Hey Gang,
We begin a new 4-week series this week entitled, Christ the Center. We will be looking at the centrality and sufficiency of Christ. Each study will be from Paul’s letter to the Colossians. This study is important because we too, live in a culture that does not acknowledge or see the centrality and sufficiency of Christ. Some believers, because they do not have a firm grasp on the truths of the gospel, are easily shaken when the exclusive claims of the gospel of Christ are challenged. Other Christians do not live Christ-centered lives – or at best allow Him a position of prominence in their lives but not the place of preeminence. Their lives are centered on other ambitions. It all boils down to how you see Jesus. Are you sure of what you see?
Lessons in this series:
February 5 – Center of Everything – Seeing Christ for who He really is and then seeing everything else in light of that reality.
February 12 – Center of My Church – What makes a church Christ-centered.
February 19 – Center of My Belief – We should reject any thinking or practices that deny the centrality of Christ.
February 26 – Center of My Life – Is your life really Christ-centered?
Remember this show?
WHAT’S MY LINE? From 1950 to 1967, viewers tuned in to one of television’s longest running and most popular prime-time game shows. “What’s My Line?” The show featured four blindfolded panelists who tried to guess the name of a mystery guest by asking those questions that were limited to a yes or no response. Suppose Jesus were the mystery guest on “What’s My line?” What questions might people ask Him?
All the panelists know is that He was born poor, helped and even healed people throughout His life, taught great things, but died a criminal’s death.
Our lesson says we should understand who Christ really is – and then do everything else in light of that reality. It goes on to say that Jesus is the center of everything - He's the center of the universe. Do you see Jesus this way?
When you think about the center of the universe – what do you see?
Think about how the different planets in the universe revolve around the sun. All of us have something that our lives revolve around like the earth revolves around the sun. In astronomy, smaller objects revolve around more prominent objects. Sometimes people allow their lives to revolve around objects without critically thinking that there are bigger objects in our universe – namely a relationship with Jesus Christ.
What do you see as the center of the universe?
(The Sun or the Son?)
You have to be able to declare today, in your mind, exactly who Jesus was and is?
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
I. WHY BELIEFS MATTER – COLOSSIANS 1:9-12
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
Why do beliefs matter?
What or whom controls you most?
What areas of your life do you need to empty and refill with Christ?
II. WHO CHRIST IS – COLOSSIANS 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was leased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Knowing who Christ is, is essential for keeping Him at the center of our lives. It’s not enough to know what others say about Him or to relate other’s experiences. We must know Christ on a firsthand, personal basis.
How does this description of Christ position Him in relationship to the rest of the world?
What makes you decide when it’s necessary to call in a professional to do something instead of doing it yourself? What is Christ not qualified to handle for you?
Paul was reminding the Christians in Colosse of the preeminence and centrality of CHRIST in everything. He began with the fact that JESUS was the exact image of GOD. When you see JESUS, you see GOD. As you may recall JESUS’ disciple Phillip asked JESUS to show him the FATHER. JESUS’ response was captured in John 14:8-11.
Paul referred to CHRIST as being the “firstborn.” Bible scholars believe that was a metaphor for “preeminent one.” We know that CHRIST was present with GOD before the world was created. We know that according to scripture that CHRIST was the creator and has always existed. The reference to “firstborn” used in verse 18 means that since HE conquered death, HE is preeminent over death. HE was the first to be resurrected as proof that HE paid the penalty for sin because HE conquered death.
Paul continued with statements supporting and reminding the Christians in Colosse that CHRIST created all things both seen and unseen. CHRIST is GOD and HE holds all things together. The order of the universe and earth are under HIS control. HE is the head of the true church, the body of believers. This is not the brick and mortar churches but the true body of believers.
GOD, The Father, was pleased to be one with CHRIST and gave HIM full control because HE reconciled everything by giving HIS life. Through the shedding of HIS blood to once and forever break the barrier that sin had placed between GOD and the world, JESUS opened the path for all to be reconciled with GOD. Just as Adam and Eve made a decision to disobey GOD, all humans must make a decision to accept GOD’S provision for redemption and complete salvation, which is accepting CHRIST as their Savior. Salvation restores a person as GOD’S Son or Daughter and makes him/her complete.
CHRIST reconciled everything on earth and in heaven through HIS obedience and giving HIS life for the remission of sins. HE gave HIS life because HE loves every person but the choice is up to each person whether or not he/she accepts HIM as his/her Savior.
III. WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE – COLOSSIANS 1:13-14, 21-23
People worldwide followed the plight of 33 Chilean miners who were trapped more than 2,200 feet below the earth for 70 days. The miners’ ordeal ended when a narrow steel capsule was lowered through the rock and transported them into the loving arms of their families.
Only Christians understand what it means by being rescued from darkness and transferred into the kingdom of CHRIST. CHRIST gave HIS sinless life to pay the penalty for sin, which was death. CHRIST redeemed all who believe in HIM from sin and death. All are redeemed from darkness and transferred into the light of the kingdom of CHRIST.
In verse 23, Paul used the word “if.” The word “if” seems to indicate that Christians can lose their salvation. It means just the opposite. When a person is truly born-again and not playing the game of being a Christian, he/she will never change the fact that he/she is GOD’S child.
Christians can lose their rewards for not being obedient but they will never lose their salvation. Those who are led away from the Gospel have never experienced the miracle of the rebirth. People can act like Christians and say all the right words but have never been born-again and the sad thing is they know it. GOD never plays gotcha. HIS Spirit always knocks on the door of the hearts of all who need salvation. But people can resist HIM to the point that their hearts become hard and they cannot sense HIS urging. HE will send many to witness to them. Don’t let that happen to you. Ask CHRIST to forgive you and ask HIM to come into your life right now. HE will and HE will never leave you or forsake you. Please become HIS child by asking CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into life right now or if you have not been living the abundant Christian life, confess it and ask HIM to restore the joy of your salvation.
Jesus made it clear by word and deed that to know Him was to know God, to see Him was to see God, to believe in Him was to believe in God, to receive Him was to receive God, to reject Him was to reject God, and to honor Him was to honor God. – John Stott
This is going to be a great series on the centrality and sufficiency of Christ. I hope you will pray about this series and search your hearts to be sure these truths stick! It will be the most important lesson you could ever learn.
In His Love,
David & Susan
What do you see as the center of the universe?
(The Sun or the Son?)
You have to be able to declare today, in your mind, exactly who Jesus was and is?
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
In
our lesson this week, there was confusion in the Colossian church about
exactly who Jesus was. The Colossian believers were being swayed by false
teachers who promoted a mixture of Jewish, Christian, and pagan practices,
philosophies, and superstitions. These teachings undermined Christ as the
center of everything. Paul wrote to correct these false teachings.
Syncretism: the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of beliefs. (New age, Hinduism, Unitarianism, and Christian Science)
Gnosticism: claiming a special knowledge and denying Christ as God and savior.
In our society, we see many people who are turned off by the organized church. It is easy for the brick and mortar churches to come under attack because they all are filled with a blend of people. Some are true born-again mature Christians, some are non-Christians who are seeking truth, some are new Christians building a relationship with CHRIST, some are playing the game and posing as Christians for various reasons – social reasons, to meet the man or woman of their dreams, business reasons, political reasons and the list goes on. Some Churches’ ministers preach safe messages and have blocked the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have placed the Holy Spirit in a box and put the lid on. We only speak of the Holy Spirit in safe company and fail to rely upon the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Syncretism: the reconciliation or fusion of differing systems of beliefs. (New age, Hinduism, Unitarianism, and Christian Science)
Gnosticism: claiming a special knowledge and denying Christ as God and savior.
In our society, we see many people who are turned off by the organized church. It is easy for the brick and mortar churches to come under attack because they all are filled with a blend of people. Some are true born-again mature Christians, some are non-Christians who are seeking truth, some are new Christians building a relationship with CHRIST, some are playing the game and posing as Christians for various reasons – social reasons, to meet the man or woman of their dreams, business reasons, political reasons and the list goes on. Some Churches’ ministers preach safe messages and have blocked the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have placed the Holy Spirit in a box and put the lid on. We only speak of the Holy Spirit in safe company and fail to rely upon the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Christian churches may not be all they need to be but even when the Bible is read, taught and preached, it will produce results. GOD’S Word is powerful and produces results. Christians must know GOD’S Word to be able to discern truth from error. If a Christian hears error being taught, it may be time to confront the pastor or teacher or move to another place to hear truth taught.
I. WHY BELIEFS MATTER – COLOSSIANS 1:9-12
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
Why do beliefs matter?
- What we believe about God and others determines how we pray and how we behave.
- Beliefs make a difference in how Christians live and pray.
What or whom controls you most?
- Probably whatever you have at the center.
What areas of your life do you need to empty and refill with Christ?
What were Paul’s specific prayer requests for the Colossians?
