Part Two: "The Supremacy of Jesus the Christ" (Colossians 1:18-20)

Paul says, "He is also head of the body, the church" (v 18). Paul uses the human body as a figure of speech for the church. He's teaching us that as a human body is controlled by the head (brain), Jesus controls every part of the church! The church was brought into being by Christ. In His words to Peter, the Lord said, "I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it" (Matthew 16:18). Notice, the Lord said that the church is His! Christ alone is the Designer, Builder, Owner, and Head of the church. Saul's first encounter with the risen Lord while he was persecuting the church, was these words, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4). Acts 9:1 tells us "Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord." In other words, Saul believed he was coming against the church, when in reality, he was coming against Jesus! Jesus is the sovereign Lord over the church. As Christ followers, we are to submit our lives to Him! Continuing in our text, Paul says, "And He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything" (v 18). We've already looked at Christ as the originator of the church. That's seen in the words, "And He is the beginning." The phrase, "the firstborn from the dead" means that the resurrection of Jesus was the first of its kind! How is that so? Only Christ has been resurrected with a glorified, imperishable, indestructible body! Our new bodies will be just like His! Praise God forevermore!! Our new bodies will no longer be subject to a sin nature, disease, aging, or dying! How awesome is that? I'm talking about an extreme makeover, resurrection addition! God's purpose is, "that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." Does Jesus have first place in all things in your life? Paul goes on to say, "And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross" (v 20). This points to the death of Christ as a sacrifice for our sins. We are the redeemed of the Lord, and we ought to say so (Psalm 107:2)! Your move. Be encouraged!