12/18/01

This Sermon was copied Wrom: FJMVRESKPNKMBIPBARHDMNNSKVFVWRKJVZCMHVIBGDADRZFSQHYUCDDJBLVLMHAALPTCXLYRWTQTIPWIGYOKSTTZRCLBDXRQBGJSNBOHMKHJYFMYXOEAIJJPHSCRTNHGSWZIDREXCAXZOWCONEUQZAA and was written by: Pastor Rev. Les Burton

TEXT: COLOSSIANS 1

IN 1967 JOHN LENNON SAID THAT THE BEATLES WERE MORE POPULAR THAN JESUS CHRIST...

HE CAUSED A REAL UPROAR AT THE TIME; XTIANS BOYCOTTED CONCERTS & BURNED RECORDS

BUT NOW 20 YEARS LATER, THE VERDICT IS IN... AND EVEN IN THIS OF THE INTERNET; ITS AMAZING TO SEE THAT JESUS STILL BEATS OUT THE BEATLES HANDS DOWN

ie: IF YOU GO INTO A SEARCH ENGINE AND TYPE IN "BEATLES" YOU GET BACK 40,000 HITS; COMPARED WITH 300,000 HITS YOU GET WHEN YOU TYPE IN THE NAME "JESUS CHRIST"

I'M NOT SURE WHAT POINT JOHN LENNON WAS REALLY TRYING TO MAKE; BUT HE'S CERTAINLY NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO PREMATURELY PREDICT THE DEMISE OF CHRIST...

BUT JESUS HAS A WONDERFUL WAY OF ENDURING... CULTURAL FADS COME AND GO; EMPIRES RISE AND FALL... BUT JESUS CHRIST ENDURES...

I'M SURE THE PHARISEES THOUGHT THEY HAD HIM LICKED WHEN THEY LAID HIM IN THE TOMB...

BUT AS THE HYMN WRITER SAID: "DEATH COULD NOT KEEP ITS PREY... JESUS MY SAVIOR"

HE TORE THE BARS AWAY... AND JESUS MY LORD IS MORE ALIVE NOW THAN EVER; HIS KINGDOM IS GROWING... HIS GOSPEL SPREADING... JUST LIKE YEAST IN A LUMP OF DOUGH THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS EVER EXPANDING; JESUS CHRIST HAS MORE FOLLOWERS ON EARTH

NOW THAN IF YOU ADDED UP ALL THE BELIEVERS OF ALL THE AGES...

 NO MATTER HOW MUCH CERTAIN FORCES WOULD LIKE TO MARGINALIZE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND PUSH THE MATTERS OF FAITH INTO THE BACKGROUND OF OUR SOCIETY...

 THE FASCINATION WITH JESUS CONTINUES... HE REMAINS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH

 ie: THIS VERY WEEK; COVER OF MACLEAN'S MAGAZINE ASKS: IS JESUS REALLY GOD?

 THE COVER STORY EXAMINES THE FUROR CAUSED BY THE NEW MODERATOR OF THE UNITED CHURCH BILL PHIPPS WHO SAID IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE OTTAWA CITIZEN THAT...

 ALTHOUGH HE IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH... HE DOESN'T BELIEVE JESUS IS GOD; THAT HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE; OR THAT HEAVEN AND HELL ARE LITERAL OTHER THAN THAT HE HAS NO QUALMS WITH ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY... FOLLOWING THIS?

BUT ITS INTERESTING TO SEE THE BACKLASH HIS COMMENTS HAVE CAUSED NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED CHURCH BUT IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF THE BODY OF CHRIST

THE PHONE LINES WERE JAMMED RECENTLY ON ONE OF THE LOCAL RADIO PROGRAMS AS PEOPLE CALLED IN TO VOICE THEIR OPINION ON THE SUBJECT: WHO IS JESUS?

 IT SEEMS TO ME THAT PEOPLE EITHER LOVE HIM OR HATE; NO ONE IS INDIFFERENT... BUT THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S ALIVE! EACH GENERATION MUST ANSWER THE QUESTION..

 JESUS ASKED IN THE GOSPELS: "WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?"

 ACCORDING TO REGINALD BIBBY, ONLY 24% OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS OF CANADIAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGES BELIEVE: "JESUS CHRIST IS SAVIOUR AND LORD"

 I SUPPOSE THAT SHOULDN'T SURPRISE US; HELL'S TACTIC HAS NEVER CHANGED...

 PAUL SAID IN 2 COR 4:4 THE ENEMY IS INTENT ON BLINDING MANKIND TO THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL SO THAT THEY CANNOT SEE THE GLORY OF CHRIST; CHRIST WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD

 Q: WHAT BETTER WAY TO DECEIVE THE MASSES THAN TO FIRST BLIND THE CLERGY?

