Live in a Manner Worthy of the Son Because He is Preeminent

Sermon Transcript

What would you say if I told you to live in a manner worthy of Joe? Really, if I were to tell you to walk in a manner worthy of Joe and live in a way that fully pleases Joe, what would your immediate question back to me? You’d undoubtedly ask, “Who is Joe?” “Who is Joe such that I should devote my life to living worthy of him?” That question is why Colossians 1:15-23 is in the Bible, sort of. Let me explain…

Last week we began our two-month journey through Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Paul began the letter with a prayer for the Colossians because, in Christ, prayer is our first priority, not our last resort. So, Paul began his prayer thanking God for all that He had already done in the Colossians and then petitioning God for Him to do still more. At the heart of Paul’s prayer for the Colossians, and at the heart of what we should constantly pray for one another, is that they would walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him. Colossians 1:9-10, 12 – And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [10] so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Paul prayed for the Colossians, and we pray for one another, to walk in a manner worthy of Son, fully pleasing to him. Walking is a metaphor for life. The entirety of our lives – from our eating and drinking, to how we spend our time and money, to what we do with our words, our beliefs, and our bodies – are to be lived in a manner worthy of the Son, fully pleasing to Him. So, what should be our immediate question? Who is the Son? Who is the beloved Son such that we should walk in a manner worthy of Him, fully pleasing to Him? Who is the beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, such that the entirety of our lives should be lived to please Him? That’s the question that our passage for this morning was written to answer. And the answer is found in one word in Colossians 1:18 – And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. The key word is preeminent. Preeminent means supreme; first place in everything. For example, most sports fans would agree that Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. Among all quarterbacks, he is preeminent; supreme and first place. Though Tom Brady is preeminent among quarterbacks, no one thinks he’s the greatest player at every position. He’s not the preeminent linebacker. However, the reason we walk in a manner worthy of the Son is that He is preeminent in everything. That brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: Live in a manner worthy of the Son because He is preeminent. Live in a manner worthy of the Son because He is preeminent. But what exactly is He preeminent over such that we should live in a manner worthy of Him? Our passage this morning provides two primary answers: 1. The Son is preeminent over creation (1:15-17) 2. The Son is preeminent over the church (1:18-23). I want to walk in a manner worthy of my wife Andrea, she’s so godly, classy, and capable. Now, in hearing that some of you might think, “man, that sounds like such a burden, trying to live a life worthy of Andrea.” To which I respond, “you must not know Andrea.” If you knew all that she is and all that she’s done for me, you’d understand that it’s a privilege to seek to walk in a manner worthy of Andrea. In the same way, if walking in a manner worthy of the Son, fully pleasing to Him, sounds like a burden to you, then you must not know the Son, at least as you ought to. If you knew all that the Son is and all that He’s done to save you from your sin and reconcile you to God, then you’d feel the thrilling privilege of walking in a manner worthy of Him. So, let’s get to know Him better. The more you know of Him, the more you’ll want to walk in a manner worthy of Him. Theology is so practical!

THE SON IS PREEMINENT OVER CREATION (vv. 15-17)

The first reason why you should walk in a manner worthy of the Son, devoting yourself to living fully pleasing to him is because the Son is preeminent over creation and creation includes you.

Remember, that means that the Son is first place in creation. He is supreme and the point of it all. We see that the Son is preeminent, first place, and supreme over creation in Colossians 1:15 – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. These two phrases are two of the most important statements in the Bible about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Let’s take them one at a time. “He is the image of the invisible God” reminds us of Genesis 1:27 and the creation of Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:27 – So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God created Adam and Eve in his own image; to be like Him, represent Him, and glorify Him. Adam and Eve failed to do and be what God required, so God promised to send His Son, his ultimate image, to bring us back to God. So, when Paul describes the Son as the image of the invisible God, He’s saying that the Son is the better Adam, the true reflection of the Father. The Son is God, yet He is distinct from the Father as his reflection. By calling the Son the image of the invisible God, Paul is helping us understand the central Christian doctrine called the deity of Christ. Theologian Robert Letham defines the deity of Christ this way, “The New Testament asserts that Jesus Christ is equal to, and identical with God, performing works that only God can do. As the Son he is distinct from the Father he is of identical being with him and the Holy Spirit.” He is the image of the invisible God and He is the firstborn of all creation. Of course, by firstborn, Paul is not saying that Christ was created. The teaching that Christ is a created being is a heresy promoted today by cults like Jehova’s Witnesses and Mormons. They misunderstand that “firstborn” actually means first place. Firstborn of all creation means first place, supreme and preeminent over creation. The Son was not created, rather, He eternally preexisted creation. New Testament scholar Clinton Arnold sheds further light on what Paul meant by “firstborn.” He writes, “What Paul had in mind was the rights and privileges of a firstborn son, especially the son of a monarch who would inherit ruling sovereignty. This is how the expression is used of David: ‘I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth’ (Psalm 89:27).”

