Rick Jackson
Every cult and false group is wrong on either the person of
Christ or the work of Christ. In II John 9-11 we have a serious, solemn, and
stern admonition given.
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both
the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he
that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
Col. 1:12-19 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made
us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of
every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and
for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things
consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the
preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness
dwell;
I. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD [V. 15a]
This means He is the exact likeness (representation,
revelation) of the Father
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image
of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had
by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
[Heb. 1:3]
No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son,
which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. [Jn. 1:18]
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and
yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? [Jn. 14:9]
God the Father is invisible: "No man hath seen God at
any time." Jesus said, "God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him
must worship Him in spirit and in truth." The sovereign God--omnipotent,
omniscient and omnipresent is invisible, but the universe was not left without
a God who could be seen: Jesus wrapped God up in flesh, brought Him down to
man, and presented Him to man in a body--the very image of the invisible God.
-Oliver B. Greene
II. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE [V. 15b]
"Firstborn" speaks of status not creation. In the first
place those that were created "first" were not born-Adam & Eve, Satan and the
angels, etc.
Secondly many who were born held the status of firstborn
though they were not the physically firstborn in their respective families
(Jacob, Joseph-two tribes Manasseh & Ephraim, Solomon Ps. 89:27 Also I will
make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.), Jesus birth was
not His beginning, He had no beginning according to Micah 5:2 But thou,
Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out
of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings
forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
The word here (prototokos) means He has priority over all
creation (In a moment we will see why), He is sovereign over all creation!
III. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE CREATOR [V. 16-17]
There is the reason for His priority over all creation... He
is not part of creation, He is the Creator!
1. He created all things- John 1:3 All things were made by
him; and without him was not any thing made that was made
2. All things were created for Him
3. He is before all things- John 1:1-3 In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the
beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any
thing made that was made. Jesus Christ is eternal
4. By Him all things consist
IV. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH [V. 18]
He is the head of the church, not the pastor, not the pope-
Christ Himself!
V. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE BEGINNING
(arche) the Architect, the Founder, the Beginning and the
Ending, the Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of our faith
VI. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD
Firstfruits (I Cor. 15), first in a glorified body, first
resurrected (others had been resuscitated)
VII. JESUS CHRIST IS
PREEMINENT IN ALL THINGS
(word only used here) Because of Who He is and what he had
done
VIII. JESUS CHRIST IS
THE ONE IN WHOM ALL FULNESS DWELLS [v. 19, 2:9]
That is, all the totality of the divine powers and
attributes are in Him permanently! The word "dwell" means to be at
home permanently, it's not something that was added.
"The full fullness of God dwells in Him." JVM
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him
a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
With all He is, it's not only important what you think of
Him, but what does He think of you!
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