WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.740 I had a colleague of mine at Christians in Sport who a few years ago was at a conference and he was in charge of delivering some of the stuff. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:14.660 But after one of his sessions, one of the delegates came up to him and just gave him this wristband. 00:00:15.480 --> 00:00:18.839 And on the wristband, it just said these two words, I'm third. 00:00:20.059 --> 00:00:23.820 And you can imagine at Christians in Sport, we're all quite competitive people. 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:26.160 So this didn't really sit too well with him. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:31.379 And the thought of coming third in anything was not really a successful thing. 00:00:32.020 --> 00:00:36.880 And he was a little bit confused, but he managed to catch up with this person over a meal. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:41.740 And he asked them, thanks for the wristband, but kind of what's it all about? 00:00:42.519 --> 00:00:54.299 And the chap explained to him that it was something that has helped him live out his Christian life in light of the two great commandments to love the Lord, your God and to love your neighbor as yourself. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:56.619 And he says, so God is first in my life. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:59.959 Others are second and I'm third. 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:03.939 And so he wears his wristband to remind him of that. 00:01:03.939 --> 00:01:22.560 And in our passage this morning, in light of what is going on in Colossae, we see the false teachers criticizing the true Christian church, the new believers, and trying to teach them that Jesus isn't number one. 00:01:23.140 --> 00:01:25.979 He's there, but he's certainly not number one. 00:01:26.039 --> 00:01:33.079 And so Paul is writing to them to try and help them keep Jesus as number one in their life. 00:01:33.079 --> 00:01:41.920 And in our passage this morning, we're going to look at these five verses that I hope will do that for us too, that we can keep Jesus as number one. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:44.299 We've just had them read to us, which is brilliant. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:53.560 And as you'll know from last week, this flows off the back now of verses eight to 14, which was Paul's prayer for the church. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:02:05.640 And he was praying that they would grow in all wisdom and knowledge of Christ so that they could then go and live a life worthy of him and a life that really pleased him in every way. 00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:17.219 And so out of that prayer comes this incredible description of Jesus, arguably one of the greatest descriptions we've got of Jesus in the whole of the Bible. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.439 It's amazing. It is rich and it is full. 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:22.580 And so he goes, look, I'm praying this for you. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:24.080 So let me just tell you about this Jesus. 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:27.240 Let me just remind you of who he is. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:28.939 And I pray that for ourselves. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:33.359 So let me just say a quick prayer again before we dive into these verses. 00:02:34.079 --> 00:02:41.400 Father God, thank you so much that we do have your word to be able to read, to consider and to understand. 00:02:41.699 --> 00:02:44.919 But we need your Holy Spirit to help us and guide us through that. 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:46.419 So please would you do that now, Father? 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:52.360 Open our eyes wider as we've sung so that we might see you in the word, in your word now. 00:02:52.360 --> 00:03:00.140 And would this impact our hearts and drive our actions so that we can live for you as number one of our lives here in Edinburgh? 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:02.260 And we pray this in your name. Amen. 00:03:04.160 --> 00:03:11.060 So we've had it read to us and you will have seen as it was being read to you, there's quite a lot of repeated words and phrases. 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:12.340 So I'm going to read it one more time. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:17.680 And I just love for you to quickly know, if you can, just some of the repeated words and phrases within this. 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:22.760 Who's the subject? What kind of things is Paul really trying to drive home within it? 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:25.260 So look down at it again and let's just read it. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:29.780 The sun is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 00:03:30.659 --> 00:03:35.420 In him, all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:38.939 whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. 00:03:39.700 --> 00:03:43.400 All things have been created through him and for him. 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:47.719 He is before all things and in him all things hold together. 00:03:48.300 --> 00:03:50.500 And he is the head of the body, the church. 00:03:50.900 --> 00:03:57.680 He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 00:03:58.460 --> 00:04:04.580 For God is pleased to have all his fullness dwell in to reconcile to himself all things, 00:04:05.140 --> 00:04:11.960 whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:17.980 This is the supreme Jesus, the central figure of the Christian faith. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:21.780 And you'll see within these verses, it's pretty obvious, but who's the subject? 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:23.240 Of course, it's the sun. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:25.579 Do you see that repeated over and over again? 00:04:25.699 --> 00:04:28.759 In him, through him, for him, by him. 00:04:29.639 --> 00:04:33.939 Paul is making it so obvious to us that these verses is all about Jesus. 