The Son is the perfect reflection of the Father and first place preeminent over creation. But why? Why does the Son get to be preeminent over creation, which includes you? Three reasons: He created all things, He created all things for himself, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17 – For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. [17] And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. The Son is preeminent over creation because He eternally existed before creation as God the Son. The Son is preeminent over creation because by Him all things were created. The Son is preeminent over creation because not only were all things created by Him, but they were all created for Him. And the Son is preeminent because in him the whole creation, including your life, is held together.

Now, I want to slow down here and ask, “Are you sure you just saw that?” Are you sure that you just saw that all things, including you, were created by Him, through Him, and – and this is where I want to slow down – for Him? Since He is preeminent over creation, everything exists for Him. Every grain of sand exists for Him. Every star exists for Him, and there are more stars in the heavens than grains of sand on every beach in the world. Everything in all creation exists for Him, and that includes you. Do you know why you were created? The Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 1: What is the chief end of man? Answer: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. The chief end, the supreme goal, the ultimate reason why all things were created by the Son is for the Son. And by Him you were created, you too exist for him; to glorify and enjoy Him forever. And the glorifying and enjoying go together. You cannot glorify God without enjoying Him and you can’t enjoy Him without glorifying Him. As Augustine of Hippo wrote some 1,600 years ago, “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Friends – By the Son you were made and for the Son you were made, therefore, your greatest joy is found in walking in a manner worthy of the Son. As John Piper has famously put it, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Is that how you think of yourself and about life? Do you wake up thinking, “I am created! I am created by the Son for the same reason every blade of grass was made, for Him! Since I was made for Him, my greatest joy today will not result from thinking much about myself. My greatest joy will result from walking in a manner worthy of Him with my words, my thoughts, my time, my money, my sexuality, my priorities, everything. Walk in a manner worthy of the Son because He is preeminent over creation, including you. You don’t exist for yourself, but for Him.

Now, before we move to our second and final point. I don’t want you to miss the simple phrase at the end of Colossians 1:17 – …and in him all things hold together. He is preeminent over creation because he holds it all together. I often feel like my Andrea holds my life and our family together; she’s so capable and responsible. That’s one very inspiring reason why I want to be a godly man, husband, dad, protector, and provider. She’s worthy of it; she holds our world together. But the truth is that the ultimate reason why your life isn’t going to come apart at the seams today is because in the Son all things hold together. What inspiring reason to walk in a manner worthy of him. The first reason why you should repent of sins and seek to walk in a manner worthy of the Son everyday is that the Son is preeminent over creation. But we can be even more specific than that. Secondly…

THE SON IS PREEMINENT OVER THE CHURCH (vv. 18-23)

The second reason why we walk in a manner worthy of the Son, fully pleasing to Him is because he is preeminent, first place, and supreme over the church. We see that in Colossians 1:18a – And he is the head of the body, the church. Jesus Christ is the head of his body, the church, meaning that he is the preeminent authority over both the universal church – all true believers in Christ at all times and in all places, and He is the preeminent authority over every local church, like the Colossian Church and Citylight Church. A church, as Dr. Jonathan Leeman puts it, is a group of Christians who gather regularly in Christ name to officially affirm and oversee one another’s membership in Christ and His Kingdom, through gospel-preaching and gospel-ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We, the members of Citylight, are a church. The Son is preeminent; He is the head of the church with all authority here.

