OceanSide church of Christ

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THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.               The apostle Paul declares that Jesus occupies the place of preeminence in Colossians 1:18.

 

And he is the head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

 

B.               Preeminence (4409):

1.               This is the only time this Greek word is found in the New Testament.

2.               Definition:

a.         Strong:  to be first (in rank or influence)

b.         Thayer:  to be first, to hold first place

                        3.         Other versions:

                                    a.         NASV:  …so that he Himself might come to have first place in everything.

                                    b.         TEV:  …in order that he alone might have first place in all things.

                                    c.         NKJV:  …so that he should be supreme in every way.

 

C.              There are many reasons why Jesus Christ can be considered preeminent.  These will be the focus of this lesson, entitled:  “The Preeminence of Christ.”

 

I.          BECAUSE HE IS TRULY THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD

 

A.               God has many sons and daughters, but He has only one “begotten Son.”

1.               Christians become such through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).

2.               Jesus, on the other hand, became the Son of God by means of a virgin birth (Luke 1:31-32, 35).

 

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:  and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David…And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee:  therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

B.               Five times in the KJV Jesus is described by the title, “only begotten” (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18, and I John 4:9).

 

C.              There has never been, nor will there ever be another being, who will possess this title.  It exalts Jesus over every other being.

 

II.         BECAUSE HE IS THE FIRST TO BE RESURRECTED NEVER TO DIE AGAIN

 

A.               Prior to our Lord’s resurrection, others had been raised from the dead (e.g., Lazarus, John 11:43-44).

 

B.               Jesus, however, came forth from the grave never to die again.  Thus, He is styled as “the firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18).

1.               Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended back into the heavens (Acts 1:9).

2.               The Hebrew penman teaches that He “continues ever” and “ever lives” function-ing as our High Priest in the holy of holies (Heb. 7:23-25).

 

 

 

 

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:  but this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

III.        BECAUSE ALL POWER HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM IN HEAVEN AND EARTH

 

A.               Jesus Himself affirmed this while giving the Great Commission to His apostles (Matt. 28:18).

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

B.               Power is authority.

1.               Webster defines authority as the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.

2.               Jesus, and Jesus alone, has the right to rule and govern our lives.

3.               His right to govern was established clearly on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9).

a.         Matthew 17:3

 

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

 

                                    b.         Matthew 17:5

 

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:  and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

 

                                    c.         Matthew 17:8

 

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

 

C.              If Jesus possesses all power in heaven and earth, He is definitely preeminent.

 

IV.        BECAUSE HE HAS A NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME

 

A.               Philippians 2:9-11

 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

B.               Names in the Bible were more than identification tags.  Names symbolized a person’s character and his work.

1.               Jesus “name” is above all names.

2.               His person, character, and work are above all others.  The names of all others pale in significance to the name of Jesus Christ.

 

D.              Things in heaven; things in earth; and things under the earth will do two things before Jesus name:

1.         There will be submission:  …that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

2.         There will be confession:  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

 

 

V.         BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN GIVEN AN INDESTRUCTIBLE KINGDOM

 

A.               Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 7:13-14)

 

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given to him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him:  his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

 

1.               The words “come with clouds” and “came to the Ancient of days” refer to the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:9).

2.               When He came to the Father, He was given a kingdom.

a.         It is an everlasting dominion.

b.         It shall not pass away.

c.         It shall not be destroyed.

3.         All people, all nations, and all languages should serve Him.  “All” indicates that none are left out.  All are subservient to Him.

 

B.               This kingdom, the church, came on the day of Pentecost.  We read of its establishment in Acts 2 (See Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; Col. 1:13).

 

C.        Hebrews 12:28

 

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

 

D.        In I Corinthians 15:24, we learn that this kingdom will last beyond all the kingdoms of this world.  When all of them are gone, when death is destroyed, Christ will give His kingdom to the Father in heaven.

 

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

 

VI.        BECAUSE HE IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

 

A.               The right hand of a high official was a place of power and preeminence.

 

B.               The apostles, James and John, desired such a position in thekingdom of Christ (Mark 10:37).

 

C.              Jesus is the one who sits at the right hand of the throne of the living God.

1.               Acts 2:34-35

 

For David is not ascended into the heavens:  but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.

 

2.               Hebrews 1:3

 

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

 

D.              All other prominent religious leaders are dead and in the grave.  Jesus has been raised from the dead and presently sits at the right hand of God as King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15).

 

VII.       BECAUSE HE WILL JUDGE ALL MEN OF ALL NATIONS

 

A.               In the last day, Jesus will occupy the position of Judge (Acts 17:31).

 

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

 

B.               Not one person will fail to appear before Him.

1.               And before him shall be gathered all nations (Matt. 25:32).

2.               For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (II Cor. 5:10).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.               Christ is preeminent.  He is first and foremost above all things.

