*ADULT TEACHER SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON*
Lesson 21 - November 22, 2020.
Topic:- THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:15, 17
[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature... He is before all things, and by him all things consist(KJV).
*Central Truth*
In Christ dwells all the fullness of the invisible God.
*The Lesson Outline*
*1. The Creator Colossians 1:1-2, 12-17*
A. Christ: Lord and Redeemer
B. Christ: God and Creator
*2. Head of the Church Colossians 1:18-24*
A. Christ Is Preeminent
B. Christ Is Reconciler
*3. Our Hope of Glory Colossians 1:25-29*
A. Christ in Us, Our Hope of Glory
B. Proclaiming Christ the Saviour
*Teaching Goals*
1. Impart and Reinforce Knowledge: Inform students of what the Bible says-what we must believe about the divinity and supremacy of Jesus
Christ.
2. Influence Attitudes: Help students appreciate and be grateful for Jesus Christ, who is eternally the Messiah-Saviour, Son of God, and Creator.
3. Influence Beinaviour: Challenge students to trust in Jesus Christ for
their salvation, to worship and obey Him as Lord, and to submit to Him as Supreme Ruler over all.
*The Holy Scriptures*
Colossians 1:12- Giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15. Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him:
17. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20. And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him, i say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreproveable in his sight:
23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a
minister;
*Introducing the Lesson*
Write on the marker board: "My Lord and my God!"(John 20:28). Tell
your class: "These were the words Thomas exclaimed when he saw the resurrected Jesus the first time.
*Ask: "What astounding realisation about who Jesus is did Thomas give expression to?"* After your students have answered, inquire of your class: *"Why do we confess Jesus to be our Lord and our God? When we do this, what are we saying about who He is?"* After responses, ask: *"Why is this confession regarding Jesus Christ foundational to everything we believe as Christians?"* After
your students have answered, emphasise that this lesson is focused on the deity of Jesus Christ and the practical significance of this for our lives.
*Commentary and Application*
*1. The Creator*
*A. Christ: Lord and Redeemer* *Colossians 1:1-2, 12-14*
In Colossians 1:1, Paul identified the recipients of this letter as saints and faithful brethren in Christ residing in Colosse, a city in Asia Minor (now Turkey), about a hundred miles east-southeast of Ephesus (verse 2). The church there was established while Paul was at Ephesus in AD 54-57 (Acts 19:1,
20:16-17, 31 ), not by Paul himself (Colossians 2:1), but possibly byEpaphras (1:7) Paul's standard greeting to his fellow Christians, as inthis letter, was "Grace...and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"(verse 2, KJV). Thus, he immediately identified Jesus Christ as Lord.
Paul routinely identified his fellow Christians as saints, meaning that they were God's holy people byvirtue of their being saved by Christ. In addition to calling the Christians at Colosse "saints... In Christ"(1:2KJV, "God's holy people," NIV), Paul also called them "faithful brethren" (KJV; "faithful brothers and sisters,"NIV). In spite of the heretical teaching at Colosse, denying the deity of Jesus and His sufficiency to save those who trust in Him for salvation, most of the believers at Colosse remained faithful to Christ and the Gospel. For this, Paul was grateful to God (verses 3-6, 12).
Because the Colossians were in danger of losing their redemption from sin if they accepted false teachings about who Jesus is, Paul reminded them they had obtained forgiveness of sins and redemption from sinful living by trusting in Christ as their Saviour and Lord (verse 14). By means of their redemption by Christ, they were qualified to receive
"the inheritance of the saints" (verse12, KJV). As a result of their redemption by Christ, they had been delivered from the dark kingdom of Satan and made to live instead in the kingdom of God's own beloved Son
(verse 13).
*Question for Appllcation*
Paul reminded the Colossians that their personal experience of being redeemed from sin by Jesus Christ was evidence of who He is. Why is our personal experience of being saved from sin by trusting in Jesus Christ compelling evidence of who the Bible says He is?
*B. Christ: God and Creator- Colossians 1:5-17*
Here began Paul's reply to the false teachers at Colosse. They denied that Jesus was God, the Son of God, equal with God the Father. Paul stated emphatically that Jesus Christ is God, and in His incarnation was the exact representation of the invisible God, and therefore He has supreme authority over all creatures of God (Colossians 1:15-17; see
Hebrews 1:3). Just as a firstborn son in Bible times had supremacy over the other children in a family, so Jesus, as God's eternally begotten Son, has supremacy over all the creatures of God (Colossians 1:15).