Paul’s prayers are tremendously instructive and often stand as a rebuke to the way many Christians pray. These prayers are not only brief and explicit, but they are spiritually strategic in nature. They center on the great spiritual issues facing individual believers and the body of Christ as a whole. The Christian life is a spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-18), and our prayer life should illustrate this by the way we pray. In war or military combat, the objectives usually fall into three areas: the strategic (the primary and essential objectives), the tactical (the more immediate, less long range operations), and the logistic (distribution of supplies, men, and material, etc.). Today, the prayer life of many Christians centers primarily on logistics, on health and wealth issues. By contrast, Paul’s prayers focus mostly on the strategic and the tactical.
- Understand God's will and gain spiritual wisdom.
- Please and honor God by bearing good fruit and growing in knowledge of God.
- Be filled with god's strength so that you might have great endurance and patience and that you might stay full of Christ's joy.
- Give thanks always.
Paul’s prayers are tremendously instructive and often stand as a rebuke to the way many Christians pray. These prayers are not only brief and explicit, but they are spiritually strategic in nature. They center on the great spiritual issues facing individual believers and the body of Christ as a whole. The Christian life is a spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-18), and our prayer life should illustrate this by the way we pray. In war or military combat, the objectives usually fall into three areas: the strategic (the primary and essential objectives), the tactical (the more immediate, less long range operations), and the logistic (distribution of supplies, men, and material, etc.). Today, the prayer life of many Christians centers primarily on logistics, on health and wealth issues. By contrast, Paul’s prayers focus mostly on the strategic and the tactical.
What does it mean to be filled with the knowledge
of His will?
- To be under the control of. Simply knowing God's will is not what pleases God. he calls us to be filled with, or controlled by that knowledge.
Why would Paul pray that the Colossians would live
lives “worthy of the Lord,” and how possible is that?
- The word worthy does not mean that we are worthy of God’s love or the salvation He provides. Literally, it refers to the conduct that is expected and appropriate for God’s children. Paul was not praying that they would reach a level where they deserved God’s favor but that they would live appropriately considering the fact that Jesus was the center of everything.
- God provides the power for His people to be fruitful.
___________
C. S. Lewis once wrote: Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a
madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at
him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord
and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about him being
a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend
to.
The church of Colossians had been infiltrated by those who had attempted to blend paganism and secular philosophy with Christian doctrine. In essence, those who had infiltrated the church were saying that having a personal relationship with CHRIST through faith was not sufficient for salvation. A person needed to do more. People are always trying to add something to Christianity. Salvation is simple, yet so hard for many to take that step of faith needed to receive it. The Gnostics thought that knowledge was required to lead a person to enlightenment. GOD’S plan is faith. GOD does not rule out study and gaining knowledge. Study is important. Study combined with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit goes beyond human ability to comprehend and understand.
How does a Christian measure their walk with GOD? Paul
gave us a clue. Are we bearing fruit and growing in knowledge of GOD?
When Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, their eyes were opened. They made a choice between allowing
GOD to be the authority in their lives and allowing their flesh to rule
their lives. They chose to follow the desires of the flesh. Their flesh
nature needed to be brought under the authority of GOD. We inherited
this flesh nature. All humans need to be brought under the authority of
GOD but it is their choice. The only way this could be done since the
fall of mankind is through an extreme makeover. This is why salvation
results in the miracle of rebirth when a person accepts CHRIST as
his/her Savior, but what about Adam and Eve? The coming of CHRIST was
thousands of years away.
Some Bible scholars believe when GOD fashioned clothing for Adam and Eve made out of animal skins that it was the first animal sacrifice and shedding of blood due to sin. Could it be that this shed blood was a place holder for them until CHRIST gave HIS life for the remission of sins? |
WHO AM I?
II. WHO CHRIST IS – COLOSSIANS 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. 19 For God was leased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Steve Harvey Introduces Jesus
Knowing who Christ is, is essential for keeping Him at the center of our lives. It’s not enough to know what others say about Him or to relate other’s experiences. We must know Christ on a firsthand, personal basis.
How does this description of Christ position Him in relationship to the rest of the world?
- Christ is the center to everything!
What makes you decide when it’s necessary to call in a professional to do something instead of doing it yourself? What is Christ not qualified to handle for you?
Paul was reminding the Christians in Colosse of the preeminence and centrality of CHRIST in everything. He began with the fact that JESUS was the exact image of GOD. When you see JESUS, you see GOD. As you may recall JESUS’ disciple Phillip asked JESUS to show him the FATHER. JESUS’ response was captured in John 14:8-11.