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:35.579 It's saturated with Jesus. 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:39.560 And who or what has the sun got supremacy over? 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:41.759 Well, everything. 00:04:42.419 --> 00:04:43.099 All things. 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:43.740 Do you see that? 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:46.079 I think it's six times you see that come through. 00:04:46.180 --> 00:04:47.959 All things, all things, all things. 00:04:48.659 --> 00:04:52.279 He's leaving us in no doubt at all of Christ's supremacy. 00:04:52.279 --> 00:04:56.279 He is Lord of all things. 00:04:58.099 --> 00:05:06.719 And the breadth of his magnitude and his glory and his majesty, well, we cannot fathom. 00:05:07.099 --> 00:05:09.619 But he's trying to help us do that inch by inch. 00:05:09.659 --> 00:05:19.039 And I pray that this supremacy will help us really appreciate Jesus for who he is as we understand it and keep him as number one in our lives. 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:31.500 And I think it will, if we allow it to, make such a radical impact on our hearts and our lives that it will change the way we live and who we live it for and how we function around those that we live alongside. 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:33.520 So let's split it into two parts. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:39.160 We'll go from verses 15 to 17, first of all, kind of Christ's supremacy in creation. 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:44.460 And then we'll look at verses 18 to 20, Christ's supremacy in redemption. 00:05:45.360 --> 00:05:47.800 So Christ's supremacy in creation. 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:51.319 Verse 15, the sun is the image of the invisible God. 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:55.199 This word image, it's a significant word in the Bible. 00:05:55.340 --> 00:05:57.720 It props up lots of different times as we go. 00:05:57.780 --> 00:06:01.800 We see it firstly in Genesis chapter one, verse 26, let us make man in our image. 00:06:02.699 --> 00:06:04.120 And we see it flowing through. 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:09.699 It means an exact representation or a revelation. 00:06:10.699 --> 00:06:16.000 And Paul is telling us here that Jesus is the image of God. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:24.120 Although God himself is invisible, we see in Jesus a true representation of who God is. 00:06:24.660 --> 00:06:26.300 And you see it in verse 19, don't you? 00:06:26.339 --> 00:06:31.420 That God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him. 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:42.080 Please do not be in any doubt whatsoever that when you see Jesus, you see God for who he truly is. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:49.359 And if you've not looked into this man, Jesus, and if you've not had a chance to investigate him, I'd urge you to. 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:57.519 Because as you observe his life and you read through the pages of the New Testament and the gospels of his life, you come to see a man like no other. 00:06:57.519 --> 00:07:00.560 One who has never walked the face of this earth before. 00:07:01.299 --> 00:07:01.740 Why? 00:07:02.599 --> 00:07:04.579 Well, because he wasn't just a man. 00:07:05.099 --> 00:07:07.939 He is God in human flesh. 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:11.219 He is the image of God, Paul is saying. 00:07:11.719 --> 00:07:13.259 What's the second thing he talks about? 00:07:13.419 --> 00:07:18.000 Well, he says that he's the firstborn over all creation. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:26.839 This doesn't necessarily reference time, but rather it's a phrase used that talks about kind of status and place. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:32.339 It can mean kind of of first importance or of first rank. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:37.060 Paul is saying that Jesus is of first importance when it comes to creation. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:43.160 And it can be sometimes read and confused with, oh, is Jesus created here? 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:44.319 What's this getting at? 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.899 But you must read it, connect it to verse 16. 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:48.500 Have a look at that. 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:49.019 Do you see it? 00:07:49.379 --> 00:07:57.779 That crucial word for links us from the firstborn over all creation for in him all things have been created. 00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.420 Or you could say because. 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:06.539 Jesus is the firstborn over all creation because all things are created in him. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:13.279 Paul is saying here that Jesus is the creator of all things. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:23.459 From the magnitude and the splendor of the mountain ranges to the vast galaxies that currently exist. 00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:29.600 Through to the beauty of the streams and the rivers that we see flow through our world. 00:08:29.959 --> 00:08:33.779 Right down to the intricacies and the wonder of a newborn baby. 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:37.500 That is Christ's creation. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:46.960 Joe and I just came back up through from Dumfries last night because we were visiting our newborn little nephew. 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:48.600 Finley's little cousin. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:49.600 This is Freddie. 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:51.539 He's five days old. 00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:57.700 And you can't help but when you hold the newborn baby just to be quite awestruck to be honest with you. 00:08:58.179 --> 00:09:02.940 You see their little fingers and toes and the nose and the ears. 