And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence.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.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.
6 sermons cite this verse
… he is the one who's gone ahead of us and now in his glorified body Colossians 1.18 says he's the firstborn from the dead and Romans 8 verse 23 tells us that we have the first fruits of the spirit as we await the redemption of our bodies so we have the presence of the Holy Spirit with us Ephesians 1 verses 13 through 14 tells us that God has given us his Holy Spirit who is a seal, a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. And so our future hope is anchored in the sure promises that come with Christ's resurrection and the present reality of the Holy Spirit who is with us. The one who indwells us. The one who is at work in us now. And so Paul says in Romans 8, if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies that through his spirit who dwells in you. …
… beyond what Jesus has given them. Let me show you in Colossians chapter one, verse 18. Jesus, or the Bible says, and he, that is Jesus, is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things in the church, he may have preeminence. That word preeminence, it means first and foremost in rank and importance. It is his church. Not the pastors, not the prophets, not the priest, not the pope, Not those in the pews. I got one more. Not the people. It's Jesus' church. According to Acts 20, 28, he purchased it with his own blood. And so Jesus, in writing this letter, reminds the leader that his position, his calling, his power, his influence, his authority, all of it is in the right hand of Jesus. Why the right hand? Well, because the right hand is the hand of strength, power, and authority. Jesus says, you operate in my authority. This is good for each of us to remember. …
… on the supremacy of Christ. Colossians 1.18 says, in everything Christ is preeminent. In everything. So consider the supremacy of his deity. Equal with God, all of his attributes, radiance of his glory, exact imprint of his nature, infinite, boundless in all of his excellencies. The supremacy of his eternality, mind-boggling for a child and for me, he never had a beginning. Christ never had a beginning. Alpha Omega. Consider the supremacy of his constancy, never changing his character, his virtues, his commitments, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Consider the supremacy of his knowledge, makes the Library of Congress look like a matchbox, makes all that information, massive AI data centers, look like a farmer's almanac, which, by the way, is ceasing to print this year after 200 years. Makes quantum physics and anything that ever entered Steve Hawking's head look like a first-grade reader. the supremacy of his wisdom. He's never been perplexed. Nobody can counsel him. Him, he's never been confused about anything. The supremacy of his authority on heaven and earth. …
… all things hold together. And he is the head of the body. The church. He is the beginning. The firstborn from the dead. that in everything he might be preeminent. Preeminent. The Greek word for preeminent means to be first in rank, to be first in influence. In other words, Jesus has peerless power, authority, and position, supreme and exalted. He is preeminent in the universe. Is he preeminent in your life? give that question some careful thought is Christ preeminent in your life Many people would say that Christ has a place. in their life. I could say that about Mount Everest. I own a book about Mount Everest. I can honestly say Mount Everest has a place in my life. I don't know where that book is. And right now I cannot remember what it's about or who wrote it. But I do believe that Mount Everest is the highest summit that we humans on earth could ever hope to ascend. Everest has a place in my life, but it's not preeminent in my life. …
… Now listen to verse 18. And he, that is Jesus, 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. Now, that ought to be underscored in your Bible. That's one of the key, key secrets of Christian living, that in all things Jesus Christ would have the preeminence. Now, notice verse 19, for it pleased the Father, it pleased the Father, that in him, in Jesus, should all fullness dwell. And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. Now look up here and let me tell you something. In every life, in your life and in my life, someone or something has first place. Isn't that true? In everybody's life, in your life and in my life, someone or something has first place. DR. S.D. GORDON USED TO SAY, IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE THERE'S A THRONE. …
… For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. And we saw in Colossians chapter 1, verse 18, that that body is Christ. So see what he's saying here. That is that Jesus Christ, remember now, he ascended to the Father. He said to them, I'll go away, but I will come to you. So that the Holy Spirit's coming was Christ coming back through the Holy Spirit. He says the Holy Spirit would be in them, with them, and upon them. So that the day the Holy Spirit baptized that group, he baptized them into the body of Christ. That is, they became the body of Christ. Now, what do we mean when we say the body of Christ? The body of Christ is this. It is the extension of the life of Christ on earth at this given time. Because Jesus has ascended the Father, He's seated the Father's right hand. The Bible says in Colossians that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. He's the head and we're the body. …