The false teachers at Colosse said Jesus was a creature of God with a beginning in time. Paul's reply was that Jesus is no creature, but is the Creator, and everything was created by Him and for-Him (verse 16). Jesus Christ exists eternally, "before all things," and by Him "all things consist" (verse 17, KJV). Everything created has its existence and holds together by means of Christ the Creator.
*Question for Application*
How important is it for us to believe Jesus is God and Creator as the
Bible says He is? What becomes of the possibility of salvation by trusting in Christ if this were not true?
*Response to the Word*
Those who would have us believe that Jesus is less than Christ, Saviour, Lord, God, and Creator, seek to deprive us of our redemption from sin and eternal salvation. However, no person can confess that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:23). It is bymeans of spiritual enlightenment from God, by the agency of the Holy Spirit, that we are able to truthfully confess, and keep on confessing,that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, Lord, and God. Jesus said to Peter "This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but my Father my heaven" (Matthew 16:17, NIV). What a blessing is our faith in Jesus Christ!
*2. Head of the Church*
*A. Christ ls Preeminent- Colossians 1:18-19*
The Church is the body of Christ, and He is the head of the Church(Colossians 1:18). Just as our physical body cannot live without our head, and as our head gives direction to our whole body, the same is true of Christ and the Church. It is encouraging to know that Christ the Creator is head of the Church. He whose authority extends to the whole universe and reaches from eternity to eternity is head of the Church.
The same Lord who holds together the whole creation, guides the stars in their courses, and rules over all rulers and kingdoms, is the head of the Church. By His wisdom and power He causes people,events, and spiritual powers to work to fulfil His purpose for the Church. All power and authority in heaven and earth is given to Christ on behalf of the Church (Matthew 28:18-20).
Christ our Lord is the "firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18, KJV), meaning He was the first to rise from the dead to never die again.As the resurrected Son of God, Jesus has supremacy over the whole created order. He is the supreme head of the Church. He has thispreeminence over all because it is God's will. It pleased God the Fatherto have all of His fullness be in Christ (verse 19). The fullness of God in Christ is identical with the image (the exact representation) of God in Christ (verse 15). Therefore it pleases God the Father when we worship Jesus Christ as Lord, God, and Creator.
*Question for Application*
How should your life be affected when you consider who Jesus Christis-Lord, God, Redeemer, andCreator, the exact representation of the invisible God, having all power and authority?
*B. Christ Is Reconciler*
*Colossians 1:20-24*
False teachers at Colosse were saying that trust in Christ was not initself sufficient for salvation. Paul corrected this, stating that by means of Christ's death on the cross for our sins, God was in Christ, providing the means for peace between Himself and sinful humans who will repent and trust in Christ (Colossians 1:20).
Therein is our salvation by Christ. We were alienated from God by our sins (verse 21), but now, because we trust in Christ as our Saviour, He will present us to God "holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight" (verse 22, KJV). Our salvation in Christ is certain if we continue in the faith (verse 23). In view of this great salvation provided by Christ, Paul rejoiced that he could suffer for the Church (verse 24). Christ's reconciling work is comprehensive. Through Christ, God is working "to reconcile all things unto himself... whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" (verse 20, KJV). As told in Romans 8:19-21, the whole creation is suffering from the consequences ofhuman sinfulness, and will be redeemed from the curse of sin, concurrent with the completion of human redemption by Christ when He comes again.
*Questions for Application*
False teachers at Colosse said that, in addition to faith in Jesus for salvation, people needed to do additional things by which to "earn" their salvation. Why is it contrary to the Gospel of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10)?
*Response to the Word*
If we have doubts and fears about the future of the Church let us remember who is the head of the Church. Jesus Christ said, "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18, KJV). For two millennia, Christ has been doing what He said He would do, and He will continue doing it. Christ has all divine powers and authority to bring us into right relationship with the Father, and to sustain our relationship with Him for
the everlasting future. Christ is our all-sufficient Saviour, who gives useternal life in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit with Himself and the Father (1John 1:31)
*3. Our Hope of Glory*
*A. Christ In Us, Our Hope of Glory-Colosslans 1:25-27*
As a preacher of the Gospel, the apostle Paul regarded his ministry asa stewardship responsibility given to him by God (Colossians 1:25). He counted it a privilege that God had called him to proclaim and explain "the mystery" (verse 26) of gods plan of redemption by Christ for all people. In the Gentile religions of Paul's day, a mystery was secret knowledge known only to those initiated in the religion. The Gospel, however, is not secret knowledge. It is proclaimed and taught openly for all who will to hear and believe.
