Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Col. 1. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It is somewhat interesting that the “church year” doesn’t correspond exactly with the “calendar year.” Today is the last Sunday of the church year – Advent is the beginning of the church year. Perhaps that makes some sense – in that the church and people within the church, Christians – are not “in sync” with the world anyway, although I am fearful that we are perhaps too much influenced by the ebb and flow of a world which cares little about God and His Christ.
- We have come to celebrate the last Sunday of the church year as “Christ the King” Sunday – to emphasize the preeminence of Christ in all things, that He is the King of the universe, the King and Lord of the church, and in the end, the ultimate authority, the Judge of the living and the dead.
- At the same time, we cannot forget that He is our dear Savior, the Redeemer of the world, the One Who loves this world, and all people in the world, more than anyone else. So we also want to remember this Sunday – and every day – that He has saved us and redeemed us and given us eternal life!
- Our text emphasizes all of these things, these blessed realities that form the core of our faith and life, our relationship with God. So as we give thought to “CHRIST OUR KING” this morning, we first:
I. Remember What The Lord Jesus Has Done For Us – As We Read In The Gospel Lesson
A. Through His Crucifixion, His Suffering And Death On The Cross, And His Resurrection, He Has Delivered Us From The Power Of Darkness
Text: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness.”
B. Out Of The Domain Of Darkness, We Have Been Brought Into The Kingdom Of Christ Where There is Blessed Salvation And Eternal Life
Text: “He has transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Statement: It is difficult to fathom and to fully describe the blessedness just asserted. We struggle to fully grasp the degradation of “the domain of darkness,” the depravity of unbelief, ignorance of God, and slavery to the “natural” inclinations of our fallen nature. We who have been Christians virtually all our lives have some glimpses into this darkness – our own wretched sinful desires and our lapses into sin. But if this darkness is all that you have ever known there is nothing to compare it with to understand clearly just how wretched it is.
Application: And without contrast, it is impossible for us to understand just how blessed we are to have been transferred out of the domain of darkness and into the blessed kingdom of “CHRIST THE KING,” God’s beloved Son. And many Christians, lured into the trap of trying to exalt themselves by displaying their “goodness,” actually blind themselves to the glory of God’s wondrous love and deliverance in Christ Jesus. May God forgive us for this!
And He does forgive us – for all of our blindness, our confusion, our lack of proper gratitude to Him, and our lack of praise and thanksgiving to Him. But let us acknowledge that it should not be so – that like the nine lepers healed by Jesus we neglect to return to Him with thanks and praise, choosing instead other priorities and activities over His Word and Sacrament! Lord, have mercy!
Transition: And it is not only the wondrous love and mercy of “CHRIST THE KING” that we fail to properly appreciate. It is also His indescribable and unfathomable glory and power, and so our text bids us to:
II. Remember Who Christ Is
A. That He Is God Himself – With All Power, Who Created All Things And Who Upholds All Of Creation Simply By His Word Of Power
Text: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”
B. He Is All Of This – Christ The King – For The Sake Of The Church, His Believers, People Of God, As Head Of The Church
Text: “And He is the head of the body, the church.”
C. He Is The Beginning And The End Of All Things – For The Purpose Of Saving Us And Reconciling All Things To God
Text: “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, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.”
Statement: Just as the love of God and the magnificence of His love is impossible for us to fully grasp, so also is the majesty, power, and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. He became man so that we might see Him, and know Him better, especially in His suffering and death on our account, when He took our sin and guilt away from us, providing us with forgiveness and salvation. This “hides” and “disguises” His real glory – that of His Divine nature.
We are much more aware these days of the awesome power of the cosmos – the power of our own small sun, and power of other stars and galaxies. We are also more aware of the power of nature just here on earth – and our pitiful vulnerability. But above and beyond all of this by a million times is the One Who created it, and Who sustains it, and the One “in Whom all things hold together” – “CHRIST THE KING,” our dear Savior and Lord.
Application: And He is the Lord of the Church, and rules all things for the ultimate good and blessedness of the Church – which is His body. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” [Rom. 11:33] Christ is King not merely for Himself, but for you – for all of God’s dear children of faith, those who have been transferred into the kingdom of His beloved Son! So it is, and so shall it ever be – thanks and praise be to God!
Conclusion: So as we think about time, calendars, our earthly life, and our eternal life, which is more important, more enduring, and more significant, the things of this world, or those of “CHRIST THE KING”? Which should rule and govern our thinking, our personal calendar, our hearts, our priorities, and our greatest goals?
The world considers it “vain to serve God,” of little or no use or value. What say you? In view of what Christ has done for us, and Who He is, it is absurd to think this way! We are His, members of His kingdom, His treasured possession – let us never forget! The distinction between those who belong to “CHRIST THE KING” and those who reject and despise Him will be clearly seen! May it be so even today, in our lives, the difference, as we too worship and glorify our dear Lord and Savior in all that we are and do! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith which is in “CHRIST THE KING,” even unto life everlasting, Amen.