Thank you.
And as always, look forward to catching up over tea and coffee with you afterwards.
Please turn in your Bibles to Colossians.
This is the series we're in at the minute.
Colossians chapter 1.
So, if you would like notes to be able to take, there's pens at the table as you came in and a little A5 sheet as well.
Thank you, Jonathan.
So feel free to go and get that if you need to.
Thank you.
We're going to read this morning from chapter 1, verse 15 down to verse 20.
Let's hear God's word to us.
Colossians 1, starting at verse 15.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For in him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities.
All things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things,
whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.
Well, please keep your Bibles open there.
I'm going to pray, and then we're going to get stuck in to God's word.
Let's pray.
Father, thank you that you have not left us alone in the dark.
We're not grappling to figure out or understand who we are and who you are.
But we thank you that as we read the words of Scripture, as we open up our Bibles today,
so you reveal yourself to us,
who you are and what you are like and what you have done.
And so we pray that you would help us to engage with this word,
a word that has power to change,
power to give life,
power to give hope,
and how we need that today.
And so we thank you that as we come,
all that we read and all that we think about together
is going to be good for us.
So help us now by your Spirit, we pray.
Amen.
So,
why should I follow Jesus?
Of all the different religions there are in the world,
and all the different philosophies that are being taught,
why Jesus?
You see,
Johnny,
the people that I hang out with,
the people in my sports teams,
the people I work with,
they don't follow Jesus.
So why should I?
Maybe they're the ones that are actually right,
and I've got it completely wrong.
What makes Jesus so unique
that I should follow him?
Why Jesus?
Now that's a really important question to ask,
and thankfully Colossians provides the answer.
Colossians is all about a new church,
new believers in Christ,
who are facing the why Jesus question.
Of all the different teachings and beliefs,
and we'll get to this in chapter 2,
that are being thrown at them,
why follow Jesus?
So a letter is written to this church
to remind them,
and to teach us today,
why Jesus is the one we should follow.
And together we're going to look at two big reasons.
First,
Jesus is the sovereign son
over the first creation,
and then second we're going to look at
Jesus is the supreme saviour
over the new creation.
So two answers,
or two reasons,
as to why we need to follow Jesus.
Because he's the sovereign son,
and he's the supreme saviour.
So let's look at these two big ideas together.
Here's reason number one.
Jesus is the sovereign son
over the first creation.
You see,
Jesus isn't like any other person.
He is unique,
one of a kind.
And four things
tell us about who Jesus is.
First,
Jesus is God.
Look at verse 15.
The son,
the son of God,
that's Jesus,
is the image
of the invisible God.
Now,
we can't see God.
We can't touch him.
God is spirit.
He doesn't have a human body like ours.
But Jesus,
the son,
makes what is invisible,
visible.
You see,
Jesus is the true image of God.
As another writer in the New Testament
put it like this in Hebrews,
the son,
Jesus,
is the exact representation
of God's being.
The exact representation.
So if you were alive
in the first century,
and you went down
to the local shop
to get your bread,
and you saw Jesus in there
buying his bread,
you were seeing God
in human form.
Incredible,
isn't it?
And so for us today,
as we read Scripture,
as we look at God's Word,
God is revealed to us.
As we think about
who Jesus is
in Scripture,
so God is revealed to us.
Not his physical attributes,
what colour hair he had.
No,
this is all about
his character.
It reveals God to us.
Jesus is God.
And that means
you and I
are not God.
only Jesus
can rightfully claim
to be God.
Second,
Jesus is
the owner.
Again,
let's look at verse 15.
Jesus is
the image
of the invisible God
and the firstborn
over all creation.
Now,
firstborn
sounds like
that Jesus
was the first person
that was ever
to be born.
But that's not
quite what it means.
it's talking about
inheritance
or ownership.
You see,
in the past,
the firstborn
inherited everything
that belonged
to his Father.
And that's what
the focus is
here.
Jesus has
inherited
all creation
from the Father.
Everything
belongs to him.
There is nothing
that does not
belong to him.
Jesus is
the owner.
that means
that Jesus
also owns
you and me.
We belong
to Jesus.
