:30.179 And yet every day 00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:31.779 they were constantly being told 00:37:31.779 --> 00:37:34.099 that Rome is their security. 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.539 Rome is what will provide 00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:36.039 their peace. 00:37:36.419 --> 00:37:37.559 Rome will look after them. 00:37:37.619 --> 00:37:38.939 If they are just faithful to Rome, 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:40.320 Rome will be faithful to them. 00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:41.820 And so while in their heads 00:37:41.820 --> 00:37:42.940 they knew Jesus was Lord, 00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:43.659 in their hearts 00:37:43.659 --> 00:37:45.059 that truth was being challenged. 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.360 And friends, 00:37:46.420 --> 00:37:47.119 that's just as true 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:47.760 for you and I. 00:37:48.119 --> 00:37:49.260 If you're a Christian this morning, 00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:50.039 you probably know 00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:52.019 that Jesus is Lord of all. 00:37:52.179 --> 00:37:53.079 But every day 00:37:53.079 --> 00:37:54.280 as we go into our city, 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:55.740 that truth is being challenged. 00:37:56.260 --> 00:37:56.760 You're being told 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:57.420 that your boss 00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.539 has your future in your hands. 00:37:58.599 --> 00:37:59.340 Your education 00:37:59.340 --> 00:38:00.800 holds your future in its hands. 00:38:01.320 --> 00:38:02.260 The market forces 00:38:02.260 --> 00:38:03.760 hold your future in its hands. 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:04.780 But friends, 00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:06.320 this is the most liberating thing, 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.400 that in all the world 00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:09.180 there is not a single iota. 00:38:09.340 --> 00:38:10.619 There is not a single atom 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.800 in all creation, 00:38:12.119 --> 00:38:13.680 not a single day 00:38:13.680 --> 00:38:14.519 in the future 00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.260 which is outside 00:38:15.260 --> 00:38:16.360 of God's sovereign hand. 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.980 For Christ is supreme 00:38:17.980 --> 00:38:18.760 over all things. 00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:20.340 There is not a boss 00:38:20.340 --> 00:38:21.200 in all the world 00:38:21.200 --> 00:38:22.039 that has more say 00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.680 over your life 00:38:22.680 --> 00:38:23.700 than what Jesus has 00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:25.039 over your life. 00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:26.700 There is not a market force 00:38:26.700 --> 00:38:27.900 that can rob you 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.539 of your future 00:38:28.539 --> 00:38:30.019 more than God wills 00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:30.980 or God will allow. 00:38:31.559 --> 00:38:32.180 There is not a single 00:38:32.180 --> 00:38:34.119 job promotion qualification 00:38:34.119 --> 00:38:35.159 that can secure 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:35.739 your future 00:38:35.739 --> 00:38:36.900 more than Jesus. 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:38.679 He is the supreme one. 00:38:39.279 --> 00:38:40.000 But the second thing 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:40.859 it meant for the Colossians 00:38:40.859 --> 00:38:41.359 is this. 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:43.239 It meant great patience 00:38:43.239 --> 00:38:44.420 in the midst of trials 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:45.119 and difficulty. 