Paul referred to CHRIST as being the “firstborn.” Bible scholars believe that was a metaphor for “preeminent one.” We know that CHRIST was present with GOD before the world was created. We know that according to scripture that CHRIST was the creator and has always existed. The reference to “firstborn” used in verse 18 means that since HE conquered death, HE is preeminent over death. HE was the first to be resurrected as proof that HE paid the penalty for sin because HE conquered death.
Paul continued with statements supporting and reminding the Christians in Colosse that CHRIST created all things both seen and unseen. CHRIST is GOD and HE holds all things together. The order of the universe and earth are under HIS control. HE is the head of the true church, the body of believers. This is not the brick and mortar churches but the true body of believers.
GOD, The Father, was pleased to be one with CHRIST and gave HIM full control because HE reconciled everything by giving HIS life. Through the shedding of HIS blood to once and forever break the barrier that sin had placed between GOD and the world, JESUS opened the path for all to be reconciled with GOD. Just as Adam and Eve made a decision to disobey GOD, all humans must make a decision to accept GOD’S provision for redemption and complete salvation, which is accepting CHRIST as their Savior. Salvation restores a person as GOD’S Son or Daughter and makes him/her complete.
CHRIST reconciled everything on earth and in heaven through HIS obedience and giving HIS life for the remission of sins. HE gave HIS life because HE loves every person but the choice is up to each person whether or not he/she accepts HIM as his/her Savior.
III. WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE – COLOSSIANS 1:13-14, 21-23
13 He has rescued us from the
domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. 14
We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.
…………………………………………………
21 Once you were alienated and
hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. 22 But now He
has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him— 23 if indeed you remain
grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of
the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation
under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
People worldwide followed the plight of 33 Chilean miners who were trapped more than 2,200 feet below the earth for 70 days. The miners’ ordeal ended when a narrow steel capsule was lowered through the rock and transported them into the loving arms of their families.
Through Christ,
believers can experience an even more amazing rescue. No matter how deep or
dark the situation, Christ can change the lives of those who believe in Him.
Only Christians understand what it means by being rescued from darkness and transferred into the kingdom of CHRIST. CHRIST gave HIS sinless life to pay the penalty for sin, which was death. CHRIST redeemed all who believe in HIM from sin and death. All are redeemed from darkness and transferred into the light of the kingdom of CHRIST.
What do you believe Christ has done
and provided for each of us? What did Christ do
through His death?
Why is it hard to
separate who Jesus is from what He did?
As
Christians we sometimes lose sight of what Christ has done for us. He not only
saved us from something; He saved us to something and for something.
Paul admonished the Christians in Colosse
to remember who they were before they received CHRIST as their Savior
and to recall the lifestyle they were living. They were alienated and
hostile to the things of GOD and walked as evil people in darkness.
Through the passion of CHRIST, all who believe in HIM have been
reconciled to GOD. Since they had asked CHRIST to forgive them for their
sins and for HIM to come into their lives, they have direct access to
GOD. This direct access to GOD was only the result of CHRIST paying the
penalty for sin through HIS shed blood and death. GOD declares all who
accept CHRIST as their Savior to be righteous and gives them the gifts
of eternal life and HIS grace.
|
In verse 23, Paul used the word “if.” The word “if” seems to indicate that Christians can lose their salvation. It means just the opposite. When a person is truly born-again and not playing the game of being a Christian, he/she will never change the fact that he/she is GOD’S child.
Christians can lose their rewards for not being obedient but they will never lose their salvation. Those who are led away from the Gospel have never experienced the miracle of the rebirth. People can act like Christians and say all the right words but have never been born-again and the sad thing is they know it. GOD never plays gotcha. HIS Spirit always knocks on the door of the hearts of all who need salvation. But people can resist HIM to the point that their hearts become hard and they cannot sense HIS urging. HE will send many to witness to them. Don’t let that happen to you. Ask CHRIST to forgive you and ask HIM to come into your life right now. HE will and HE will never leave you or forsake you. Please become HIS child by asking CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into life right now or if you have not been living the abundant Christian life, confess it and ask HIM to restore the joy of your salvation.
What did Jesus make very clear to all who would hear?
Jesus made it clear by word and deed that to know Him was to know God, to see Him was to see God, to believe in Him was to believe in God, to receive Him was to receive God, to reject Him was to reject God, and to honor Him was to honor God. – John Stott
Prayer of Commitment
Lord,
help me to make You the center of my life. Amen.
This is going to be a great series on the centrality and sufficiency of Christ. I hope you will pray about this series and search your hearts to be sure these truths stick! It will be the most important lesson you could ever learn.
Have a blessed rest of the week and we'll see you on Sunday!
In His Love,
David & Susan