Not only is he
the owner,
it makes sense
then to say
that Jesus
is also
the creator.
You might remember
that in your
Bibles,
Genesis 1,
verse 1,
it says,
in the beginning
God
created the
heavens
and the
earth.
God created
the heavens
and the
earth.
Now we're
told,
look at
verse 16,
for in
him,
in Jesus,
all things
were created.
And then the
last line of
verse 16,
all things
have been
created
through him
and for
him.
So who
created
the world?
Was it
God
or was it
Jesus?
No,
it's not a
contradiction,
it's not a
trick question.
Because Jesus
is God,
it is true
to say that
Jesus created,
verse 16,
things in
heaven
and on
earth.
He made
the birds
that fly
in the sky.
And the
fish that
swim deep
in the
oceans.
The visible
things around
us in
creation,
like cats
and dogs.
And the
invisible
things that
we cannot
see,
like bacteria
and cells.
Jesus
made the
powers
and the
thrones
and those
who sit
on them,
the kings
and presidents
of nations.
Jesus
also made
the rulers,
we're told,
or the
authorities.
That is,
he made
the supernatural
powers,
Satan
and his
minions.
Yes,
God created
all.
Of course,
he didn't
make them
wicked,
they became
wicked,
but Jesus
is creator
of all.
And that
means,
wonderfully,
that Jesus
created
you.
You are
his
design.
So,
Jesus is
God,
he's the
owner,
he's the
creator,
and he
is also
the
sustainer.
Verse 17,
he is
before all
things,
and in him
all things
hold together.
Jesus,
in his
greatness,
holds
everything
together.
He controls
the tides,
the seasons
of the year,
the rain
that falls,
and the
sun that
shines.
He controls
the movement
of the
planets and
the galaxies,
the forces
of the moon,
so that we
all don't
just go
floating off
into space.
He gives
breath
to every
living creature,
water to
quench,
and food
to nourish.
Jesus is
sustainer.
And that
means that
Jesus is
sustaining
you right
now if you
sit in your
seat.
He's making
your heart
beat right
now.
You see,
Jesus isn't
like anyone
else, is
he?
He is
unique.
Nobody else
can claim
these credentials
that he is
God,
the owner,
the creator,
and the
sustainer.
Not of
some things,
but of
all things.
Did you
notice
all the
alls?
Have a look
at verse
15.
Count how
many alls
there are.
He is the
firstborn over
all creation.
End of
verse 16.
all things
have been
created through
him and
for him.
Verse 17.
He is
before all
things,
and in
him all
things hold
together.
Jesus, who
is God, is
over
everything.
He is
sovereign.
That simply
means that
Jesus has
absolute
authority
and
complete
control
over all.
As one
writer put
it,
I think
I have it
here on
screen,
there is
not a
square inch
in the
whole domain
of our
human
existence
over which
Christ,
who is
sovereign
over all,
does not
cry,
mine.
It's all
his.
Every
single
detail.
Jesus is
the sovereign
son over
the first
creation.
He rules
over everything
and everyone
and he has
power over
everything and
everyone.
Nothing
happens without
his say-so.
Nothing.
And
everything
happens at
his say-so.
He is the
sovereign
son.
And that
has implications
for us.
Because
Jesus is
the
sustainer,
I am
dependent
on him.
The very
breath that
I breathe
right now
comes from
him.
The food
that I eat,
the water
I drink,
is all
from him.
My
heartbeat,
my blood
flowing through
my veins
right now
is all
dependent
on him.
Without
him I
would
cease
to
exist.
And
because
Jesus is
the
creator,
I am
under
him.
I'm
not above
him,
telling him
what to
do,
or giving
him my
plan and
saying you
should follow
my ideas.
I'm not
equal with
him,
that we're
best chums,
no,
I am
under
him.
He is
the
creator,
I am
the
created.
And
because
Jesus is
the
owner,
I obey
him.
I don't
argue with
him and
say,
I think
you've
got that
wrong.
No,
I obey
him,
I listen,
he does
the speaking,
he does
the
commanding,
he does
the
demanding,
and I
obey him.
And
because
Jesus is
God,
I owe
my life
to him.
He
demands
and
deserves
my
honour,
my
life,
my
all,
my
worship.