 

B.               Whether man acknowledges this, or not, does not change the fact.

 

C.              However, when one does acknowledge that Jesus is preeminent, he can never be the same.  He will submit to Christ as the one who is over all.

 

D.              Those who refuse Christ’s preeminence will acknowledge it later.  However, it will be too late.  He will then be their Judge.  His wrath will be meted out against them (Matt. 25:41).

 

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

 


 

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

A.            The apostle Paul declares that Jesus occupies the place of preeminence in Colossians 1:18.

B.            Preeminence (4409):

1.            This is the only time this Greek word is found in the New Testament.

2.            Definition:  Stong:  to be first (in rank or influence)     Thayer:  to be first, to hold first place

                              3.            Other versions:

                                             a.            NASV:  …so that he Himself might come to have first place in everything.

                                             b.            TEV:  …in order that he alone might have first place in all things.

                                             c.            NKJV:  …so that he should be supreme in every way.

C.           There are many reasons why Jesus Christ can be considered preeminent.  These will be the focus of this lesson, entitled:  “The Preeminence of Christ.”

I.             BECAUSE HE IS TRULY THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD

A.            God has many sons and daughters, but He has only one “begotten Son.”

1.            Christians become such through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).

2.            Jesus, on the other hand, become the Son of God by means of a virgin birth (Luke 1:31-32, 35).

B.            Five times in the KJV Jesus is described as the “only begotten” (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18, and I John 4:9).

C.           There has never been, nor will there ever be another being, who will possess this title.  It exalts Jesus over every other being.

II.            BECAUSE HE IS THE FIRST TO BE RESURRECTED NEVER TO DIE AGAIN

A.            Prior to our Lord’s resurrection, others had been raised from the dead (e.g., Lazarus, John 11:43-44).

B.            Jesus came forth from the grave never to die again.  He is styled as “the firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:18).

1.            Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended back into the heavens (Acts 1:9).

2.            The Hebrew penman teaches that He “continues ever” and “ever lives” functioning as our High Priest in the holy of holies (Heb. 7:23-25).

III.           BECAUSE ALL POWER HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM IN HEAVEN AND EARTH

A.            Jesus Himself affirmed this while giving the Great Commission to His apostles (Matt. 28:18).

B.            Power is authority.

1.                Webster defines authority as the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.

2.                Jesus, and Jesus alone, has the right to rule and govern our lives.

3.                His right to govern was established clearly on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9).

C.           If Jesus possesses all power in heaven and earth, He is definitely preeminent.

IV.           BECAUSE HE HAS A NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME

A.            Philippians 2:9-11

B.            Names in the Bible were more than identification tags.  Names symbolized a person’s character and work.

1.            Jesus “name” is above all names.

2.            His person, character, and work are above all others.  The names pale in significance to Jesus.

C.           Things in heaven; things in earth; and things under the earth will do two things before Jesus name:

1.            There will be submission:  …that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

2.            There will be confession:  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

V.            BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN GIVEN AN INDESTRUCTIBLE KINGDOM

A.            Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 7:13-14)

1.                The words “come with clouds” and “came to the Ancient of days” refer to the ascension (Acts 1:9).

2.                When He came to the Father, He was given a kingdom:  everlasting, shall not pass away, shall not be destroyed

3.            All people, all nations, and all languages should serve Him.  “All” indicates that none are left out.

B.            This kingdom, the church, came on the day of Pentecost.  We read of its establishment in Acts 2 (See Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; Col. 1:13).

C.           Hebrews 12:28

D.           In I Corinthians 15:24, we learn that this kingdom will last beyond all the kingdoms of this world.  When all of them are gone, when death is destroyed, Christ will give His kingdom to the Father in heaven.

VI.           BECAUSE HE IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

A.            The right hand of a high official was a place of power and preeminence.

B.            The apostles, James and John, desired such a position in the kingdom of Christ (Mark 10:37).

C.           Jesus is the one who sits at the right hand of the throne of the living God (Acts 2:34-35; Heb. 1:3).

D.           other prominent religious leaders are dead and in the grave.  Jesus has been raised from the dead and presently sits at the right hand of God as King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15).

VII.          BECAUSE HE WILL JUDGE ALL MEN OF ALL NATIONS

A.            In the last day, Jesus will occupy the position of Judge (Acts 17:31).

B.            Not one person will fail to appear before Him (Matt. 25:32; II Cor. 5:10).

CONCLUSION

A.            Christ is preeminent.  He is first and foremost above all things.

B.            Whether man acknowledges this, or not, does not change the fact.

C.           However, when one does acknowledge that Jesus is preeminent, he can never be the same.  He will submit to Christ as the one who is over all.

D.           Those who refuse Christ’s preeminence will acknowledge it later.  However, it will be too late.  He will then be their Judge.  His wrath will be meted out against them (Matt. 25:41).

THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

A.            The apostle Paul declares that Jesus occupies the place of _______________ in Colossians 1:18.

B.            Preeminence (4409):

1.            This is the _________ time this Greek word is found in the New Testament.

2.            Definition:  Stong:  to be __________ (in rank or influence)     Thayer:  to be first, to hold first place

                              3.            Other versions:

                                             a.            NASV:  …so that he Himself might come to have first place in everything.

                                             b.            TEV:  …in order that he alone might have first place in all things.

                                             c.            NKJV:  …so that he should be supreme in every way.

C.           There are many reasons why Jesus Christ can be considered preeminent.  These will be the focus of this lesson, entitled:  “The Preeminence of Christ.”

I.             BECAUSE HE IS TRULY THE _________  _____________________ SON OF GOD

A.            God has many sons and daughters, but He has only __________ “begotten Son.”

1.            Christians become such through faith in Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).

2.            Jesus, on the other hand, become the Son of God by means of a virgin birth (Luke 1:31-32, 35).

B.            ______ times in the KJV Jesus is described as the “only begotten” (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18, and I John 4:9).

C.           There has never been, nor will there ever be another being, who will possess this title.  It exalts Jesus over every other being.

II.            BECAUSE HE IS THE FIRST TO BE __________________ NEVER TO DIE AGAIN

A.            Prior to our Lord’s resurrection, others had been raised from the dead (e.g., Lazarus, John 11:43-44).

B.            Jesus came forth from the grave never to die again.  He is “the ______________ from the dead” (Col. 1:18).

1.            Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended back into the heavens (Acts 1:9).

2.            The Hebrew penman teaches that He “continues __________” and “_________ lives” functioning as our High Priest in the holy of holies (Heb. 7:23-25).

III.           BECAUSE ALL _______________ HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM IN HEAVEN AND EARTH

A.            Jesus Himself affirmed this while giving the Great Commission to His apostles (Matt. 28:18).

B.            Power is ____________________.

1.            Webster defines authority as the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.

2.            Jesus, and Jesus alone, has the right to __________ and _______________ our lives.

3.            His right to govern was established clearly on the Mount of ___________________ (Matt. 17:1-9).

C.           If Jesus possesses all power in heaven and earth, He is definitely preeminent.

IV.           BECAUSE HE HAS A ________________ THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME

A.            Philippians 2:9-11

B.            Names in the Bible were more than identification tags.  Names symbolized a person’s _________ and work.

1.            Jesus “name” is above all names.

2.            His person, character, and work are above all others.  Their names pale in significance to Jesus.

C.           Things in heaven; things in earth; and things under the earth will do two things before Jesus name:

1.            There will be _______________:  …that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

2.            There will be _______________:  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

V.            BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN GIVEN AN INDESTRUCTIBLE ______________________

A.            Daniel’s prophecy (Dan. 7:13-14)

1.            The words “come with clouds” and “came to the Ancient of days” refer to the _________ (Acts 1:9).

2.            When He came to the Father, He was given a kingdom:  everlasting, shall not pass away, shall not be destroyed

3.            All people, all nations, and all languages should _______ Him.  “All” indicates that none are left out.

B.            This kingdom, the church, came on the day of ______________.  We read of its establishment in Acts 2 (See Mark 9:1; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:1-4; Col. 1:13).

C.           Hebrews 12:28

D.           In I Corinthians 15:24, we learn that this kingdom will last beyond all the kingdoms of this world.  When all of them are gone, when death is destroyed, Christ will give His kingdom to the Father in heaven.

VI.           BECAUSE HE IS SEATED AT THE ____________  _____________ OF GOD

A.            The right hand of a high official was a place of power and preeminence.

B.            The apostles, _________ and _________, desired such a position in the kingdom of Christ (Mark 10:37).

C.               Jesus is the one who sits at the right hand of the throne of the living God (Acts 2:34-35; Heb. 1:3).

D.               All other prominent religious leaders are dead and in the grave.  Jesus has been raised from the dead and presently sits at the right hand of God as King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim. 6:15).

VII.          BECAUSE HE WILL ______________ ALL MEN OF ALL NATIONS

A.            In the last day, Jesus will occupy the position of Judge (Acts 17:31).

B.            Not one person will fail to appear before Him (Matt. 25:32; II Cor. 5:10).

CONCLUSION

A.            Christ is preeminent.  He is first and foremost above all things.

B.            Whether man acknowledges this, or not, does not change the fact.

C.               However, when one does acknowledge that Jesus is preeminent, he can never be the same.  He will _____________ to Christ as the one who is over all.

D.               Those who refuse Christ’s preeminence will acknowledge it later.  However, it will be too late.  He will then be their Judge.  His _____________ will be meted out against them (Matt. 25:41).