 INT STAT: ARTICLE MAINTAINS THAT IN CANADA, CHURCHES WHICH MINIMIZED DIVINITY OF CHRIST/ WATERED DOWN THEIR DOCTRINES SHRANK IN ATTENDANCE BY 18%IN LAST 10 YEARS

 WHEREAS THOSE WHO PROCLAIMED THE DEITY OF CHRIST AND NEED FOR SALVATION THRU HIS SHED BLOOD.. ACTUALLY GREW BY 82% !!!

 AND SO ITS NO WONDER THAT THE ENEMY CONSTANTLY SEEKS TO ATTACK THIS TRUTH; CHURCHES WHO BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS GOD UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

 AND BECAUSE OF CALVARY THEY ARE ABLE TO PREACH A MESSAGE THAT OFFERS REAL HOPE

1CO 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

 YOU SEE- DOCTRINE REALLY IS IMPORTANT; ITS THE TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE!

SO WITH CURRENT DEBATE RAGING; LET US TAKE A MOMENT TO EXAMINE WHAT WE BELIEVE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY... LET'S MAKE NOTE OF WHY WE BELIEVE IT...

 I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE A HELPFUL EXERCISE FOR US TODAY; MAKE NOTE OF REFs

BUT AS WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS LET'S REALLY COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT CONCEPT OF EMMANUEL: "God with us"

CLASSIC PORTION OF SCRIPTURE ON THE TOPIC OF THE INCARNATION: COLOSSIANS 1

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DOCTRINALLY RICH PORTIONS OF SCRIPTURE IN THE NT; NOWHERE ELSE DO WE FIND SO MUCH ABOUT CHRIST IN SO FEW VERSES...

COL 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

PAUL KNEW WHO THAT BABY IN THE MANGER WAS... HE WAS AND IS NOT ONLY THE SON OF GOD BUT GOD HIMSELF MADE FLESH... AND HE USES FOUR ARGUMENTS TO PROVE HIS POINT..

 1) CHRIST IS THE SAVIOUR

 a/ HE DELIVERED US: (13) For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

 OF COURSE WE COULDN'T RESCUE OURSELVES FROM THE GUILT AND PENALTY OF SIN BUT THANKS BE TO GOD; SATAN NO LONGER HAS ANY HOLD ON US... BECAUSE OF CALVARY THE POWER OF SIN HAS BEEN BROKEN; SATAN'S GRIP IS LOOSED

 CHRIST DIDN'T JUST SET US FREE IN ORDER TO HAVE US WANDER AIMLESSLY... BUT AFTER RESCUING US FROM THE DOMINION OF DARKNESS GOD HAS BROUGHT US INTO HIS OWN GLORIOUS KINGDOM OF LIGHT AND MADE US JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST..

 b/ HE TRANSLATED US: and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

 PTL! WE HAVE BEEN MADE CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD; AS WE STUDIED THIS PAST YEAR; HE BROUGHT US OUT TO BRING US IN... AND PAUL SAYS IN v.14...

 c/ HE REDEEMED US: (14) in whom we have redemption,

 BY HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, JESUS MET THE HOLY DEMANDS OF GOD'S LAW OUR DEBT OF SIN HAS BEEN PAID IN FULL... WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN; WE ARE REDEEMED!!

 REMEMBER HOW THE ANGEL INSTRUCTED JOSEPH...

 MAT 1:21 you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins

PAUL SHOWS THAT JESUS IS PREEMINENT IN SALVATION; THEN PAUL GOES ON TO SHOW THAT CHRIST IS ALSO PREEMINENT IN CREATION..

 2) CHRIST IS THE CREATOR

 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

NOTE PAUL'S CHOICE OF WORDS... TWO VERY IMPORTANT CONCEPTS:

 a) HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD

 WORD IMAGE; GREEK WORD "EICHON" MEANS IMAGE OR LIKENESS.. OF COURSE PART OF JESUS' MISSION WAS TO REVEAL THE FATHER.. THE INVISIBLE GOD TO MANKIND

 1TI 6:15 God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.

 YES GOD WAS INVISIBLE AND INACCESSIBLE UNTIL HE SENT HIS SON...

JOH 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

 IN CHRIST GOD PUT ON FLESH AND BLOOD AND CAME DOWN TO WALK AROUND FOR AWHILE

 JOHN 1 SAYS The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us... WHY DID HE COME?

 JESUS CAME TO MAKE GOD KNOWN TO US; TO REVEAL THE FATHER; GIVE US AN IMAGE; ICON

 ie: COMPUTER PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHAT ABOUT ICONS; ON THE DESKTOP OF YOUR COMPUTER IF YOU CLICK ON THE ICON AND YOU GET THE WHOLE PROGRAM...

