The Supremacy Of Christ: The Essence Of Spiritual Growth

 

Series Summary

Paul's letter to the Colossians is a brief letter, only 95 verses long, but very significant in impact. Perhaps the most central theme of this short letter is the supremacy of Christ. Paul describes why Christ is sufficient, and what dangers lie in placing our trust in anyone or anything else. In Colossians, Paul emphasizes the supremacy of Christ in several ways: Jesus is our Creator and our sustainer. Jesus brings redemption and reconciliation. He holds all authority, and is the source of all wisdom and knowledge. And Jesus offers us freedom. For the Colossians, who lived in a culture dependent upon the power of Rome, Paul's letter showed them how to trust Christ against the flow of their culture. For believers today, Colossians does much the same thing. We can hold fast to Jesus, in spite of the pushback our culture gives. We can stand strong, leaning on his strength, and not our own. And we can grow in our faith and maturity, standing firm on the authority of Christ in our lives. In our world filled with diverse beliefs and philosophies, Christ's supremacy provides believers with a clear foundation for faith. It ensures that we remain anchored in the unchanging truth of Christ's lordship over everything. This provides hope and assurance, knowing that the one who created and sustains the universe is also the one who redeems and reconciles us to God. This assurance is vital in times of doubt and uncertainty. As the church, Colossians gives us a solid basis for unity. Christ's headship over the church reminds us that we are part of something much larger than just ourselves, and that we must work together to present Jesus to the world, and to prevent the influences of the enemy from taking root in our lives, helping us to "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him" (Colossians 1:10).

Sermon Summary

The latter part of Colossians 2 seems a little tricky to understand. Paul is speaking directly to the Colossian culture, and to the larger culture in which they exist. But what he shares with them even though it may be harder to grasp the meaning, is really an essential part of understanding our spiritual growth. In short, Paul gives us the essence of our growth, and states it very simply: we must be connected to the Head, that is Christ. By staying connected to Christ, we can more easily avoid the traps of false teaching. We can more easily recognize those things that are not quite in line with God's Word. We can more easily stay on the right track for our spiritual maturity. How do we do that? By staying connected to Christ. By staying in his Word. By spending time in prayer. And by staying connected to the Body, the church. All of those things, and more, can help us stay rooted in Christ.