Guest Speaker:  Michael Brain

Who is Jesus?

Colossians 1:15-20

1. 1.       Who is Jesus?
   1. a.       The Image of the Invisible God (v. 15a)

-The exact image of God, the express copy

-Jesus claimed that whoever has seen me has seen the Father (John 14:9)

-“. . . and the word was God.” (John 1:1)

1. b.      The Firstborn (v. 15b)

-Not in regards to creation, but in regards to rank

-He is the king, supreme over all creation

-“And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.” (Ps. 89:27)

1. c.       The Creator and Sustainer of the Universe (v. 16)

-Christ created all things (cf. John 1:3)

-Christ is the eternal creator (v. 17a)

-Holds the universe together (v. 17b)

1. d.      The Fullness of God (v. 19)

-The complete revelation of God

-Not just an outline, but the fullness of God

1. e.      The Reconciler (v. 20)

-The world was stable and at peace in the Garden of Eden

-When man sinned, the entire creation was corrupted

-Through the cross, Jesus Christ takes care of evil

-One day, all things will be brought back to peace by becoming subject again to Christ

1. 2.       How do we respond to Jesus?

–          In a world of brokenness, we find hope in only Christ

–          If Christ is the fullness of God, we need nothing but Him

–          If Christ is the creator, then nothing in the world will satisfy us

–          If Christ is our reconciliation, nothing we do will reconcile us to God

–          We respond to Jesus by following Him and living in submission to Him.