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:05.280 And you think wow this is incredible. 00:09:05.940 --> 00:09:08.200 Absolutely incredible creation. 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:12.460 And as you understand more about the human body and a baby. 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:15.940 You just can't help but be bowled over by it. 00:09:16.140 --> 00:09:21.860 They say that babies are born with about 300 bones that are still forming and fusing together after birth. 00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:27.140 And then slowly but surely they go down to what is our 206 bones that we have with us now. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:33.580 Did you know that babies when they're breathing they can actually swallow and breathe at the same time for about the first seven months. 00:09:34.059 --> 00:09:34.899 Don't try that now. 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:36.639 You can have a go when you get home if you want to. 00:09:37.199 --> 00:09:38.699 The human body is remarkable. 00:09:39.100 --> 00:09:42.939 If we took all of our blood vessels out of the human body and lay them in one long line. 00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:43.539 All right. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:47.340 It would be so long that it could wrap around the world twice over. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:51.059 And just take your finger for a second for me. 00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:52.720 Just have a look down at your finger. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:53.340 Go on. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:53.799 Don't be shy. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:54.279 It's all right. 00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:57.139 Just look at your fingerprint. 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:00.019 No one else has got that. 00:10:01.819 --> 00:10:02.639 Unless you're a twin. 00:10:02.919 --> 00:10:04.199 I don't know if that's true either. 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:08.879 Everyone is born with a unique fingerprint. 00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:10.240 Especially to them. 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:13.139 Every baby has its own fingerprint. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:16.539 This is the wonder of God's creation. 00:10:17.959 --> 00:10:19.939 It was all created through him. 00:10:19.940 --> 00:10:24.320 All things, Paul says, were created by Jesus. 00:10:24.540 --> 00:10:25.500 Through Jesus. 00:10:25.620 --> 00:10:29.500 And he covers pretty much every area of society in the universe, doesn't he? 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:30.360 Look down at it. 00:10:30.380 --> 00:10:30.980 Verse 16. 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:33.400 Things in heaven and on earth. 00:10:34.100 --> 00:10:35.280 Visible and invisible. 00:10:35.520 --> 00:10:38.720 Whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. 00:10:40.160 --> 00:10:44.360 See, no wonder we see Jesus have an authority over the wind and the waves. 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.779 Because he's the one who created the wind and the waves. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:52.919 Jesus is the great master of all creation, Paul is saying here. 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:57.080 And all things have been created through him. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:59.159 And he pushes it one stage further here. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:04.919 And he says that not only was creation made through him, but actually creation is for him. 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.639 Do you see that? 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:09.039 Creation exists for Christ's pleasure. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.539 And for Christ's glory. 00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:16.219 Hey, sometimes you get it where you walk past an amazing building. 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:22.000 And some people who are interested in that kind of thing, they're quite taken aback by how amazing this building is. 00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:25.779 And so a question that can often be asked, well, who is the architect of that building? 00:11:27.339 --> 00:11:28.939 Well, this is the same here. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:34.179 When people see the world, we should see the great architect, the great master. 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:38.939 It's been made for him, for his name to be glorified. 00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:46.700 And Paul is saying here that creation itself declares his glory. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:50.880 This is where the psalmist can say that the heavens declare the glory of the Lord. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:54.000 The skies proclaim his handiwork. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:56.820 All things were created by him. 00:11:57.280 --> 00:12:00.000 All things were created for him. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:07.259 And lastly here, underneath the supremacy of Christ over all creation, is that all things hold together. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:08.639 He holds them together. 00:12:08.740 --> 00:12:09.940 Do you see that verse 17? 00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:16.159 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:18.740 Things exist because of Jesus. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.679 Things last because of Jesus. 00:12:22.679 --> 00:12:28.319 He sustains them right now as we sit and stand in this room. 00:12:30.479 --> 00:12:33.879 See, gluten is the thing in bread that holds the bread together. 00:12:33.979 --> 00:12:36.819 It's what makes the fluffy loaves of bread that we love to eat. 00:12:37.859 --> 00:12:40.339 Jesus is the thing that holds our world together. 00:12:41.359 --> 00:12:45.519 If he takes his hand from it, the thing will fall apart. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:57.399 It's incredible if we stop and just ponder how awesome Jesus is in relation to the world around us and this universe that we function within. 00:12:58.579 --> 00:13:05.699 Paul is saying that Christ is supreme over all creation. 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:10.539 And Paul is telling them this because of the amount of pressure that they're coming into. 00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:15.139 You'll see it as you work through Colossians now, particularly in chapter 2. 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:19.059 The false teachers, they're devaluing Jesus. 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:23.620 They're making him out not to be this Jesus, but another. 00:13:24.019 --> 00:13:27.019 Essentially what they're doing is kind of dethroning Jesus. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:30.559 They're trying to make him second, third, or fourth, not number one. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:35.659 And that's why he's reminding them of his supremacy in creation. 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:39.459 And I guess this is a challenge for us in our day and age, isn't it? 00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:49.139 We're not necessarily kind of being forced to tweak or change little bits of our understanding of Jesus much more now in our day and age. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:52.879 We're kind of being forced and pressured just to forget Jesus completely, aren't we? 00:13:55.240 --> 00:14:04.379 And so we must look at this here and be reminded of Jesus so that we don't dethrone Jesus. 00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:07.780 Just take 10 seconds, just to ponder for a moment. 00:14:07.779 --> 00:14:18.019 How could things unfold if we were to dethrone Jesus as the supreme Lord of all creation? 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:30.039 See, it's a scary thought if we take Jesus off that place. 00:14:30.779 --> 00:14:38.779 It leaves us with all different explanations and ways in which we can describe how our universe has been brought about, 00:14:38.860 --> 00:14:41.299 which of course still exists now. 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:50.259 But arguably, and I want to say more importantly, if we take Jesus off the throne of the supreme Christ who's created all things, 00:14:50.819 --> 00:15:03.319 I fear it will snatch away from us the real joy and the peace that we can know in our hearts from knowing that he is Lord of all creation. 00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:07.840 See, how often do you find yourself just waking up and cracking on with your day? 00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:12.360 And you get to lunchtime and you think, oh my goodness, I've not even thought about Jesus once. 00:15:12.540 --> 00:15:14.040 We do it so easily, don't we? 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:20.800 But what normally happens is we then just kind of walk through life and we don't really appreciate the things around us. 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:30.979 How often can we get so obsessed with our own priorities or our problems and we look at ourselves all the time? 00:15:32.099 --> 00:15:34.500 We can so, so easily do this. 00:15:35.219 --> 00:15:42.039 And so when things start to go against our plan, maybe when, I don't know, the rain starts coming down 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:47.919 and it stops the great plan that you had for the day or things start to unfold in a direction in a way you didn't want to go, 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:50.539 what starts to happen, we start to freak out, don't we? 00:15:51.219 --> 00:15:54.120 And we start to panic and worry and fear. 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.579 Why? 00:15:55.979 --> 00:16:00.219 Because we're not seeing Jesus as the great supreme Lord of all creation. 00:16:01.479 --> 00:16:06.539 Rather, we're seeing ourselves and our plans and our motivations as the most important thing. 00:16:06.599 --> 00:16:12.339 Now, I'm not saying that if we put Jesus as number one, our life is like all hunky-dory 00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:15.159 and we're all walking around Edinburgh with smiles on our faces every day. 00:16:16.099 --> 00:16:17.480 I'm not saying that. 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:19.560 There are going to be bad days. 00:16:19.659 --> 00:16:22.740 We know things don't all work out the way that we want. 00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:26.100 But that doesn't mean Jesus is any less supreme. 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:34.539 If you're a follower of Jesus Christ this morning, you know the creator of the universe. 00:16:35.379 --> 00:16:37.580 You know him for yourself. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:44.379 And so when you embrace that and you affiliate everything to him, do you know what? 00:16:44.420 --> 00:16:47.139 You start to see life through a completely different perspective. 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:51.540 You see his handiwork and creation so much more. 00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:54.220 You marvel at all that he's done. 00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:56.940 You enjoy his creation more and more. 00:16:56.940 --> 00:17:01.620 You don't look to try and find your safety and your security in the things of this world 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:05.420 or hold on to those sort of empty promises of comfort. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:09.140 They will not provide and they cannot provide. 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:14.220 Rather, if you know Jesus, you know the person who's got authority over all things. 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:16.240 Nothing's outside of his knowledge. 00:17:16.620 --> 00:17:18.160 Nothing's outside of his control. 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:21.340 Why? Because we've seen it in his word. 00:17:21.840 --> 00:17:23.120 He's created the lot. 