You
see,
the
reason
why
I
should
follow
Jesus
is
because
Jesus
is the
sovereign
son
over the
first
creation.
That's
the
reason,
that's
the
answer.
Now,
the problem
is,
we don't
naturally
follow
Jesus,
which has
led to
disastrous
consequences.
you see,
our
natural
inclination
is to
reject
the
sovereign
son.
We
defy
his
rule
and
his
authority
and
we
live
as if
we
are
God
and
the
results
have
been
disastrous.
We've
gone
from
beauty
into
brokenness.
Think
of it
like this
with me,
the
sun,
that is
the
S-U-N
kind,
the big
fiery
ball
that we
never see
because
there's
always
clouds
in the
way,
is
actually
at the
centre
of
our
galaxy,
the
universe.
Everything
revolves
around
the
sun,
doesn't
it?
The
world
makes
a full
rotation
around
the
sun
over
the
course
of
one
year,
365
days,
and
we
orbit
the
sun.
That's
what keeps
everything
in its
place.
Everything
has its
order.
Now,
suppose
with me
just for
a minute,
that planet
Earth
decided to
be at
the
centre,
and
everything
else
should
revolve
around
it.
Well,
the very
foundations
of the
universe
would
collapse,
change
the order
and design,
and you
get order
or disorder
and chaos.
Now,
that's
exactly what
it is like
in terms
of our
response
to the
sun,
the
S-O-N
sun,
the
sovereign
sun,
God the
owner,
the creator
and sustainer
is at
the
centre.
He's
the one
who owns
all things,
controls
all things,
and we
were made
to revolve
around him,
to live
our life
in response
to him.
That is
how we
flourish
and how
we thrive
as human
beings.
but
replace
the
sun,
the
S-O-N
with
self
and put
ourselves
at the
centre
and expect
everything
to revolve
around us,
that is
everybody
else,
and God
himself
should
revolve
around me,
well,
chaos
reigns.
And that's
what we've
done
personally
and collectively.
The human
race has
said no
to Jesus.
We've
pushed out
the sovereign
son and
replaced him
with self.
We've
claimed an
independence
from our
creator.
The created
world has
become a
suffering world
and the
consequences are
there for us
to see it.
Wars,
disasters,
tragedies,
everything around
us has become
disjointed.
It's ripping
apart,
it's pulling
apart,
leaving a
gaping wound
that we
cannot fix.
But worse
than all of
this,
our rejection
of the
creator means
we have
become
separated
from our
creator.
Instead of
union with
God who
made us,
there's now
division.
Instead of
peace,
there's enmity.
Instead of
flourishing,
there's now
brokenness.
And tragically,
it has put us
all under the
just and fair
judgment of
God.
We're heading
to an eternal
existence
without the
Son,
without Jesus
and all his
good gifts.
The existence
is what the
Bible calls
hell.
We're at a
loss.
And the
only one who
can do anything
about it
we have
rejected.
Well,
thankfully,
God has
not rejected
us.
Which leads
us to the
second big
reason as
to why we
should follow
Jesus.
Because Jesus
is the
supreme
saviour
over a
new
creation.
You see,
as saviour,
Jesus is
bringing
about a
new
creation.
He will
renew this
broken world
and restore
our
disordered
lives.
And three
things are
going to
show us
how Jesus
the saviour
brings about
this new
creation.
Three things
we're to look
at.
First of all,
he says,
I want you
to look at
the church.
Look at the
church.
verse 18.
And he,
that is
Jesus,
is the
head of
the body,
the church.
He's the
owner of
the church.
He's the
boss, the
one in
authority.
He is the
beginning,
that is,
he is the
founder and
the firstborn
from among
the dead.
You see,
just as
Jesus created
the world,
so Jesus
is the
one who
creates
the church.
You see,
the church
is the
beginnings
of God's
new creation.
Verse 18,
we're told
he is the
firstborn
from among
the dead.
Jesus was
the first
to die
and rise
again,
never to
die again.
He is
champion
over death.
And so
all who put
their trust
in Jesus,
we're told
will also
rise.
They will
be raised
from death
to new
life.
