Colossians 1:18 The Preeminent One

Key verse: Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

·       Jesus Christ is to be held first in priority. Nothing or no one is to be held above or even equal him. This is the necessary goal of every local church.

·       This may be the key verse for all local churches and individual Christians.

Eph 1:21-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, his body,

v   V23 The body of Christ is the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

v   The Body of Christ is the fullness of Christ in this world; to church the body of Christ, Christ is everything.

·       The world should experience the fullness of Christ through the body of believers.

·       V17 the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory place His only begotten Son in the place of preeminence in all things.

v   Ps 8:6; Mat 28:18; 1Cor 15:27; Heb 2:7-8

1Timothy 3:15-16 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

·       Eph 1:23 The local church is to be the fullness of Christ in it’s community.

·       That is accomplished by keeping Him in the place of preeminence in all things.

·       This begins by upholding the truth spoken of in 1Tim 3:15-16

1Ti 3:16 And without controversy – The Bible leaves no room for debate on the great mystery of godliness

·       God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

·       The local church must uphold this truth and this truth must be the ground on which the church built. It is the foundational teaching of the local church – Eph 2:20

Why does Jesus Christ deserve to have preeminence in all things;  For who He is or for what He did?

Who The Preeminent One Is.

Col 1:15a Who is the image of the invisible God,

·       Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

·       Col 2:3 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge

·       Col 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [1John 5:7] The head of all principality and power

·       That holy thing that was born of Mary [Luke 1:35] was indwelled with 100 percent of the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost.

·       Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

·       Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

·       1Tim 6:15-16 The only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords Phil 2:8-11

Col 1:15b the firstborn of every creature:

·       The birth of the ‘Holy Thing” [Luke 1:35] was ordained before the foundation of the world. John 17:24; Eph 1:4; 1Pet 1:20; 2Tim 1:9. Rev 3:14, Rev 22:13

Not the first born on this earth chronologically but as the only begotten Son of God he is the first born in position, rank, and honor, and preeminence.

Col 1:16-17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth . . . all things were created by him, and for him: 17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

·       John 1:3

·       Ro 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

·       He not only made everything but He holds His creation together and keeps it in order for His glory..