 IN THE SAME WAY CHRIST IS THE ICON OF THE FATHER; TAP INTO HIM AND YOU TAP INTO DEITY

 JOH 14:9 Jesus answered: "...Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

 HEB 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

SO PAUL EXPLAINS THAT JESUS IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD; THEN HE CALLS HIM...

b) THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION

 SOME CULT GROUPS TRY TO USE THIS PASSAGE TO ATTACK THE DEITY OF CHRIST; THEY TWIST VERSE TO SUGGEST THAT BECAUSE JESUS WAS "BORN FIRST" HE WAS FIRST CREATED THING THEREFORE, WHILE HE MAY BE A SMALL "g" GOD HE IS NOT GOD IN THE FLESH

 BUT THE QUESTION IS: WHAT DOES "FIRSTBORN" MEAN?

 OF COURSE IN THE MODERN SENSE IT MEANS TO BE BORN FIRST BUT IT MEANT SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT IN THE BIBLE TIMES...

 IN THE BIBLE THE TERM "FIRSTBORN" DOESN'T REFER TO CHRONOLOGY BUT TO POSITION

 IN PSALM 89 GOD USES THE TITLE "FIRSTBORN" TO DESCRIBE DAVID BUT WE KNOW THAT DAVID HAD 8 OLDER BROTHERS... TERM REFERRING TO HAVING PREEMINENCE..

 HERE PAUL IS SAYING THAT AS THE FIRSTBORN; JESUS HAS PREEMINENCE OVER ALL CREATION HE IN FACT IS THE CAUSE, THE MEANS AND THE SOURCE OF ALL CREATION

 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

PAUL SAYS THAT ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM... HE IS GOD!

HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER

Ill: THE ATOM... MYSTERIES OF MODERN SCIENCE; PROTONS AND ELECTRONS... CENTRIFUGAL FORCE.. WHAT HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER? SCIENTISTS CALL IN "THE UNKNOWN FORCE"

 AGAIN THIS TERM "FIRSTBORN"... FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD?

 WAS HE THE FIRST PERSON TO BE RISE FROM THE GRAVE; NO LAZARUS... BUT LAZARUS DIED!

THE LORD RAISED UP JAIRUS' DAUGHTER... BUT JAIRUS' DAUGHTER EVENTUALLY DIED...

 BUT JESUS IS THE FIRST PERSON TO COME BACK TO LIFE AND STAY ALIVE!!

 HE IS THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION; CHRIST HAS CONQUERED DEATH!

 18 he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

 HE IS THE SAVIOUR; HE IS THE CREATOR; HE IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH...

 4) CHRIST IS THE BELOVED OF THE FATHER

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

THIS IS THE KEY VERSE: PAUL SAID THAT "ALL FULLNESS" DWELT IN JESUS CHRIST!

ALL GOD'S FULLNESS DWELLS IN CHRIST; IT'S A GREAT MYSTERY... PAUL ADMITTED THAT WITHOUT QUESTION THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS IS GREAT... BUT THE BIBLE IS CLEAR SOMEHOW; GOD CAUSED ALL HIS FULLNESS (PLEROMA) TO RESIDE IN CHRIST...

 PHIPPS: "I believe that God is more than Jesus. God is huge, mysterious, wholly beyond our comprehension and beyond our total understanding. Jesus therefore does not represent or embody God but embodies as much of God as can be in a person."

 OF COURSE, HE'S ENTITLED TO HIS OPINION; I JUST WONDER WHICH BIBLE HE'S BEEN READING!

 COL 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form

JESUS WAS NOTHING LESS THAN GOD IN THE FLESH.. THERE WAS NOTHING LACKING IN THE DEITY OF CHRIST...

 PTL CHURCH! CHRIST WASN'T JUST A MAN FULL OF GOD; JESUS CHRIST WAS GOD... IS GOD AND FOREVERMORE SHALL BE GOD!

 WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEITY OF CHRIST?