And as
the firstborn
from among
the dead,
that means
the same
idea that
we saw
in verse
15,
he inherits.
All those
who trust
in Jesus
are given
to Jesus
as his
inheritance.
They become
his people
who belong
to him,
they become
his new
creation.
So when
we look
at the
church,
and you
can do
that right
now,
take a
good look
at each
other.
We're
thinking about
the church
people.
When we
look at
each other,
we are
looking at
God's
new
creation.
A
people who
no longer
have self
at the
center,
but have
Jesus
at the
center.
You see,
the church
is a
dead
people who
have become
a renewed
people.
We're a
broken
people who
have become
a restored
people.
Have a look
at chapter
3,
verse 10.
It tells
us something
of what he
is doing
in regards
to the
new
creation.
He says,
have put
on the
new self,
which is
being renewed
in knowledge
in the
image
of its
creator.
The
church,
God's
people,
as we
are being
made new,
are becoming
more like
Christ and
one day we
will be
like him.
You see,
the church,
and here we
are in a
rattly old
building,
as we often
say,
with the
roof about
to blow
off and
the rain
coming down,
we're not
much,
are we?
But yes,
we are.
We are
God's
display piece
to the
world of
what he
is doing
through
Jesus.
We're not
nobodies,
we're a
new creation,
God's
display model
to the
world of
what he
is doing.
That means
that if
you are
in Jesus,
you are
a new
creation.
So,
reason number
one,
why Jesus
is the
supreme
saviour,
we're to
look at
the church.
Second,
look at
the sun,
the S-O-N,
verse 19,
for God
was pleased
to have
all his
fullness
dwell in
him.
This big idea is repeated for us in chapter 2, verse 9.
Chapter 2, verse 9.
Where it says,
For in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives.
All of God is in Christ.
And he lives in bodily form.
You see, Jesus not only makes God visible,
it's telling us here, in verse 19,
that God becomes like one of us.
He comes in bodily form.
A human being, just like us,
with arms and legs and nose and eyes and ears.
He becomes a person.
You see, the only way to save this broken world,
the only way to put right our disordered lives,
is if God would come as a person.
That would be the only way.
God himself must come to this world.
And so in Jesus,
we have both God and man.
Jesus is fully God and fully man.
100% God, 100% man.
Now why is that important?
Because that's the qualification
for Jesus to be our saviour.
As man,
Jesus fully represents humanity to God.
And as God,
Jesus represents God fully to humanity.
You see, if Jesus is not man,
then we have nobody to represent us to God.
And if Jesus isn't God,
then we have no one to represent God to us.
In the sun,
we see both God and man,
which makes Jesus uniquely qualified,
as we'll see in a minute,
to be our saviour.
There's no one like him.
That means if you trust in this Jesus,
he is your saviour.
So we look at the church,
we look at the sun,
and third, we look at the cross.
Let's read verse 19 and 20.
For God was pleased
to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus,
and through Jesus
to reconcile to himself
all things,
whether things on earth
or things in heaven,
by making peace through his blood
shed on the cross.
See that word reconcile there?
Verse 20.
Reconciliation implies
that there is a separation
between us and God.
That there is a division
between us and our creator.
You see, our rejection of the sun
has put us outside of God,
and it's resulted in chaos.
But all of that is undone
and reversed
through Jesus' death on the cross.
It is through the cross
that reconciliation takes place.
So verse 20.
He reconciles to himself
all things
by making peace
through his blood
shed on the cross.
On the cross,
as Jesus dies,
we see Jesus,
the God-man,
our true representative.
Jesus,
as fully human,
becomes our substitute.
You see,
humanity must pay
for sin and rebellion.
And if I stand before God,
well,
I am going to be condemned
for all eternity.
That is what I deserve
for the mess and brokenness
and rebellion of my life.
And if I'm going to be condemned,
how could I possibly
stand in for you
or anybody else
stand in for me
and pay for my rebellion?
That's why we need
Jesus,
the perfect human,
to stand in for me.
The one who is right,
but yet takes my sin,
my self-centred independence,
and dies for me.
And as Jesus dies,
the sword of judgment
falls on Jesus
and his blood is spilt
instead of me.
