First in Rank, Not One Among Many: Christ Over Every Sphere
Dr RJ Sing, 28 min
Originally preached as “Unlock Christ’s Preeminence: Transform Your Life”
This is a short edit of Jesus Holds the Chief Place: Five Areas Where Christ Comes First. Watch the full message for the complete teaching.
Sermon outline
Christ is first in rank and influence, not one among many, in five spheres of life, so keep your mind set on Him and give Him first place in everything.
Main text
- Colossians 1:18
Opening
The edit picks up as he reads Colossians 1:18, first in the King James and then in the Amplified Bible, which says Christ alone occupies the chief place. He acknowledges that the world is full of religions and beliefs and says he is not attacking anyone who differs, but for him, born again, Jesus holds the chief place. He then defines the word preeminence and sets out five spheres in which Christ comes first.
What preeminence means: first in rank, not one among many
Preeminence comes from the Greek protos: first in rank and influence, and foremost in time, order and importance. The verse does not say Jesus is among those with rank, which would make Him one of many; it says He is first. The dictionary adds distinction, excellence, first-ratedness and perfection, and Jesus, the door into the kingdom, is the first original design for the church.
Illustration: Car makers do not design a car by default but plan a prototype with engineers and craftsmen, then test every car off the production line against it and reject whatever fails.
“It doesn't say is among those that have rank and influence, because if it used the word among, that means that Jesus is one of.”
- Colossians 1:18
1. Preeminent in universal government
He gives four points under this heading: Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, the agent of creation, the sustainer of all things who existed before all things, and the head of the church. We live in a visible world, so when the natural reaches its limit you switch to the invisible God for a visible manifestation. Because He is the head, we all keep striving and pressing for Him to be number one in our lives.
Illustration: A doctor does his best for a sick child and finally says the disease is incurable. Then, of all who could have been born when you were conceived, you were the one born: you are not a mistake.
“Everything in this life, even in the world, is controlled by Christ Jesus.”
- Colossians 1:15
- Colossians 1:16
- Colossians 1:17
- Colossians 1:18
2. Preeminent in reconciliation
Through His death Christ reconciled you, once estranged and hostile, to present you holy and faultless before the Father. God will deal with your wrongs, privately or otherwise, but your mistakes do not separate you from Him. Christ also lives in you as the hope of glory.
Illustration: A child who becomes naughty does not lose the family surname, and you do not lose your identity when you do something wrong.
“Your mistakes don't separate you from God. You're God's child, period.”
- Colossians 1:21-22
- Colossians 1:27
3. Preeminent in wisdom and knowledge
The natural man can only go as far as natural things take him, but God speaks to His children through dreams, visions, the Word and words of knowledge from others. Christ is the source of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so do not let anyone carry you off with empty philosophy and human tradition. God wants you to enjoy material things, but never forget that the material came from the spiritual and thank Him for all you have.
Illustration: Being 'carried off as spoil' made him think of abduction and kidnapping: unlawful, illegal and against your will.
“If we forget that, we forget that the material comes from the spiritual.”
- Colossians 2:2-3
- Colossians 2:8
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
4. Preeminent in religious observance
We are alive with zoe life, the God kind of life, not merely physical life, because of Christ. Coming to church, taking communion, bringing tithes and offerings, serving, praising and worshipping are not a burden but the way we thank Him for His love and for eternal life.
“How do I repay him? I repay him in my religious observance.”
5. Preeminent in Christian living
Christ is the source of our new life, so seek the treasures above where He is seated and set your mind on them and keep it set. He sums up all five spheres, then says Christian living covers everything: your marriage, your home life and your work life. The edit breaks off here.
“You must set your mind. And keep it set on what is above.”
- Colossians 3:1-4
Putting it into practice
- Settle it that Jesus is not one among many but first in rank in your life.
- When the natural reaches its limit, turn to the invisible God for a visible answer.
- Don't let your mistakes convince you that you are cut off from God.
- Guard your mind against empty philosophy and thank God for everything you have.
- Set your mind on things above and give Christ first place in your marriage, home and work.
Closing
He draws the five spheres together: Christ is preeminent over universal government, reconciliation, wisdom and knowledge, religious observance and Christian living. He begins to apply Christian living to marriage, home and work, and the recording ends there.
Declarations he led
- Universal government.
- You're not a mistake.
- I'm striving, I'm pressing.
In his words
- “In a whirlpool of conflict, the Bible is telling us here, as Christians, that Jesus holds the chief place.”
- “You were not born by mistake.”
- “Your mistakes don't separate you from God. You're God's child, period.”
- “God's goodness gives you what you have.”
- “You must set your mind. And keep it set on what is above.”
Every scripture in this message
- Colossians 1:18
- Colossians 1:15
- Colossians 1:16
- Colossians 1:17
- Colossians 1:21-22
- Colossians 1:27
- Colossians 2:2-3
- Colossians 2:8
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
- Colossians 3:1-4