The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
Colossians 1:17-18 by Bob DeWaay Gospel of Grace Fellowship September 14, 2014 The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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Colossians 1:17a (NASB) He is before all things, “He” is emphatic in the Greek He is the Great I AM (John 8:58) § The pre-existent One is Lord over the Universe § Christ existed before Creation and is the Creator (contra Arius) § §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
Verse 15: “of all” Verse 16: “the all” Verse 16: “the all” Verse 17: “before all” Verse 17: “the all” Verse 18: “in all” Verse 19: “all” Verse 20: “the all”
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“pas” “all” is found 8 times in the Christ Hymn of Col. 1:15-20 § This word is repeated to emphasize Christ’s universal power and sovereignty § The doctrines of Christ as Creator and Ruler are established §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
Colossians 1:17b (NASB) and in Him all things hold together. “The all” is literal and incorporates the entire created universe § “In Him” is a dative of sphere in the Greek § The coherence of the universe is due to Christ § Christ is the sustainer and unifier of the universe §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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Colossians 1:18a (NASB) He is also head of the body, the church; § § § § § § §
“He” is an intensive pronoun and emphatic Headship here applies to all who believe The “body of Christ” is the church Christ is preeminent in the creation and is preeminent in the church, the new creation This implies an organic relationship between Christ and the body and all its members This implies corporate solidarity, the One and the many One aspect of headship is the idea of source
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
5
Colossians 1:18b (NASB) . . . and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. “Beginning” is arche_ (Revelation 3:14) “firstborn” is also mentioned in Romans 8:29 § In 1Corinthians 15:20, Christ is described as “the first fruits of those who are asleep.” § He has primacy in both the old creation and the new § §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
§
Christ is the sustainer of the whole universe
§
Christ as head of the church gives access to all to His throne of grace
§
Evidence in creation points to a Creator and Sustainer, whom we must serve
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
7
Hebrews 1:3 (HCSB) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. This truth comports with what can be observed in the universe § The Colossian heresy denied the sufficiency of Christ § We must preach Christ to the church §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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Hebrews 4:15, 16 (NET) For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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www.gospelofgracefellowship.org
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The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
Psalm 8:3-4 (NASB) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? §
Christ as Creator who sustains all things must be served and worshipped as Lord and Savior
§
The anthropic principle shows that the Creation is designed to sustain human life
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
10
Ephesians 1:22 (HCSB) And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church “More than a century of astronomy and physics research yields this unexpected observation: the emergence of humans and human civilization requires physical constants, laws, and properties that fall within certain narrow ranges— and this truth applies not only to the cosmos as a whole but also to the galaxy, planetary system, and planet humans occupy. To state the principle more dramatically, a preponderance of physical evidence points to humanity as the central theme of the cosmos.” – Reasons to Believe online source The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
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www.gospelofgracefellowship.org
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08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
Colossians 1:17-18 by Bob DeWaay Gospel of Grace Fellowship September 14, 2014 The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
1
Colossians 1:17a (NASB) He is before all things, “He” is emphatic in the Greek He is the Great I AM (John 8:58) § The pre-existent One is Lord over the Universe § Christ existed before Creation and is the Creator (contra Arius) § §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
Verse 15: “of all” Verse 16: “the all” Verse 16: “the all” Verse 17: “before all” Verse 17: “the all” Verse 18: “in all” Verse 19: “all” Verse 20: “the all”
2
“pas” “all” is found 8 times in the Christ Hymn of Col. 1:15-20 § This word is repeated to emphasize Christ’s universal power and sovereignty § The doctrines of Christ as Creator and Ruler are established §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
3
www.gospelofgracefellowship.org
Page 1
The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
Colossians 1:17b (NASB) and in Him all things hold together. “The all” is literal and incorporates the entire created universe § “In Him” is a dative of sphere in the Greek § The coherence of the universe is due to Christ § Christ is the sustainer and unifier of the universe §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
4
Colossians 1:18a (NASB) He is also head of the body, the church; § § § § § § §
“He” is an intensive pronoun and emphatic Headship here applies to all who believe The “body of Christ” is the church Christ is preeminent in the creation and is preeminent in the church, the new creation This implies an organic relationship between Christ and the body and all its members This implies corporate solidarity, the One and the many One aspect of headship is the idea of source
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
5
Colossians 1:18b (NASB) . . . and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. “Beginning” is arche_ (Revelation 3:14) “firstborn” is also mentioned in Romans 8:29 § In 1Corinthians 15:20, Christ is described as “the first fruits of those who are asleep.” § He has primacy in both the old creation and the new § §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
6
www.gospelofgracefellowship.org
Page 2
The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
§
Christ is the sustainer of the whole universe
§
Christ as head of the church gives access to all to His throne of grace
§
Evidence in creation points to a Creator and Sustainer, whom we must serve
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
7
Hebrews 1:3 (HCSB) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. This truth comports with what can be observed in the universe § The Colossian heresy denied the sufficiency of Christ § We must preach Christ to the church §
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
8
Hebrews 4:15, 16 (NET) For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
9
www.gospelofgracefellowship.org
Page 3
The Supremacy of Christ Colossians 1:17-18
08/14/14 by Bob DeWaay
Psalm 8:3-4 (NASB) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? §
Christ as Creator who sustains all things must be served and worshipped as Lord and Savior
§
The anthropic principle shows that the Creation is designed to sustain human life
The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
10
Ephesians 1:22 (HCSB) And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church “More than a century of astronomy and physics research yields this unexpected observation: the emergence of humans and human civilization requires physical constants, laws, and properties that fall within certain narrow ranges— and this truth applies not only to the cosmos as a whole but also to the galaxy, planetary system, and planet humans occupy. To state the principle more dramatically, a preponderance of physical evidence points to humanity as the central theme of the cosmos.” – Reasons to Believe online source The Supremacy of Christ: Colossians 1:17, 18
11
www.gospelofgracefellowship.org
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