00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:46.679 So think about this. 00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:48.079 Epaphras and Philemon, 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:49.400 we read about them 00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:49.859 last week, 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:51.679 they hear about 00:38:51.679 --> 00:38:52.559 the gospel in Ephesus 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:53.219 and they go back 00:38:53.219 --> 00:38:53.839 to Colossae 00:38:53.839 --> 00:38:55.219 and they tell their friends 00:38:55.219 --> 00:38:55.739 and their neighbors 00:38:55.739 --> 00:38:56.299 and their colleagues 00:38:56.299 --> 00:38:56.839 and they say, 00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:58.539 we've found the Messiah. 00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.259 Jesus is Lord of all. 00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:01.559 Christ is the King. 00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.679 Caesar isn't King. 00:39:02.679 --> 00:39:03.719 Jesus is King. 00:39:03.940 --> 00:39:05.519 And Jesus is coming back. 00:39:05.799 --> 00:39:07.039 He is the supreme ruler 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:07.719 of all. 00:39:08.139 --> 00:39:09.059 And they preach this 00:39:09.059 --> 00:39:10.179 and the people believe it 00:39:10.179 --> 00:39:11.279 and they believe in their hearts 00:39:11.279 --> 00:39:12.099 and they become followers 00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:12.639 of Jesus. 00:39:13.319 --> 00:39:14.980 And then a few years go by 00:39:14.980 --> 00:39:16.579 and things don't seem 00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.199 to be changing 00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:18.980 and life is hard 00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:21.000 and Nero becomes emperor 00:39:21.000 --> 00:39:23.079 and things become difficult 00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:23.779 and this church 00:39:23.779 --> 00:39:24.839 is still a small church. 00:39:24.919 --> 00:39:25.559 It doesn't grow. 00:39:26.279 --> 00:39:26.940 And after a while 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:27.879 they're starting to think, 00:39:28.279 --> 00:39:29.379 is Jesus really Lord? 00:39:29.899 --> 00:39:31.179 He seems to be taking his time. 00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:32.919 He thought he was coming back. 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.619 Where is this Jesus? 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:36.579 And as things go wrong 00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.579 they can start to wonder. 00:39:37.759 --> 00:39:38.940 Is Jesus really at work 00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.519 in this world? 00:39:40.500 --> 00:39:40.759 Friends, 00:39:41.159 --> 00:39:42.460 but Paul writes to tell them 00:39:42.460 --> 00:39:44.539 that Jesus is establishing authority. 00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:46.079 Jesus is becoming 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.199 what he already is. 00:39:47.419 --> 00:39:48.500 But he's doing it 00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:49.619 through his body, 00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:50.919 through his church. 00:39:51.219 --> 00:39:51.759 He's doing it 00:39:51.759 --> 00:39:53.339 one individual at a time. 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:55.339 Reconciling sinners to himself 00:39:55.339 --> 00:39:56.819 so that in everything 00:39:56.819 --> 00:39:58.859 he might be preeminent. 00:39:59.319 --> 00:39:59.599 Friends, 00:39:59.639 --> 00:40:00.839 isn't that true for us as well? 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.619 We read the news, 00:40:03.159 --> 00:40:03.919 things go wrong. 00:40:04.500 --> 00:40:05.299 We read how the church 00:40:05.299 --> 00:40:06.079 is being persecuted 00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:07.159 in various countries 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:07.879 around the world 00:40:07.879 --> 00:40:08.299 and we think, 00:40:08.399 --> 00:40:09.440 where is the Supreme Lord? 00:40:09.899 --> 00:40:10.219 Jesus, 00:40:10.359 --> 00:40:10.779 if you're Lord, 00:40:10.819 --> 00:40:11.899 what are you doing about it? 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:13.059 Where are you? 00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:13.839 Are you coming back 00:40:13.839 --> 00:40:14.739 anytime soon? 00:40:15.379 --> 00:40:15.719 Friends, 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:16.879 the truth of the gospel 00:40:16.879 --> 00:40:18.079 is that God is at work 00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:18.480 in the world. 