Christ in the Community #3: Centrality    

Colossians 1:15-23

When you are focusing on something, what distracts you? Who has ever followed a youTube distraction or, for the younger generation, Tic Tok videos. You start looking at videos on something and then are taken down a rabbit hole filled with other videos and you end up miles away from the original thing you searched for. This can even happen in noble pursuits. For me, when studying scripture, a distraction can be other topics in the scriptures or other scriptures. I start in one place, find something interesting and then go off on a tangent. That may be a healthier distraction than Youtube videos, but it can still take you away from your initial task. When I have limited time and have to prepare a sermon, it is a luxury I can’t really offord.

Some distractions can last an hour or 2. Others can last a lifetime.

This morning, we finish up our 3-part series on Christ in the Community: Centrality; Christ being the centre of our lives individually, as a church and then, with God’s grace, the community.

Paul set the scene in Colossians by stating truth regardless of where we or others put our Lord. Paul said, “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.” Christ is the centerpiece of all within history from the point of creation to the present and beyond into eternity – He is preeminent. He is through all and over all. Jesus Christ holds all things together: from the known and unknown universe, right down to the smallest particulate matter. More than this, these are seen with telescopes and microscopes. Paul said no, Christ is over, and has the preeminence of, the unseen. The Lord Jesus is over the rulers, the principalities and the powers – the spiritual world. He has authority and dominion.

The man who was made flesh and dwelt among us on the earth is the sovereign of the earth. Firstborn of creation here simply means over all creation, not part of creation, but having preeminence as the Creator.

Hence, he is the center of all things. Why is it important to both know and understand this truth? Because it affects how we love and what we do personally with our day-to-day choices.

Paul said, “in Him all things are held together.” Luis Giglio, years ago, promoted the central Laminin protein that holds humans together; looks like the cross. This is literally true of Christ and His rule over Creation. He is God; “in Him the fulness of God dwells.” (verse 19)

This is comforting for the believer. What are the highs and lows you are going through now? Christ is over all and through all. What are you praying about? What have you received answers for? What answers have you received and some that you are not pleased with? Take comfort. