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THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST
PART 1a--HIS PERSON
2 JOHN 7-11; COLOSSIANS 1:15-19
Introduction
The Apostle John speaks here of the importance of the doctrine of Christ.
Verse 9 is our text verse for this series of messages on the doctrine of Christ.
Most heresy that exists in both the cults and other false religions has to do with the doctrine of Jesus Christ. (i.e. Doctrine = Teaching.)
Just Who is Jesus Christ? This question first posed by Jesus to His own disciples in Matthew 16:13 was "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"
There was a wide diversity of opinions among men in Jesus’ day just as much as there still is today.
Some believed Jesus to be John the Baptist risen from the dead.
Some believed that He was Elijah laying the pathway for the Messiah. Some believed that He was Jeremiah who had come back from the dead to restore the temple.
Some believed that He was another prophet sent from God.
The real question to us though is the same one that Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 16:15 when he said, "But whom say he that I am." Jesus wants to know who you say that He is. Do you agree with who He said He was? Do you agree with what the Word of God teaches He was?
This morning I want us to look at the Doctrine of the Person of Christ.
Turn to Colossians 1:15-19.
This section in Colossians deals with the person of Christ and is the answer to all heresy concerning the person of Jesus Christ.
Heresies regarding the person of Christ abounded in Paul's day just as they do today. If anything, I would say that there are more heresies around today!
One of the first heresies of Paul’s day was called Arianism. Arianism said that Jesus Christ was just another creature.
There are those who still hold similar beliefs today.
Unitarianism and some of the cults, including the Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe that Jesus is God!
But listen, it took more than just another creature to redeem man. If the blood of bulls and goats was inadequate (and it was), so the blood of any other creature that might have come into the world would also be inadequate. It took a Man to redeem man! It took a special man to redeem man!
Another popular heresy during this time was Gnosticism. The Gnostics believed that Jesus Christ was not God but just another emanation of many emanations of God.
It took more than just an emanation from God to redeem man–otherwise God could have sent an angel to be the object of our redemption. But, angels don't have blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no redemption. It took a Man to redeem man!
However, it took more than just a man to redeem man! It took a sinless and holy man. It took the sinless perfect Son of God. It took the God-man!
In this passage in Colossians we see Paul marking out the person of Christ!
I. HIS PERSON. (VS 15a)
He Is The Image Of The Invisible God! Jesus Is God In The Flesh! (Vs 15a; Hebrews 1:1-3; 8)
A.John 1:18-- "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”
B. John 14:6-11
C.John 15:24--"If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.”
D.2 Corinthians 4:6-- "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
E.Philippians 2:6-- "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
HIS PERSON. (VS 15)--He Is The Image Of The Invisible God.
II. HIS POSITION. (VS 15, 18)
A. He Is The Firstborn Of Every Creature.
(Vs 15b; John 1:14; 3:16)
1. He Is The Firstborn Of God In The Flesh.
Of every creature that was ever made, He is the first that was born of God.
2.He is the only one Who was ever begotten of God in the flesh!
God is the Everlasting Father; The Son is the Everlasting Son. Jesus’ Person in the Trinity is that of Son.
Firstborn indicates His priority before all creation.
Psalm 89:27--"Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth."
Hebrews 1:6–"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him."
Romans 8:29– "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
We too have to be born of God (spiritually), but Jesus was the first born.
John 3:3–“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
3. He Is The Firstborn From The Dead.
(Vs 18; 1 Corinthians 15:12-23)
He was not the first to arise from the dead. All those Christ raised from the dead while He was on the earth had to die all over again!
He was the first to arise from the dead to die no more!
We too will arise from the dead to die no more, but Jesus was the first!
His Person.
He Is The Firstborn Of Every Creature.
He is the firstborn of God in the flesh.
He is the only one born of God in the flesh.
He is the firstborn from the dead.
B. He Is The Head Of The Church.
(Verse 18; Ephesians 1:19-23; 4:15-16; 5:23)
1. The Head Is The Prominent Position In The Body.
2. The Head Is The Power Position In The Body.
It gives the direction for every other function of the Body!
3. The Head Is The Perception Position In The Body.
All five senses find their source in the Head!
a. Sight
b. Hearing
c. Smell
d. Taste
e. Touch or Feeling
That is why it is so necessary to abide in Christ.
Jesus said ". . .without me ye can do nothing" John 15:5
HIS PERSON --He Is The Image Of The Invisible God.
HIS POSITION--He Is The Firstborn Of Every Creature, He Is The Head Of The Church.
III. HIS POWER. (VS 16)
The Very Power of God!
A. All Things Were Created By Him.
This should clear up any question about Christ being the creator or just another creature.
1.Isaiah 44:24-- "Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself"
2. John 1:1-3
3.1 Corinthians 8:6-- "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."
4.Ephesians 3:9-- "...God...created all things by Jesus Christ"
5. Hebrews 1:2; 10-12 (cf. Psalm 102:25-27)
His Power.
All Things Were Created By Him.
B. All Things Were Created Beneath Him.
1.Deuteronomy 4:39-- "Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else."
2.1 Chronicles 29:11-- "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all."
C. All Things Were Created Because Of (Or For) Him.
1.Proverbs 16:4-- "The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."
2.Isaiah 43:21-- "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise."
3.Romans 11:36-- "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
4.Hebrews 2:10-- "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
HIS PERSON --He Is The Image Of The Invisible God.
HIS POSITION--He Is The Firstborn Of Every Creature, He Is The Head Of The Church.
HIS POWER.
Conclusion
There is more that Paul says here about the Doctrine of Christ’s Person, but that’s all that we have time for today. Lord willing, we will finish looking at the Doctrine of His Person next Sunday morning.
Oh what a mighty and glorious Saviour that we have! He is superior in every way to all of His creation, even us!
Because of Who He is (i.e. His person), we should be obedient to Him in every way!
Who do you say that Jesus is? What is your view of Christ? How does it line up with the doctrine of Christ taught by Jesus and the apostles?
Is He your Lord?
All of His creatures will one day acknowledge Him in all of His glory!
You are one of His creatures! Have you acknowledged Him for Who He is?
Why not call Him Lord in this life while you still have an opportunity!
You will acknowledge Him one day, don't let it be too late!
Dear Christian friend, are you serving this glorious Saviour as you should?
You have all of Him. Does He have all of you?
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!