00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:19.339 God is at work 00:40:19.339 --> 00:40:20.059 here in Hong Kong. 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:21.399 He's reestablishing 00:40:21.399 --> 00:40:22.159 his supremacy 00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:23.460 one life at a time, 00:40:23.839 --> 00:40:24.980 one reconciled sinner 00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.619 at a time, 00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.940 one dead person 00:40:26.940 --> 00:40:28.159 made alive again. 00:40:28.159 --> 00:40:29.199 And so Paul writes 00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:30.559 in Colossians, 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:32.139 he says in verse 23, 00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:33.719 therefore continue 00:40:33.719 --> 00:40:34.420 in the faith, 00:40:34.879 --> 00:40:36.299 stable and steadfast. 00:40:36.460 --> 00:40:37.199 Don't shift 00:40:37.199 --> 00:40:37.960 from the hope 00:40:37.960 --> 00:40:38.920 of the gospel. 00:40:39.559 --> 00:40:40.480 This Christ Jesus 00:40:40.480 --> 00:40:41.519 is Lord of all 00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:42.559 and he's coming 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.819 to prove it. 00:40:44.279 --> 00:40:44.679 Friends, 00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:45.699 this is God's word to us. 00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:46.679 Just as Paul wrote 00:40:46.679 --> 00:40:47.559 to the Colossians 00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:48.299 to remind them 00:40:48.299 --> 00:40:49.779 that Jesus is supreme 00:40:49.779 --> 00:40:50.460 over all things, 00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:51.679 so God would remind us 00:40:51.679 --> 00:40:52.159 this morning. 00:40:52.659 --> 00:40:53.039 I don't know 00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:53.639 what challenges 00:40:53.639 --> 00:40:54.179 you're facing, 00:40:54.299 --> 00:40:55.359 but Christ is supreme 00:40:55.360 --> 00:40:56.240 over all things. 00:40:56.660 --> 00:40:57.640 And just as Paul wrote 00:40:57.640 --> 00:40:59.000 to remind these Colossians 00:40:59.000 --> 00:40:59.620 of the power 00:40:59.620 --> 00:41:00.240 of the gospel, 00:41:00.620 --> 00:41:01.599 often understated, 00:41:02.160 --> 00:41:03.960 often not with a lot 00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:04.599 of fanfare, 00:41:05.039 --> 00:41:06.240 often not with a lot 00:41:06.240 --> 00:41:06.880 of glamour 00:41:06.880 --> 00:41:07.340 and glitz 00:41:07.340 --> 00:41:08.120 and bright lights, 00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:09.599 but Jesus is at work. 00:41:09.680 --> 00:41:10.579 The power of the gospel 00:41:10.579 --> 00:41:11.860 is changing people's lives 00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:13.420 so God would remind us 00:41:13.420 --> 00:41:14.059 that the same, 00:41:14.519 --> 00:41:15.579 that God would encourage us. 00:41:15.640 --> 00:41:16.519 He's at work in the world. 00:41:16.620 --> 00:41:17.599 He's at work in Hong Kong. 00:41:18.059 --> 00:41:19.099 He's at work in our city. 00:41:19.559 --> 00:41:20.500 And this is our hope, 00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:21.380 that while the world 00:41:21.380 --> 00:41:22.599 is reeling from the effects 00:41:22.599 --> 00:41:23.000 of sin, 00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:24.200 while the world is broken, 00:41:24.199 --> 00:41:25.519 we are not without hope, 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:27.179 because Christ is Lord, 00:41:27.619 --> 00:41:28.759 reconciling all things 00:41:28.759 --> 00:41:29.279 to himself, 00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:30.460 whether on earth 00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:31.139 or in heaven, 00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:32.279 making peace 00:41:32.279 --> 00:41:32.919 by the blood 00:41:32.919 --> 00:41:34.179 of his cross. 00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.439 Let's pray together. 00:41:44.439 --> 00:41:44.919 Jesus, 00:41:45.299 --> 00:41:45.480 we, 00:41:47.679 --> 00:41:48.639 for many of us, 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:50.319 we know this truth 00:41:50.319 --> 00:41:50.879 in our heads. 