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.519 It's for him. 00:17:24.800 --> 00:17:26.240 He sustains the lot. 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:32.880 Does it not knock you back on your heels when you just stop and ponder who this man Jesus really is? 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:40.160 And Paul is urging, urging the guys here in Colossae just to not lose sight of him. 00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:42.779 Keep Jesus as number one. 00:17:42.860 --> 00:17:43.240 So there we are. 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:46.080 That's verses 15 to 17. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:50.799 Let's think about then Christ's supremacy in redemption. 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:53.519 Look at verses 18 to 20 here. 00:17:54.879 --> 00:17:56.639 He is the head of the body, the church. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:02.659 He's the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:11.759 For God is pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:17.480 whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:23.099 Well, firstly, we see here that Jesus is the one in whom the church is totally and utterly dependent. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.339 Churches have leaders. 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.140 Of course, they do. 00:18:26.539 --> 00:18:29.660 Who shepherd the flock, who disciple the people. 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:34.660 But there is only one true head of every single church, and that is Jesus himself. 00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:40.120 The Greek translation of the word head here can kind of be put into a few different categories. 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:45.340 You've got kind of source and origin, but you've also got leader and ruler. 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:50.019 And Paul is saying here that Jesus, he's the ultimate ruler of the church. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:56.000 The church finds his origin in him, and the church operates in him. 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.339 That's who Jesus is. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:59.400 He is the head of all the churches. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:04.079 And through the preaching of his word, through the work of his Holy Spirit, 00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:07.220 Jesus is building his church up. 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:10.079 And nothing's going to stop it. 00:19:11.160 --> 00:19:13.500 And through his church, he is glorifying himself. 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:15.700 Now, I know instantly in your head you think, 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.059 well, it doesn't feel like the church is really doing that. 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:22.980 And without pointing fingers and being able to unpack all the stories, 00:19:23.720 --> 00:19:27.419 unfortunately, we have got many stories where the church hasn't done that. 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.359 Well, I put it to you. 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:34.859 If we were to really look into it, has Jesus been dethroned from that church? 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.919 He's the head of the church. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:39.659 We must keep him as the head of the church. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:43.500 And if he is not the head of the church, then the church can go in any direction it wants to. 00:19:43.919 --> 00:19:45.859 But so long as he is the head of the church, 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:51.319 the church will achieve its plans and purposes deemed and given to them by Jesus Christ. 00:19:51.439 --> 00:19:53.279 He is the head of the lot. 00:19:53.479 --> 00:19:54.319 And why is that? 00:19:54.459 --> 00:19:58.039 Well, because he reconciles all things to himself. 00:19:58.419 --> 00:20:01.559 See that Paul links us there then with verse 18. 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:05.619 He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead. 00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:10.339 This is the result of the great story of redemption. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:14.119 This new birth, this new beginning. 00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:21.179 And verses 19 and 20 really unpacks how Christ really goes about reconciling all things. 00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:23.059 And these are amazing verses. 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:26.039 Firstly, 19, we referenced it earlier. 00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:30.619 God chose to have all his fullness dwell in Christ. 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.179 Christ. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:39.019 This was a huge, huge area of contention with all the new philosophies and things going around in Colossae at the time. 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:45.699 But Paul is making a massive statement here that when you see Christ, God in all his fullness is in him. 00:20:45.959 --> 00:20:48.859 But he's not just in him for being in him's sake. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:53.019 Christ is God in human flesh with a purpose. 00:20:54.199 --> 00:20:55.899 And we see this in these verses, don't we? 00:20:55.900 --> 00:21:00.720 It's for the reconciliation of the universe back to himself. 00:21:02.380 --> 00:21:09.440 We must never forget what it must be like for God to see his creation unfold in the way it is. 00:21:11.380 --> 00:21:17.519 Romans chapters 1 to 3, one of Paul's other letters, it gives probably the clearest explanation 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:23.500 and some of the hardest verses to read about the reality of every human heart and the situation that we face. 00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:31.200 Humanity has rejected God as its creator and its designer. 