Nevertheless, the Gospel is a mystery in that it is neither understood nor appreciated by the natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14), and it was kept hidden by God from past generation until the fullness of time came for God to send forth His Son into the world (Galatians 4:4). But now the Gospel is proclaimed to all, and the Holy Spirit enables people to believe and obey it.
The revealed mystery of the Gospel is that, Christ in the Christian is the Christian's "hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). The word "glory" (as used here by Paul) includes all it means to be saved by Christ here and now, and for eternity. Our eternal salvation is wholly dependent on having a personal relationship with Christ by faith, whereby He lives in us by His Spirit (Romans 8:9).
*Questions for Application*
According to Paul, the open mystery of the Gospel is that God provides one plan of salvation for all people (Jews and Gentiles) through Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:26-27; Ephesians 3:3-7). What is the practical significance of this fact about the Gospel? (See Acts 4:10-12).
*B. Proclaiming Christ the saviour -Colossians 1:28-29*
Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, is the theme of the Gospel. Therefore Paul said, Jesus Christ is the one "whom we preach" (Colosslans 1:28, KJV; the one we proclaim," NIV). The false teachers at Colosse wanted to marginalise Jesus, removing Him from His place as central to the Gospel and salvation. Paul reminded the Colossian Christians that "we" who believe in Jesus as our Saviour, "preach" or "present" that He is the only Saviour of sinners, and that He is all-sufficient to save all who come to Him for salvation.
Proclaiming Christ includes both "warning...and teaching... in all wisdom" (verse 28, KJV; "admonishing and teaching," NlV) to lead people to faith in Christ, the warning is that continuing in sin willbring spiritual physical, and everlasting death. The teaching is Jesus Christ is the Saviour of sinners, and all need to repent and believe in Him to be saved. Proclaiming Christ effectively is done in wisdom given by God (James 3:17-18). The goal of proclaiming Christ is so people will be saved by Christ, and be made whole in relation to God "in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:28, KJV).
Because of his strong desire to see people saved from sin by faith in Jesus Christ, Paul laboured incessantly at preaching and teaching the Gospel wherever and whenever he had the opportunity. He carried on this work with a consciousness that the Lord Jesus was working mightily through him, and he depended on the Lord for success (verse 29). For believers in Christ, we know that Christ living in us is our only hope of obtaining the glory that comes with having lifeeternal. We proclaim Christ because we want all people to have the hope in Christ we have.
*Question for Application*
In the Church it is generally accepted
that credentialed ministers will proclaim Christ by preaching and teaching. Why is it important to understand that every Christian is commissioned by Christ to be His witness and make Him known? In addition to preaching and teaching,what are some other ways this can be done?
*Response to the Word*
The life-transforming effect of believing in Jesus as Christ, the Son
of God and Saviour of sinners, is emphasised throughout the NewTestament. Jesus said we must be born again. Paul said we become new creatures by faith in Jesus Christ. The Gospel teaches that Christ died for our sins, the Father raised Him from the dead, He lives forever as our Saviour and Lord, and He lives in us by the Holy Sirit, when we truly believe in Him. Christ living in us is what is life-transforming. Without this, we may be religious, but we will not be changed people from the inside out made new by Jesus Christ. It is often said, because it is a central truth of the Gospel, that being a Christian is all about having a personal relationship with Christ by faith in Him as Saviour and Lord. Without this, Christianity is merely another religion, but not a saving, lifegiving faith.
*Call to Discipleship*
In our thinking about being a disciple of Christ, our thoughts usually gofirst to what this means for our manner of living. We ask, "What must myattitudes, words, and deeds be for me to follow Jesus Christ?" Thinking this way about Christian discipleship is necessary and good, but there is another aspect of being a disciple of Christ that is vitally related to practical Christianity. Jude put it this way: We must contend for the faith that was once and for all time delivered to those earliest believers in Christ (Jude 1:1-5).
Keeping the Christian faith, as it was in the beginning delivered to the Church by our Lord Jesus and by those who heard Him, is an essential part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:1-3). Orthodoxy, (right doctrine) is the necessary preliminary to orthopraxis (rightliving). Like the Christians at Colosse, to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we must hold fast to the truth about who Jesus Christ is.