Jesus,
as fully human,
becomes our substitute.
And Jesus,
as fully God,
forgives my sin.
You see,
my sin and my rebellion,
yes,
we do harm to one another
with the words we say,
but ultimately,
it's against God.
So it's only God
who can truly forgive my sin.
But here's the problem.
He can only forgive
once justice has been done.
So how do you condemn someone
and forgive someone
at the same time?
Well,
it must be God
who does it.
It must be God
who comes
in the person
of his son,
Jesus.
God must die.
He must pay the penalty.
He must pay the price.
And because
he has paid the price,
he is now able
to forgive me
fully and completely.
We can actually
be reconciled.
Jesus
has done it.
He has reconciled
to him
all things
through his blood
shed
on the cross.
He brings peace.
Where there was
separation and division,
there is now
a grand
reconciliation
of humanity
with God.
God.
That means
if you are trusting
in the cross,
you no longer
have to fear God,
you can enjoy
God.
You see,
Jesus is not like
anyone else,
is he?
No one else
can claim
these credentials
that we're looking at.
Look at the church,
look at the sun,
look at the cross,
Jesus is
completely
unique.
In fact,
let's go back
to verse 18,
the end of verse 18.
He does all of this
so that in everything
he might have
the supremacy.
Supremacy
simply means
that what Jesus
has done
can't be equaled
or bettered.
Did you notice
the all
in verse 20?
And through
him
to reconcile
to himself
all
things.
All things.
Not some things,
but all things.
Now this has
two major
implications for us
which we're going
to look at.
First,
because Jesus
is the supreme
saviour,
Jesus saves
sufficiently.
what Jesus
has done
on the cross
for us
is enough.
That's why
when he was
on the cross
he cried out,
it is finished.
There's nothing
for us to add
to what Jesus
has done.
There's nothing
we need to do
to change
what Jesus
has done.
It is sufficient
to save
anyone
and everyone
who comes
to Jesus.
we just
stand
and watch
in amazement
that he
saves
sufficiently.
And because
he is the
supreme
saviour,
Jesus
saves
extensively.
He not
only reconciles
us to
God,
he is
reconciling
all of
creation
to God.
Look at
verse 20
again.
And through
Jesus
to reconcile
to himself
all things
whether
things on
earth
or things
in heaven.
This is
nothing less
than a
universal
reconciliation.
One day
the sovereign
son,
the supreme
saviour
is going
to come
again
and he's
going to
undo
all that
is broken
and restore
all that
is destroyed.
And on
that day
the church,
God's
people,
will be
united
with
Christ.
We will
receive our
brand new
bodies and
we will
live forever
in his
new
creation.
The
kingdom of
the son
he loves.
It's an
extensive
salvation.
It restores
everything
and it's a
sufficient
salvation.
It is
enough.
we don't
need to
add to
it.
So rest
in the
security
of what
Jesus has
done.
Look forward
in hope
to all
that is
to come.
So why
should I
follow Jesus?
Why should
you follow
Jesus?
Well,
first,
because Jesus
is the
sovereign
son over
the first
creation
and second,
because Jesus
is the
supreme
savior
over the
new
creation.
Follow
him.
He is
unique.
There is
no one
else like
him.
Let's
pray.
Lord
Jesus,
we are
amazed
at who
you are
and what
you have
done.
We thank
you that
you are
God.
the
owner,
the
creator,
the
sustainer
of all
things.
Thank
you that
through
Jesus
you are
reconciling
all things
to
yourself.
Thank
you that
as we
come to
Jesus,
we can
be
reconciled
to him.
And not
only that,
but we
can know
that you
are reconciling
the whole
universe
to God,
undoing
what is
broken
and putting
right what
has been
wronged.
How amazing,
how awesome
you are.
Help us
that we will
not follow
anyone else
or anything
else,
but only
trust in
Jesus.
Help us,
we pray.
Amen.
We're going
to sing
together.
If you're
of a
certain age,
you'll know
this one.
If you're
not, you
won't.
But we
will all
know the
same tune.
So the
church's
one
foundation
is
Jesus
Christ,
her
Lord.
she is
his new
creation
by water
and the
word.
So let's