SEEING THE INVISIBLE

“What each one honors before all else,

what before all things he admires and loves,

 this for him is God.” (Origen) 

What is the most important thing in life to you—that is your God! 

Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Chris Tomlin, Daniel Craig, Daniel Radcliffe, Albert Pujols, baseball, basketball, education, degrees, books, pastors, even churches or denominations—they all make very poor gods—all too low a goal—too low something to strive for—to reach out for—to become like. 

Apostle Paul—Colossians—church he’d never been to—but wrote to help—a time of doubt with a heresy in their midst threatening to tempt them to leave the true for the false—the best for the lesser.  And aren’t we all tempted by that in life? 

Colossians 1:12-23 

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

    He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.  For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

     Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.  (Colossians 1:12-23, NIV) 

Qualified us—rescued us—redemption—who is able to do that—only God 

He is the image of the invisible God

1)      Jesus

2)      Image—Gr—eikon—icon—exact representation

a.       Jesus said, Jn 14:9  “When you have seen me, you have seen the Father”

3)      See Jesus—see the invisible—invisible is made visible—able to be seen—gospels, new testament 

By him all things created—visible and invisible—heaven and earth—earthly and spiritual—love, joy, peace, hope, heaven—Genesis 1:1; Jn 1 

Created by him and FOR him—purpose of creation—you, me—for Jesus/God—His purposes—worship, honor, serving Him, drawing others to Him 

Before (over) all things—in him all things hold together—what keeps the world together?  What keeps marriages together?  What keeps Christians unified and churches serving together?  Jesus 

Diagram—equilateral triangle—God at top—husband and wife at other ends—closer each of us becomes to God/Jesus—closer we become to one another—similar purpose—willing to talk things out—work through problems—seek Jesus in all things.  But it takes two—not just one for this to happen. 

Head over the church—the mind, the purpose, the direction—for success in life, mission, consult Him—Jesus. 

Beginning—firstborn from dead—can you take yourself to heaven—overcome death—only Jesus through power of God 

So that in everything, Jesus might have the supremacy—the preeminent place—first place—over every person, every group, every possession, education, etc. 

God was pleased to have His fullness to dwell in Jesus—God decided—Jesus to have all He has—represent Him as model on earth—show us what God is like—who God is. 

Reconcile—making peace through His blood, shed on cross—God’s way of salvation—of bringing you to God and God to you—forgiveness, mercy, hope—Jesus’ death for you and your sin. 

Once you were alienated—enemies of God—evil behavior--but now—unfit to be in Holy God’s presence 

But now—presented to God—holy, blameless, without accusation—that’s what Jesus does for you 

Why would any of us choose any other model?  Any other god?  Any other thing more important than Jesus?  We choose too low—we don’t keep looking at who Jesus is—we don’t progress in our faith in Him. 

Taylor Swift—your boyfriend or girlfriend/husband or wife—church—education, money, sports, or Jesus? 

Scottish pastor, Thomas Chalmers: 

The best way to overcome the world is not with morality or self-discipline.  Christians overcome the world by seeing the beauty and excellence of Christ.  They overcome the world by seeing something more attractive than the world: Christ. 

Creator, Savior, God in flesh, purpose of your life, reconciler, uniter—Jesus!  (Prayer)