Why is Christ preeminent over the church? First, the Son is the head of the church because He is the founder. Colossians 1:18 – And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. Jesus founded the church by dying for our sins, rising from the dead, ascending to the right hand of the Father, and pouring out His Holy Spirit to create the new people of God. By his resurrection he founded the church and his resurrection is a preview of coming resurrection attractions for His church. And sort of like the founder of a company is the head of the company, so the Son is the head of and preeminent over the church because He is the founder. Secondly, the Son is preeminent over the church because He is God in the flesh. Colossians 1:19 – For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell… This dwelling and filling language should remind us of God’s presence filling the temple in the Old Testament. Ezekiel 44:4 – Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. And I fell on my face. Do you see what Paul is saying? The reason why the Son is preeminent and supreme over the church and our church is because He is God incarnate; God in the flesh. He is God. He has preeminent authority over His church. Third, the Son gets to be supreme and preeminent over the church because God has reconciled all things to himself through the Son’s death on the cross. Colossians 1:20 – and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Please understand, this verse doesn’t teach universal salvation and heaven for everyone in the future. Again, Dr. Clinton Arnold, explains this verse beautifully, writing, “As the ‘Prince of Peace’ (Isa. 9:6), Jesus will ultimately quell all rebellion against God and his purpose. For believers, this means present reconciliation to God as his friends. As for nonbelievers and the demonic powers, Christ’s universal reign of peace will be enforced on them, for their rebellion will be decisively defeated by Christ as conquering king…so that they can no longer do any harm in the universe. The basis for Christ’s reign of peace is the blood of his cross.” Because of His cross, all things will be put in subjection under Christ’s feet, even the eternal torment of Hell itself. That’s why the Son is preeminent over our church. Finally, the Son gets to be preeminent over the church because He reconciled you into it, if you continue in the faith. Colossians 1:21-23 – And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [22] he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, [23] if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. The Son is preeminent over the church because He brought you into it. You did not choose to be part of His people. You were alienated from and hostile to God. You weren’t born a child of God, you were born alienated from God and hostile to God, doing evil deeds. You didn’t choose to be part of His people. You hated him. You weren’t a decent person, you did evil deeds by failing to honor Him as God and give him the glory He is due. You didn’t choose to be part of His church, instead He died in your place, absorbing the penalty for all your evil deeds, all so that you can be reconciled into his church by grace and given the hope of glory as a gift. That’s why the Son is preeminent in authority over and first place in priority in Citylight Church.

So, what does it look like to live in a manner worthy of the Son who is preeminent over the church? I think the first answer has to be, formally join a church as a member. Dr. Jonathan Leeman writes, “Church membership is a formal relationship between a local church and a Christian characterized by the church’s affirmation and oversight of a Christian’s discipleship and the Christian’s submission to living out his or her discipleship in the care of the church.” Have you done that? The Son is preeminent over the church, but if you haven’t done that, then you’re not yet even part of that thing that he is preeminent over. You’re not even part of a visible expression of the Son’s invisible, universal church. You’re still a guest at the family meal, but the intention is for you to join the family. That’s not good. You should remedy that as soon as possible. I’ll be teaching Citylight Church’s next membership class on Sunday June 29. The Son is preeminent over the church, so if you haven’t joined a church, you should come to that class.

An additional way to live in a manner worthy of the Son who is preeminent over the church is to live a church centered life. Since Christ is preeminent over the church, the Christ-centered life is the church-centered life. Is that your life? Is the primary authority in your life, under Christ, your church? Are your primary relationships in your church? Is your highest priority on Sunday gathering for worship with your church? Is the primary place you’re looking for counseling, healing, and wisdom for life, your church? Are the primary people you’re sharing your joys and sorrows with your church? Is the primary place where you give of your money your church? The Son is preeminent over the church, therefore, the Christ-centered life is the church-centered life. Is that the life you’re living or do you need to do some joyful adjusting this week?

A final way to live in a manner worthy of the Son who is preeminent over the church is to make Christ preeminent in the way we relate to one another. Living in a manner worthy of the Son looks like honoring the Son in the way you serve one another, speak to one another, think and speak about one another, and in the way you seek to intentionally help one another become more like the Son. Is the Son preeminent in the way you treat your church?

Friends – It is no burden for me to seek to walk in a manner worthy of Andrea. Anyone who would think that way doesn’t know her. Citylight Church – enjoy walking in a manner worthy of the Son as you continue in your faith in Him as the One by whom and for whom you were created and by whose blood you were reconciled to God forever.