Jesus First: A Study of Colossians

Bobby Howell

Warrior Creek Baptist Church

Jesus First: A Study of Colossians • Sermon • Submitted 7 months ago • Presented 3 months ago

Colossians 1:1–2

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If we could sum up a letter of four chapters called Colossians, it could be summed up with the phrase—the preeminence of Christ. Paul writes in Colossians 1:18, “That in all things He may have the preeminence.” But what does that mean?

It means to be first.

He is the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth.

He is to be first in your thoughts (or mind), He is to be first in your choice (or will), and He is to be first in your heart (or emotions).

Christ is to be first in everything, both in the observable realm of human existence, and the spiritual realm of angelic existence.

We could summarize the entire letter of Colossians with this phrase, which will also be the focus of our time this morning:

Christ must be first in everything

What we will see in this study of Colossians is that Christ is first in everything, it is a fact. The question is, will He be first in our lives?

As we begin this study, we are going to look at the men who wrote this letter, the people to whom this letter was written, and why they wrote it.

Our response to what we read should be: Christ is first in my life. As we see the beauty of Christ, His holiness, His kindness, His grace, His love, His truth, His supremacy, His comfort, His compassion, His power, we will be left with awe and worship and changed lives.

I. The Authors of Colossians- 1:1

Any time we read or study a new book of the Bible we should discuss the individuals God chose to write the book. We believe what the Bible teaches that Scripture is God’s inspired Word, but we also know that God used different people to write.

Paul is the primary author, although Timothy is included in this beginning. We know Timothy was a faithful man of God, a young man with his own struggles and giftings, but serving the Lord Jesus with the apostle Paul.

A. Paul

Notice how Paul describes himself. Those of us who are familiar with Paul know what kind of a man he was. He hated Christ. He fought against Christ with every fiber of his being. He despised Christians. What happened?

1. An Apostle of Christ

Now, Paul is now an apostle, a sent one. One that speaks on behalf of the Lord Jesus. Have you ever met someone who opposed God and then later in life became an avid follower of Jesus Christ?

It’s astounding, a miracle of God, to see Paul go from persecuting Christ to being an apostle, one who serves the sender.

Don’t let your own past keep you from serving the Lord now. Paul never forgot his past, but it wasn’t his identity, either. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ.

2. By God’s Will

Paul reminds his readers constantly that the only reason he is saved is because God saved him. We could look at so many passages of Scripture to prove this. But our statement here suffices. Paul says, “I am an apostle…by God’s will.”

For Paul, Christ is first. He wasn’t at the beginning of his life, but from the point God saved Paul and sent him to preach the Gospel, Christ is first. He is an apostle of Jesus Christ, by God’s will.

For Paul, Jesus is first. His identity and his work followed after Jesus.

B. Timothy

Timothy is the young assistant to Paul, also saved by God’s grace and sent by God. His role differs from Paul, as does his personality.

Paul has a strong personality and a sharp mind. He is a go-getter, a man with seemingly boundless energy. From we learn about Timothy, he is young, struggles with fear, but loves God and helps Paul.

For Timothy, Jesus is first. He changed his direction in life to serve the Lord Jesus. Like Paul, Timothy’s identity and his work followed after Jesus.

But what about the Colossians? Who were they?

II. The Recipients of Colossians- 1:2

To whom did the apostle write? He wrote to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse. Did you catch that? Even in this description, we learn that the Colossians, though like us often imperfectly, put Christ first.

Saints, or holy ones, is Paul’s shorthand way of saying they were Christians. Like Paul, they were not born believers, they were sinners needing salvation. According to God’s will, He saved them, and through Christ made them holy, God made them saints.

Furthermore, they were faithful brethren in Christ. Of course, this includes ladies who were faithful as well. The church at Colosse was blessed with many men and women who loved the Lord, who put Jesus first, and it shown in their lives.

Like many in our own church, they were faithful to the Lord. Ms. Marion Cooper is one of those people. She loved coming to church and serving, and she was faithful.

Or Mr. Earl Garrett, or Stu Babb, the list could go on. Our church has had some incredibly faithful people, and still does. You and I are the people to whom Paul wrote and is writing.

A. Small Town

Colosse was small compared to some of the other places Paul wrote letters. It was near the bigger cities of Ephesus and Laodicea. To put in into perspective, Gray Court would be Colosse and Greenville would be Laodicea.

They farmed and worked with their animals, not too much different than how many of your grew up here or live right now.

B. Somewhat Successful

The city itself enjoyed some success due to its unique color of wool and its prime location on a trade route. It’s very similar to our position now with the massive growth coming.

C. Spiritually Influenced

It is always interesting to see how different religion views and even unspoken beliefs become a part of our thinking.

For example, some hotels will not have a 13th floors. Why? They are superstitious. We say things and hope that the wind doesn’t carry that to someone.

We may say, “Don’t jinx it!” Or, we may knock on wood. Why? Because, we are being influenced spiritually.

These examples are more comical. However, there are some more significant ways that we can be influenced spiritually. We will see some of these influences as we work our way through Colossians, but I think one example that is pervading churches is this idea of the prosperity gospel. If you do the right things, then you won’t have any problems or suffer anything.

Just like the Colossians, we too are being spiritually influenced from all sorts of places, and just like the Colossians, we need to put Jesus first.

D. Suffered a Natural Disaster

Sometime around AD 60 (about 2 or so years before Paul wrote this letter), a massive earthquake hit the area. Because of its size, there is not much known about the damage to this city, but Laodicea suffered a great deal.

It’s fascinating that our area also just experienced one of the most devastating storms in our history. Mrs. Naomi Nelson said she could not remember a time that there was so much destruction.

We have this in common with our brothers and sisters from Colosse, too.

III. The Purpose of Colossians

We could simply repeat our main thought: Christ must be first in everything. But I want to flesh this out a bit more.

A. To assist them in understanding healthy beliefs

Putting Jesus first in everything means we learn His truth. We listen to His teaching in His Word and actually believe what it says! The Scriptures teach that it is life, it brings health to our souls.

B. To warn against evil thinking and practices

Often, the two go hand in hand. If we are thinking rightly (i.e., biblically), our practices follow. Scripture regularly talks about meditating on the Word, filling your mind with it, and then from the fruits of that meditation come faithful living.

Likewise, a tree that is diseased will not bear fruit, or if it does it will not be good fruit. It could even be poisonous.

C. To show them what Jesus First looks like in daily life

If you are like me, sometimes when you read the Bible you think, “How can I apply this?” What do I do with this passage?

Well, there are some passages God gives us that are easier to put into practice, and this book is one of them. Paul is going to show us what it looks like to put Jesus first in our daily lives.

In our own relationships to God, in our relationships with one another, in our marriages, as parents, and even in our work, Paul will show us what it looks like to put Jesus first.

Applications

Putting Christ First is something we all need to do.

It is amazing that we find ourselves in a similar situation to the believers at Colosse. So, as we begin our study of this book, how can we apply it?

Pray that God would draw you closer to Jesus Christ

Take every day this week and add to your prayers a request from God that He would draw you closer to Jesus Christ.

Read the book of Colossians

You may already have a Bible reading plan, or follow a Bible app, but purpose to spend time in the book of Colossians. Maybe read a chapter a day, the entire book once this week.

Think about your connection to Christ—Jesus First

Hear the Gospel, be Saved, and join the family of God

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