What is necessary for Christ to have preeminence in all things in the local church:

* First and foremost: Members with faith in Christ. A church must be comprised of born again believers; if not it is not a church.

** Second: Must cultivate love for all the saints,

*** Third: Be fruitful

Read Col 1:9-22

Col 1:9a For this cause. The phrase “for this cause” is seen in 26 verses.

Ch1:9b What Paul continually prayed concerning the saints in Colosse:

·       V9c that ye (they) might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and in spiritual things.(Eph 1:9, 5:15-17)

·       What cause? V10a: That they (ye) might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing.

v   1Thes 2:11-14; 2Pet 3:11-14

·       V10b being fruitful in every good work.

·       V10c increasing in the knowledge of God (2Pet 1:5, 3:18)

·       V11a Strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. Eph 1:19, 3:16, 6:10   

·       V11b unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

v   Fruit of the spirit Gal 5:22-23

V1:12-13 Father had made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light by delivering us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

·       light in 1:12: often knowledge, you can see in the light. Darkness hides the truth. (2Tim 1:10) (2Cor 4:4)

·       We can claim this as well because the light of the glorious gospel shined unto us.

v   Rom 12:2; Eph 5:15-17

v   2Peter 1:1-8 It seems that Paul and Peter were in agreement.

**** The Fourth characteristic of a church that holds Christ in the position of preeminence in all things: walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing through growing in the knowledge of God.

·       filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and in spiritual things.

In V9-11,12 Notice change in pronouns from you and ye to us in V12. Paul’s includes himself. The Father has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (knowledge of God through the gospel). (2Tim 1:10). We are made suitable to hold Christ in preeminence

V1:13-14 How has God made us meet?

Col 1: 21-22, Rom 5:10; 2Cor 5:18

We have been reconciled to God through His death and his shed blood He has redeemed us from the power of darkness and we have been forgiven of sins. Through his death we have been translated into the kingdom of The Son of God and presented holy,  unblameable, and unreproveable in His sight.

·       V13 we have been delivered us from the power of darkness (Heb 2:12; 1Pet 2:9)

v   2Cor 4:3-4 from the blinding of the god of this world. 2Tim 1:10

·       V13 we have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son 1Thes 2:12; 2Pet 1:11; Heb 1:8; Jude 24

·       V14 Eph 1:7 We have been redeemed unto the forgiveness of sin. (Rom 3:24, 4:25 Justified)

·       2Cor 5:21 we have been made the righteousness of God in him.

V21-22 Through his death Christ has reconciled us to God in his body of flesh. This is why He is able to present us holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: (Jude 24) (Eph 2:6)

·       1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye (should) shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:  (Titus 2:14)

·       2Peter 1:1-7 We have a divine nature is anchored is charity

·       This is the spiritual truth of our salvation.