Christ – the Center of Everything

1. Christ – the Center of Everything Week of February 5, 2012

2. Outline of the Passage • Why Beliefs Matter (Colossians 1:9-12) • Who Christ Is (Colossians 1:15-20) • What Christ Has Done (Colossians 1:13-14,21-23)

3. Seeing Christ for who He really is and then seeing everything else in light of that reality. Let’s Pray for the Spirit’s Guidance We need to better understand who Christ is and what He has done so that we can stand in awe of Him, and bow in submission to His authority.

4. Why Beliefs Matter Colossians 1:9-12 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way:

5. Why Beliefs Matter bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

6. Why Beliefs Matter • Background on the Book of Colossians: • Textile Center in Roman province of Asia

7. Background on the Book of Colossians: • Epaphras, Paul’s coworker, probably started the church at Colossae. • Paul did not personally know the Colossian believers. • There were false teachings that denied Christ’s centrality and sufficiency. • False teachers claimed that Christ was only a partial revelation of God. Paul countered that all God’s “fullness” resided in Christ (1:19).

8. Paul prayed for the Colossians: • That they would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. What does this mean? • That they would walk worthy of the Lord. What does this mean?

9. Growing in Faithfulness to Christ God’s strength produces three qualities which leads to faithfulness to Christ. • Endurance “to remain under” • Patience “long-suffering” • Joy a being held in God’s grace no matter the difference between “joy” and “happiness” Which one needs strengthening in your life?

10. Who Christ Is Colossians 1:15-2015 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

11. Who Christ Is 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

12. Who Christ Is • Far from a mere angelic powers, Christ is absolutely supreme. • Far from partial revelation of God, Christ is God—Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. • Christ is not “in-sufficient” in saving but rather is “all-sufficient.” He is Lord!

13. Christ made God visible in the flesh as the firstborn over all creation. • Christ was not created but was separate from it and supreme over it. Paul uses three descriptors; “By” “Before” and “In” • While the Father was creation’s architect, creation was designed byChrist; • Christ was beforecreation, before time began. • InChrist the whole created order is held together.

14. “Laminin” Do you know about the cell adhesion molecule known as Laminin? Laminins are major proteins that hold together most cells and organs in your body. Paul wrote that Jesus Christ holds together the whole created order. Paul would say “Jesus is the Laminin.” Under a powerful electron-microscope this is what we see as Laminin. Jesus holds the whole world together!

15. As the “Head” of the church, Christ directs it toward realizing His purpose. • Christ’s resurrection from the dead demonstrated His preeminence—He has first place in everything. • Christ’s death brings Peace, no more hostility between God and people, through the blood of His cross. • Christ’s death on the cross was the pivotal point in both human and cosmic history.

16. All History is divided by Jesus’ death & resurrection.

17. Is Christ the Center of Your Universe? If Christ is the “center of everything” as St. Paul says, how does that play out in your day-to-day life? In 25 words or less answer “How important is Jesus in your life?” How is “Christ Your Center” making a real difference in your life?

18. What Christ Has Done Colossians 1:13-14, 21-2313 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins…. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.

19. What Christ Has Done 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant

20. What Christ Has Done • Through Christ, believers were pulled out of the rule of darkness and death and were placed in the light of God’s love. • We have redemption meaning to liberate at a cost. • Forgiveness of sins. Sin literally means to “miss the mark.” Therefore, forgiveness “does away with all those bad marks.”

21. All people were alienated from God and His enemies. • Now we are reconciled to (no longer enemies but friends) God because of Christ’s atoning death. • Christ desires to present believers to God: • Holy; • Faultless; • Blameless; Blind, Dead and Enemy of God

22. Not just saved from something but also are saved for something, namely Christ-like living. • Warning, if you continue in the faith… • God wants believers to remain: • Grounded; • Steadfast; • Unmoved;

23. Which Best Describes Your Faith? The Rock of Gibraltar The Costa Concordia