by | Nov 25, 2019 | Sermons

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR –  November 24, 2019 – Col. 1:13-20

“THE POWER AND LOVE OF JESUS”

Introduction:  Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Our text is Col. 1:13-20.  We begin with prayer.

Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:

  • The contrast between  the descriptions of Jesus in our text and in the Gospel lesson are dramatic and remarkable.  But in the Gospel Lesson Jesus is fulfilling the first part of the description in our text:  “in Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
  • However, the second half of our text describing the great power of Jesus is unthinkable when comparing it to the description of His crucifixion.  He, in Whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” was bullied, mocked, taunted, beaten, crucified, and killed.
  • It is rather remarkable that the only one in our text to grant Jesus honor and glory is the criminal who was crucified with Jesus.  He called Him a King, one with a kingdom, and addressed Him as though He knew Him – “Jesus.”  The Name Jesus, as you know, means Savior!
  • So today people deal with Jesus in much the same way.  Even among those who claim to know Him, some deny His Almighty creational power, and others deny His love, and the redemption He has provided for us completely, and completely free of charge.  Outside of the church, many mock Him as though He doesn’t exist, or doesn’t know all things, or can’t do anything about their sass and blasphemy.  That will certainly change – on the Last Day!
  • So what about us?  Do we see clearly and hold dearly and absolutely to the reality of “THE POWER AND LOVE OF JESUS”?  I pray that we do, and on the basis of our text for this morning, we review it once again.  First, that:

I.  Jesus Has Saved Us From Sin, Death, And Hell

A.  He Has Redeemed Us, Reconciled God To Us – We Have Peace With God

Text:  “In Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. . . .  For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”

B.  God Has Transferred Us From The Domain Of Darkness Into The Kingdom Of His Dear Son, Jesus

Text:  “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Statement:  All of this God has done graciously and unconditionally – simply because He loves us.  It is as the apostle John wrote:  “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the blood atonement for our sins.”  [1 John 4:9,10]

Application:  Now when we were younger we may have been unaware of just how great a thing this is, that God has done for us.  We didn’t understand how dastardly “the domain of darkness” truly is, and how hard it is to extricate someone from it.  We didn’t know just how great our sins are – that Christ has become the atoning sacrifice for.  We didn’t consider that our love for God is paltry, even now, in comparison to God’s great love for us.  But hopefully we continue to see these realities more clearly – so that our faith and confidence is bolder, and so that our thanks and praise to God is ever increasing! 

Transition:  And what is truly remarkable about all of this is that it is God – the Almighty God Who is so awesomely powerful and glorious – Who has loved us and done these great things for us!  For as we see in our text:

II.  Jesus Is The Almighty Son Of God

A.  He Is God Of God, Light Of Light, Very God Of Very God

Text:  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  . . . He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. . . . In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”

B.  He Is The Creator Of All Things

Text:  “For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through Him and for Him.”

C.  He Is Also The Preserver Of All Things

Text:  “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Heb. 1:3  “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power.”

D.  He Is The Head Of The Church And Preeminent Over All Things

Text:  “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.  For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”

Statement:  Who would have thought that God Himself would be so concerned about and involved in human affairs?  Of course, in our day and time many people deny that God is Creator of “all things.”  Therefore they also find no reason to believe that He saved us.  So in their mind there is no reason for Him to become one of us.  And you see that it is Jesus Who created all things and preserves them, Jesus Who is Creator God.  In what sense then do you really believe in the “real Jesus” if you deny that He created – as recorded in His own Word? 

Application:  In fact, to deny His Deity, to deny that He is Creator, to in any way erode away His work of redemption, is self-deification.  It is setting up yourself as judge and rule and norm of all things, the arbiter of what is real and not real.  It is de facto a rejection of everything about the only True and Living God! 

Conclusion:  The antidote and corrective to this dismal “darkness” is to recognize “THE POWER AND LOVE OF JESUS.”  Now, with us, it is impossible to free ourselves from this “domain of darkness,” but with God, all things are possible.  He is the One Who delivers people out of darkness and brings us into the “kingdom of His beloved Son.” 

Thankfully He has provided us with redemption, the forgiveness of sins, reconciling all things to Himself, so that we also have “peace by the blood of His cross.”  In this, as in all things, all glory, praise, and honor belongs to God alone!

Just as people present at the crucifixion of Jesus mistakenly concluded that Jesus was nothing – just a poor, miserable, misguided, and tragic victim, so also people today come to all the wrong conclusions about Jesus.  May it never be so for us!  May we always live deeply in the reality of “THE POWER AND LOVE OF JESUS!”  Amen.

Votum:  And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep you hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.