 JOH 5:23 He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

PAUL CAME A LONG WAY IN HIS UNDERSTANDING OF JESUS SINCE THAT DAY HE MET HIM ON

 AS SUCH HE DESERVES TO BE GIVEN NOTHING LESS THAN OUR WHOLE HEARTED WORSHIP

 JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAVIOUR, CREATOR, THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, THE BELOVED OF THE FATHER ! HE IS THE ETERNAL GOD; THE EVERLASTING FATHER; THE PRINCE OF PEACE; THE KING OF KINGS THE LORD OF LORDS & IN HIS CHURCH & IN OUR HEARTS WE MUST GIVE HIM ABSOLUTE SUPREMACY

 ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT CHURCHES THAT ARE FLOURISHING IN THESE DAYS ARE CHURCHES THAT ARE MAGNIFYING CHRIST.. THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S ALIVE AND THE FATHER DELIGHTS IN POURING OUT HIS SPIRIT WHERE CHRIST IS EXALTED

 Ill: In 1893 the World's Exposition was held in Chicago and more than 21 million people visited the exhibits. Among the features was a "World Parliament of Religions" with reps of world's religions meeting to share their "best points" come up with a new religion for the world. Evangelist D.L.Moody saw this as a great opportunity for evangelism. He used churches, rented theaters to present the gospel. His friends wanted Moody to attack the "Parliament of Religions" but refused. "I am going to make Jesus Christ so attractive" he said "that men will turn to Him" Moody knew that Jesus Christ was the Preeminent Saviour that Chicago campaign was probably the greatest evangelistic endeavor of Moody's life. Thousands came to Christ.

 GOOD APPROACH! RATHER THAN FOCUS ON THE NEG; IN THESE DAYS.. LET US EMPH THE POSITIVE!

 NO MATTER WHAT NEW FANGLED ATTACK THE ENEMY MIGHT COME UP WITH; THE CHURCH'S BEST RESPONSE IS TO PREACH JESUS AND MAKE CHRIST ATTRACTIVE TO THE LOST

JESUS SAID: JOH 12:32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

YOU CAN'T GO WRONG PREACHING CHRIST!

 I KNOW THAT TODAY MANY OF YOU FOLKS ARE TIRED; YOU HAVE LABOURED SO FAITHFULLY THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON; SOME ARE WORKING ON THE OUTREACH BANQUET; LONG HOURS... PERSEVERE

MANY ARE IN THE CANTATA.. PRACTICING.. COSTUMES... SET...

 CAN I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU THIS MORNING NOT TO GROW WEARY IN WELL DOING AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY... WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS OF INFINITE WORTH..

 THROUGH THIS CANTATA YOU ARE PREACHING CHRIST; GOD IS GOING TO HONOUR YOU AND THE PRESENTATION FOR THAT REASON!

 THIS ISN'T ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT IT'S ABOUT MINISTRY AS YOU SING UNDER THE UNCTION OF THE HOLY GHOST YOU ARE INDEED LIFTING UP THE LORD... HE IS GOING TO DRAW PEOPLE

 WHAT A TIMELY MUSICAL: "FROM HEAVEN'S THRONE"

WHEN SOME ARE TRYING TO TEAR DOWN CHRIST.. WE ARE EMPHASIZING HIS SUPREMACY!!

 TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST LESS THAN GOD IS TO DETHRONE HIM...

IF JESUS ISN'T LORD OF ALL; THEN JESUS ISN'T LORD AT ALL!

 BUT I'M GLAD THAT JOHN LENNON WAS WRONG...  I'M GLAD THAT THE MODERATOR OF THE UNITED CHURCH IS WRONG... AREN'T YOU?

AREN'T YOU GLAD HE'S WRONG?

JESUS ISN'T JUST SOME SECOND RATE SAVIOUR; HE'S NOT JUST A GREAT TEACHER INFUSED WITH THE CHRIST SPIRIT... HE IS GOD ALMIGHTY AND HE'S LORD

 HE'S ALIVE AND HE'S IN THIS PLACE!

PTL HE'S WRONG! GLORY TO GOD HE'S WRONG! BECAUSE HE'S WRONG WE HAVE HOPE SALVATION

WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO REAL LITERAL HEAVEN; LOVED ONES AGAIN; BECAUSE HE'S WRONG

 YOU KNOW: THE WORLD HAS NOT YET SEEN THE LAST OF JESUS CHRIST

THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD...

YES THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN THE WRONG SHALL FAIL AND THE RIGHT PREVAIL BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, THE RULERS OF DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD WILL RELUCTANTLY DECLARE... THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

 THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN SIN WILL NO LONGER HAVE DOMINION OVER ANYONE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOUT... JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN JUSTICE WILL ROLL ON LIKE THE WATERS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM... BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

 THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN ALL TEARS ARE WIPED AWAY AND THERE WILL BE NO MORE SORROW OR PAIN OR CRYING OR DEATH... BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

 THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN ALL GOD'S CHILDREN, RED AND YELLOW, BLACK AND WHITE WILL JOIN TOGETHER IN ONE MIGHTY CHORUS AND SING... JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

 Q: ARE YOU READY FOR THAT DAY?

 STAND AND SAY THE NICENE CREED? DECLARE WHAT WE BELIEVE...

THE NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

 Through him all things were made.

 For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of Virgin Mary, & became man.

 For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried.

 On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

 AMEN...