COLOSSIANS 1:14-19
THE STAR OF THE SHOW
Let's have a little fun. I'll name a show, and you tell me the names of the star or stars of that show.
The Tonight Show
M*A*S*H
The CBS Evening News
I Love Lucy
The Hour of Decision
This morning, there is a show going on throughout America. The show is actually many shows meeting as the church. Who is the star of the show?
Is it the song leader, worship team leader, choir director?
Is it a special soloist, a choir, or a visiting musical group?
Is it the trustees, deacons and/or elders?
Is it the pastor of the church?
Is it a guest speaker?
All too often in local churches there are those who wouldn't necessarily admit it, but they consider themselves to be the stars of the show. And there are people in the congregation who attend church because of a musical personality or because of the talents of the preacher.
In reality, however, there is to be only one star of the show. And that star of the show is the one whom we have gathered to worship and to serve, that is our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus is the star, God the Father gets the glory.
Ephesians 3:21 - Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
In order to help us focus better when we come to worship, and to help us understand why the Lord Jesus Christ is the star of this show, The Mount Union Bible Church, I turn your direction to Colossians 1:14-19. In these verses I find five reasons why Jesus is the star of the show.
HE IS REDEEMER - Vs. 14
HE IS REFLECTOR - Vs. 15a
HE HAS RANK - Vs. 15b
HE IS RESPONSIBLE - Vss. 16-17
HE IS RULER - Vss. 18-19
The Bible Knowledge Commentary said, No comparable listing of so many characteristics of Christ and His deity are found in any other Scripture passage. Christ is the supreme Sovereign of the universe! John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck, editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Testament Edition, © 1983 by SP Pulications Inc. Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois, Page 672
HE IS REDEEMER - Vs. 14
Vs. 14 - Leslie B. Flynn told of an orphaned boy was living with his grandmother when their house caught fire. The grandmother, trying to get upstairs to rescue the boy, perished in the flames. The boy’s cries for help were finally answered by a man who climbed an iron drainpipe and came back down with the boy hanging tightly to his neck.
Several weeks later, a public hearing was held to determine who would receive custody of the child. A farmer, a teacher, and the town’s wealthiest citizen all gave the reasons they felt they should be chosen to give the boy a home. But as they talked, the lad’s eyes remained focused on the floor. Then a stranger walked to the front and slowly took his hands from his pockets, revealing severe scars on them.
As the crowd gasped, the boy cried out in recognition. This was the man who had saved his life. His hands had been burned when he climbed the hot pipe. With a leap the boy threw his arms around the man’s neck and held on for dear life. The other men silently walked away, leaving the boy and his rescuer alone. Those marred hands had settled the issue. -D.C.E.Our Daily Bread, December , http://www.bible.org/illus/r/r-16.htm#TopOfPage
The rescuer had redeemed the boy from a fiery grave. The price he paid was scarred hands. But in the eyes of that boy, The rescuer was the star of the show.
You and I were under a death sentence because of our sins.
Romans 6:23 says in part, For the wages of sin is death;
The Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, died in our place for our sins.
2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
When Jesus died for our sins, his blood was shed for our sins.
1 Peter 1:18-19 - Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
When Jesus rose from the dead he had something to show his disciples. He showed them the scars. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins and has every right to be the Star of the Show.
The word translated "redemption" refers to someone being set free because of the paying of a price. Because of the payment blood of Christ, the person who trusts Christ as Savior is set free from bondage to sin and set free from the punishment for sin.
With redemption comes forgiveness for sins. The charges of sin against us have been dismissed!
One of our favorite hymns around here is It Is Well With My Soul by Horatio Spafford. My favorite verse of that hymn goes like this:
My sin, oh, the bliss of this
glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itiswell.htm
There is only one requirement for being redeemed and forgiven.
You must trust Jesus as your Savior, your way to Heaven.
You must believe that it is He who died for your sins, and that He is your only hope of Heaven.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
See the scars in His hands. He has redeemed you with His own blood! He is the star of the show!
HE IS REDEEMER - Vs. 14
HE IS REFLECTOR - Vs. 15
If Jesus were just our redeemer, that would be reason enough for him to the Star of the Show, but there is more.
So many times we have said, or heard it said, "He's just like his father!" In the case of Jesus, this statement is absolutely true!
Vs. 15 - He is the image of the invisible God. Do you want to know what God is like? He is the exact duplicate! How can Jesus be an exact duplicate? He is God in the flesh!
John 1:1-2 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus said in John 14:9 …He that hath seen me hath seen the Father;
What a great privilege it is for us Christians to study and learn from the Lord Jesus who is the reflector of who God is.
HE IS REFLECTOR - Vs. 15
HE HAS RANK - Vs. 15
According to verse 15, not only is the Lord Jesus The image of the invisible God, but the firstborn of every creature.
In many societies, current and historical, there is rank and privilege that goes with being the first born.
Jesus of course is eternal. He has always existed.
John 1:2 - The same was in the beginning with God.
Charles Erdman - "'Firstborn' here means two things: priority in time and supremacy in place or position. Christ existed before the Creation, but He held the rank commonly assigned to the 'firstborn,' the rank of eminence and dominion. Christ is thus declared to be the universal sovereign." Charles Erdman, The Epistles of Paul to the Colossians and to Philemon, © 1966 by W.L. Jenkins, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Page 52
Can I be blunt?
The Lord Jesus Christ outranks us all!
In this church and in our lives, we are to treat the Lord Jesus as preeminent. He's the Star of the show.
The singing in this church should be in heart-felt praise to the Lord Jesus.
The preaching and teaching in this church should be in heart-felt submission to the Lord Jesus.
The decisions made by the council and congregation of this church should be in heart-felt recognition that He is the highest-ranking member of this church! He is the star of the show!
HE HAS RANK - Vs. 15b
HE IS RESPONSIBLE - Vss. 16-17
Vs. 16 - The Lord Jesus is responsible for two things mentioned in verses 16-17. The first thing He is responsible for is creation.
The things that we can see in Heaven, He created.
The things that we can not see in Heaven, He created.
The things that you can see on earth, He created.
The things that you can not see on earth, He created.
Why do you think Jesus could feed the 5,000?
He is the creator!
Why do you think Demons had to do as He said?
He is creator.
Why do you think Jesus could heal the sick?
He is creator.
Why do you think Jesus could control the weather?
He is the creator!
Please don't miss the last line of the text.
All things were created by him, and for him.
Revelation 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
You were created by and for the Lord Jesus Christ.
He didn't create you to please yourself, or to please anyone else, but to please Him!
However, when we do please the Lord, we and everyone else will be best served.
According to Romans 12:2 says that the will of God is "good and acceptable and perfect".
Proverbs 16:7 - When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
So, the best question you can ask yourself, especially when you are considering doing something different or questionable, is "Is the Lord Jesus pleased with what I am doing?"
Not only is "The Star of the Show", the Lord Jesus responsible for creation. He is also responsible for holding everything together.
Colossians 1:17 - And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
According to Warren Wiersbe, "A guide took a group of people through an atomic laboratory and explained how all matter was composed of rapidly moving electric particles. The tourists studied models of molecules and were amazed to learn that matter is made up primarily of space. During the question period, one visitor asked, 'If this is the way matter works, what holds it all together?' For that the guide had no answer.
But we have the answer! The Lord Jesus is the glue that holds the universe together!
And let me tell you something even more comforting than that.
The Lord Jesus wants to be the glue that holds your life together. Just as molecules could fly apart if the Lord Jesus didn't hold them together, you life will fall apart if the Lord Jesus doesn't hold it together. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, ©1989 by SP Publications Inc., Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois, Page 116
Just think of the 23rd Psalm!
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
By providing for your true needs, the Lord holds your life together.
[2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
By leading you to the green pastures of His Word He holds you together by feeding you spiritually.
By leading you beside still waters, He holds you together with peace during conflict.
[3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
By putting you back on your spiritual feet when you fail, he holds you together.
By leading you in paths of righteousness, He holds your life together morally.
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
He even holds you together during death, and brings you to Himself in Heaven.
He also holds you together with the rod of discipline and protection and the staff of guidance.
[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
He holds you together by feeding you physically and spiritually when enemies oppose you.
He gives you the anointing of the Holy Spirit and a blessedness that runs over with joy.
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
He holds your life together with much needed goodness and mercy every day!
And He promises to hold you together for all eternity in His house.
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
The Lord Jesus is responsible for creating the universe and for holding everything together.
HE IS RESPONSIBLE - Vss. 16-17
HE IS RULER - Vss. 18-19
Vs. 18 - In the New Testament the church is sometimes viewed as a body, the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Think of the head as the control center of the body. There are several body parts that you can do without and still survive, but not the head. That's where the computer is, your brain, that runs everything else!
As the head of the body, the church, Christ is the ruler!
He is in control. He has every right to tell you and I, and this church what to do! He is the star of the show.
He is the firstborn from the dead. Again, we are thinking of rank. He is first in position and authority when it comes to resurrection. Nobody else's resurrection has been or will be as grand as His.
Ephesians 1:19-23 - And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, [20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, [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: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Colossians 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.
When you get to Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ will have preeminence in your life. He will be the star of the show.
What Jesus wants form us right now is for us to allow him to be in our hearts and in our church, what He already is in the universe, the preeminent ruler.
Is He ruler over your thoughts?
Is He ruler over your behavior?
Is He ruler over your marriage?
Is He ruler over your relationships with family and friends?
Is He ruler over your time?
Is He ruler over your money?
In other words, is He the star of your show?
He won't be truly the star of the show called the church, until He is the star of the show that is your life.
Colossians 1:19 - For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Charles Erdman - "'The fulness' denotes the sum total of the powers and attributes of God. All these are said to reside in Christ. The word 'dwell' indicates not a temporary but a permanent residence." Ibid Page 56
All that is God is found in Christ.
He is the ruler.
He is the star of the show!
HE IS REDEEMER - Vs. 14
HE IS REFLECTOR - Vs. 15a
HE HAS RANK - Vs. 15b
HE IS RESPONSIBLE - Vss. 16-17
HE IS RULER - Vss. 18-19
As I asked a moment ago, is He the star of your show?