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:41.759 And Romans 8 tells us that the world itself is groaning in its pains, desperately wanting restoration. 00:21:42.279 --> 00:21:47.819 And look, we only have to turn on our BBC News app or read a paper or overhear a conversation at a coffee shop 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:51.319 to realize things aren't quite functioning the way they're meant to, are they? 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:58.359 And if we're really honest, if we look back on our week just gone, 00:21:59.939 --> 00:22:05.759 it doesn't take us long to think of ways in which we have pushed God out, rejected him, ignored him, 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:07.240 and done things the way we wanted to. 00:22:08.539 --> 00:22:10.659 The Bible calls this sin. 00:22:12.139 --> 00:22:16.639 And sin is wreaking havoc right across our world. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:21.480 But you know what? Sin is serious, not just because of what it is. 00:22:22.280 --> 00:22:26.420 But in relation to this, sin is really serious because of who it's against. 00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:30.820 That's what makes this such a great offense to God. 00:22:31.520 --> 00:22:33.720 This is why things need reconciling. 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:39.720 Because when people sin, it's not just what they're doing, it's who they're doing against. 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:41.660 That is really, really serious. 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:44.120 Let me just help you understand that a little bit more. 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:45.880 So my sport's rugby, okay? 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:50.500 Think for a moment in a rugby game, I just lost my temper, all right? 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:53.440 And I ended up punching an opponent. 00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.480 Now, you just can't do that in rugby. 00:22:56.779 --> 00:23:01.240 It's just not right in any sphere of life and certainly not in rugby. 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:06.400 And so the consequences for that in rugby would be I'd probably get one of those, a red card. 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:09.240 Depending on how serious it is, I might get a ban. 00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:13.759 And that's fair, isn't it, in light of the act that I've performed on the pitch. 00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:16.420 Well, let's just take it one stage further. 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:20.720 Imagine I'm walking down the street here in Edinburgh and I see two policemen. 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.160 And I just don't really like the look of them. 00:23:23.900 --> 00:23:25.700 And so I punch them in the face. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:28.339 You just can't do that, can you? 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.200 Let's be honest. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:34.240 We were all in agreement here, punching's not good, let alone punching two police officers. 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:39.100 And so the consequences for that would be probably even greater, wouldn't they? 00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:42.640 I'd be arrested, I'd definitely have a knight in a cell and potentially more. 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:45.880 Let's push it all the way. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:50.440 Imagine I get on the next train to London, jump on a tube, I get myself to Buckingham Palace, 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:53.319 manage to slip through the fences, find the Queen and pop her on the nose. 00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:58.259 I mean, she's an old lady and she's the Queen. 00:23:58.259 --> 00:24:00.200 I mean, you just don't do that, do you? 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:03.579 Could you imagine the consequences in that moment? 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.500 It's the Queen. 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.079 You can't punch the Queen. 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:09.079 That's so serious. 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:12.960 Well, let's take the humor out of it for a second. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.740 What's the reality for us? 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:18.940 The reality is that we've all punched God. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:21.180 We've all punched Jesus. 00:24:22.660 --> 00:24:24.339 This is really serious. 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:30.579 Through rejecting him as our maker and putting ourselves as number one in our lives, 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:33.539 we have punched him in the face. 00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:40.839 And the Bible does talk about a fair and a fearsome consequence that will come. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:48.480 But that's exactly why we get this incredible message of reconciliation in Christ. 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:51.000 The world is in desperate need of reconciliation. 00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:54.599 Our universe is in desperate need of reconciliation. 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:59.119 Whether you know it or not, sat in this pew this morning and you do not know Jesus, 00:24:59.339 --> 00:25:02.039 you are in desperate need of reconciliation with God. 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.839 It is your greatest need. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:10.720 And see now in these verses how God has provided you the great solution. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:15.980 For God was pleased to have his fullness dwell in him and through him reconcile. 00:25:16.199 --> 00:25:16.500 How? 00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:22.399 Through making peace through Christ's blood shed on the cross. 