00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:51.960 We understand, 00:41:51.960 --> 00:41:54.360 or we think we understand 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:56.260 the wonderful teaching 00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:57.099 about your sovereignty 00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:58.059 and your supremacy. 00:41:59.619 --> 00:42:00.260 And yet, 00:42:00.360 --> 00:42:00.579 God, 00:42:00.639 --> 00:42:01.480 we need that truth 00:42:01.480 --> 00:42:02.440 to drop from our heads 00:42:02.440 --> 00:42:03.159 to our hearts. 00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:05.099 As we go to work tomorrow, 00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:06.960 as we travel, 00:42:08.019 --> 00:42:10.500 as we look after kids, 00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:11.400 as we look after 00:42:11.400 --> 00:42:12.460 our aging parents, 00:42:13.099 --> 00:42:15.639 as we look for work, 00:42:16.800 --> 00:42:17.059 Father, 00:42:17.139 --> 00:42:18.220 won't you remind us, 00:42:18.300 --> 00:42:18.519 God, 00:42:18.519 --> 00:42:19.460 that there is not 00:42:19.460 --> 00:42:20.340 a single atom 00:42:20.340 --> 00:42:21.139 in all creation, 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:23.059 there's not a single day 00:42:23.059 --> 00:42:24.159 in the history of the world 00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:25.539 which is beyond you, 00:42:25.639 --> 00:42:26.780 which is outside of you. 00:42:27.940 --> 00:42:28.280 And God, 00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:29.039 while we don't always 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:30.199 understand these things, 00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:32.019 while the world seems 00:42:32.019 --> 00:42:34.239 to sometimes be reeling, 00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:35.380 God, 00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:36.340 won't you remind us, 00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:37.460 won't you open our eyes 00:42:37.460 --> 00:42:39.539 to see the supremacy 00:42:39.539 --> 00:42:41.039 of Christ over all things. 00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:42.619 Won't you show us, 00:42:42.739 --> 00:42:42.920 God, 00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:43.579 that you are 00:42:43.579 --> 00:42:44.800 not just like 00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:45.759 one of many gods, 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:46.420 but you are 00:42:46.420 --> 00:42:47.340 the one and only 00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:48.160 supreme God 00:42:48.160 --> 00:42:49.220 and you are 00:42:49.220 --> 00:42:50.120 wholly sufficient. 00:42:51.220 --> 00:42:51.600 Lord, 00:42:51.660 --> 00:42:52.000 I pray, 00:42:52.120 --> 00:42:52.580 come and open 00:42:52.580 --> 00:42:53.560 the eyes of our hearts. 00:42:55.000 --> 00:42:55.360 God, 00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:56.060 for those of us 00:42:56.060 --> 00:42:57.020 that are feeling hurt, 00:42:57.140 --> 00:42:57.720 for those of us 00:42:57.720 --> 00:42:58.340 that are feeling 00:42:58.340 --> 00:43:00.260 the pressures 00:43:00.260 --> 00:43:02.100 of the world 00:43:02.100 --> 00:43:02.760 in which we live, 00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:03.040 God, 00:43:03.100 --> 00:43:03.580 won't you come 00:43:03.580 --> 00:43:04.540 and minister to us? 00:43:05.800 --> 00:43:06.240 Won't you come 00:43:06.240 --> 00:43:06.740 and fill us 00:43:06.740 --> 00:43:07.460 with your spirit? 00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:09.640 Won't you come 00:43:09.640 --> 00:43:10.420 and remind us, 00:43:10.520 --> 00:43:10.700 God, 00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:12.520 to keep our eyes 00:43:12.520 --> 00:43:13.500 steadfast on you. 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:14.740 Jesus, 00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:15.700 we sang this morning, 00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:16.940 come and be the center. 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:19.140 Help us to fix our eyes 00:43:19.140 --> 00:43:19.460 on you, 00:43:19.500 --> 00:43:19.920 we pray. 00:43:22.700 --> 00:43:23.100 Christ, 00:43:23.160 --> 00:43:23.640 come and take 00:43:23.640 --> 00:43:24.720 the throne of our lives. 00:43:26.260 --> 00:43:27.580 We pray these things 00:43:27.580 --> 00:43:29.020 in your name. 00:43:29.020 --> 00:43:30.780 Amen. 00:43:31.480 --> 00:43:32.000 Amen.