THAT HE MIGHT HAVE PREEMINENCE IN ALL THINGS (series: Lessons on Colossians)

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

6/9/18
Tom Lowe

Title: IIB3―THAT HE MIGHT HAVE PREEMINENCE IN ALL THINGS―Colossians 1:18c
• “Special Notes” and “Scripture” follow related verses.
• NIV Bible is used throughout unless noted otherwise.

Colossians 1:18c (NIV)

(Text) 1:18c: “so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”


COMMENTARY

(1:18c) “so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

“So that in everything he might have the supremacy.” You cannot think of anything more wonderful than this. The will of Christ must prevail throughout all of God’s creation. That is God’s intention. Even in spite of the rebellion of man down here on earth, God says, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalms 2:6). God is moving forward today undeviatingly, unhesitatingly, uncompromisingly toward one goal. That goal is to put Jesus on the throne of this world which today is in rebellion against God. This is the objective of God―that the Lord Jesus Christ “have the supremacy” (preeminence) in all things. This was God’s purpose in making His Son the Savior, Creator, and Head of the church. The word translated as “supremacy” magnifies the unique position of Jesus Christ. “Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11).

The false teachers of Colossae could never give Jesus Christ the place of preeminence; for, according to their philosophy, Jesus Christ was only one of many “emanations” from God. He was not the only way to God (John 14:6); rather, He was but one rung on the ladder! It has well been said, “If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all, He cannot be Lord at all.”

Thus far we have studied three arguments for the preeminence of Jesus Christ: He is the Savior, He is the Creator, and He is the Head of the church. These arguments reveal His relationship with lost sinners, with the universe, and with believers. But what about His relationship with God the Father? That will be our next message.