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:26.059 See, as the world sticks kind of two fingers up at God, what does God do? 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:28.559 He stretches out his hands and he nails unto the cross. 00:25:28.959 --> 00:25:29.359 Why? 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.759 Because he loves you. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.279 Why? 00:25:31.459 --> 00:25:33.659 Because he knows that blood must be shed. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.059 A consequence must be paid. 00:25:36.159 --> 00:25:37.299 The price must be paid. 00:25:37.399 --> 00:25:41.319 But instead of us being hung on that cross for ourselves, Jesus is. 00:25:42.159 --> 00:25:47.259 Willingly, dying on a cross, taking the full weight of God's fair, righteous anger. 00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:52.839 He puts it on himself, faces God's judgment so that we don't have to. 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:56.699 So that we can have peace with God. 00:25:56.879 --> 00:26:02.359 So that we can move from being God's enemies and suddenly become God's children. 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:05.079 This is the great act of reconciliation. 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:13.339 No more does the anger exist, but only peace and joy and life and freedom can be found in this. 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:23.279 Paul is saying that God has reconciled all things in this man, Jesus, through the great act of his sacrifice on a cross. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:32.859 And because he is God in human flesh, because God fully dwelt in him, then if you are to look at the Gospels, I'm sure many of you have, and we know this for ourselves. 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:36.639 Well, Jesus did not remain in the grave. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.899 He rose victorious. 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:39.900 We've sung this morning. 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:42.300 And he smashed death to pieces. 00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:44.720 And he began a new life. 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:46.759 He brought about a new church. 00:26:46.820 --> 00:26:48.740 This is what verse 18 is all about. 00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:56.380 That if we trust in Christ, then this church of young, Jesus-loving people emerge. 00:26:57.220 --> 00:27:01.600 And it's the beginning of a new way, of a new life. 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:10.439 Paul is determined to help the church here in Colossae remember Christ's supremacy over redemption. 00:27:11.199 --> 00:27:12.579 He's the head of the church. 00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:16.480 He reconciles all things through Christ. 00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:19.879 And he's saying, do not let them devalue Jesus. 00:27:20.959 --> 00:27:26.359 Do not let them dethrone Jesus from this incredible truth and doctrine. 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:30.839 And actually, it's exactly the same for us this morning. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:32.879 Again, take 10 seconds. 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:40.619 What would the reality be like if we dethrone Jesus from the great story of redemption? 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:42.319 Take Jesus out. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.459 What are we left with? 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:53.259 Take Jesus out. 00:27:55.380 --> 00:28:01.680 And we're firstly stuck in this impossible cycle of trying to make peace with God ourselves. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.640 Through our efforts and our energy. 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:07.519 And it's tiring. 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:10.519 And it doesn't work. 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:18.180 More than that, then, we're left in a world that actually doesn't look too similar often to the world around us right now. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:23.039 Where people are seeking not to make reconciliation with God, but just try and make themselves the gods. 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:27.839 And so their life is all about making an identity for themselves. 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:30.119 Self-glorification, self-worship. 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:32.900 And so this is the rollercoaster of a life for them. 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:35.559 So then when they get all these likes, they feel amazing. 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.500 When people accept them, they feel amazing. 00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:39.740 But when it's rejected, the whole world falls out. 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:43.259 It's what happens when we take Jesus out of the picture. 00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:48.279 And if we take Jesus out of the great story of redemption, what are we left with? 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:51.259 Well, we're left with having to face the consequences for ourselves, aren't we? 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:57.660 Look how central Christ is to this great story of redemption. 00:28:57.859 --> 00:29:01.519 And that is what Paul is driving home here for us this morning. 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:05.359 You are loved by God. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:10.039 You are safe in his arms because of what Christ has done for you. 00:29:10.119 --> 00:29:18.119 You know the creator of the universe, who is the creator of all things, who sustains all things, who is lord of all things, who has made peace from his blood. 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.339 He is the head of this church. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:22.139 And he's got a place for you, waiting for you in heaven when you die. 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:26.220 What peace this can bring to your heart. 00:29:26.540 --> 00:29:30.500 What joy this can bring you in all circumstances and situations. 00:29:32.020 --> 00:29:38.600 And whatever you're going through this morning, nothing is too great for the supreme Jesus. 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:42.559 He's supreme in all creation. 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:45.359 He's supreme in redemption. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:50.259 And he sits on his throne right now as the lord of all things. 00:29:51.199 --> 00:29:55.959 There's a lovely new hymn written by a group called Sovereign Grace. 00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:58.319 There's no one like you, it says. 00:29:59.099 --> 00:30:00.740 This is what the verses read. 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:03.740 And it captures these two sections brilliantly. 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:08.379 Verse 1, there is no song we could sing to honor the weight of your glory. 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:13.060 There are no words we could speak to capture the depths of your beauty. 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:18.600 And then verse 2 says, there is no sinner beyond the infinite stretch of your mercy. 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:24.360 How can we thank you enough for how you've loved us completely? 00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:30.240 Let me ask you three closing questions as we finish off. 00:30:30.800 --> 00:30:32.760 How big is your view of Jesus? 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:38.500 I know Graham asked you this in the first talk in the book of Colossians. 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:41.700 And it pops up right throughout Colossians. 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:46.059 How big is your view of Jesus? 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:51.799 Will you let these verses sink deep into your heart so that you might marvel at who he is? 00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:54.539 There is none like him. 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:56.220 Because he's God. 00:30:58.259 --> 00:31:00.339 And he has all power and authority. 00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:03.819 His love and his grace is sufficient. 00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:09.319 And if you do not know Jesus this morning, I urge you to trust him with your life. 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:13.279 Do not leave without making peace with God through this. 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:14.639 He has done it all for you. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:19.080 There's nothing that you have to do except say, I'm sorry I've got it wrong and I trust you. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:21.660 Second question. 00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:26.380 What difference will the supreme Jesus make to your week? 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:31.460 If this is true, it's got to affect every area of life, hasn't it? 00:31:32.580 --> 00:31:35.820 Will you look and try and see him in creation more this week? 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:43.420 Will you remember more and more how far God went to bring you back to him? 00:31:44.640 --> 00:31:52.140 Will you let the knowledge that you have peace with God affect every area of your life and every inch of your being? 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:57.140 Will you keep worrying about things or will you hand it to him? 00:31:58.500 --> 00:32:02.740 And lastly, who will you tell about the supreme Jesus this week? 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:10.540 Because the reality is that as we saw in that video we saw, the gospel is the power of God for salvation for anyone who believes. 00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:12.160 First for the Jew and then for the Gentile. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:17.300 This good news of Jesus, this supreme Jesus is for all. 00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:26.940 And if anyone humbles themselves before him and trusts him in their life, if you give them that good news, there is nothing stopping them from coming to know God for themselves. 00:32:28.500 --> 00:32:31.400 Jesus is supreme over all things. 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:33.940 Why would you hold that back from anyone? 00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:38.259 Who could you tell about Jesus this week? 00:32:39.360 --> 00:32:40.140 Let me pray. 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:48.500 Father God, we praise you for your son. 00:32:48.500 --> 00:32:53.079 He's supreme over all of creation. 00:32:54.140 --> 00:32:56.859 He's supreme in the story of redemption. 00:32:57.119 --> 00:33:01.500 We are so, so unworthy to know him. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:08.440 But the fact that we can through what he has done for us on the cross is quite remarkable. 00:33:08.700 --> 00:33:10.180 We praise you, Lord. 00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:12.400 We exalt you, Jesus. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:16.360 Help us to live a life that is worthy of you. 00:33:16.580 --> 00:33:19.820 Help us to live a life that pleases you in every way. 00:33:20.320 --> 00:33:24.740 Would you help us this week, Father, to grow in our knowledge and understanding of this. 00:33:24.820 --> 00:33:30.240 But would it move us to live as your people under your lordship and your headship. 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:36.279 So that we might love each other more, serve each other more and reach more people in this city. 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:39.880 With the message of this supreme Jesus. 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:42.359 And we pray all this in your name. 00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.160 Amen.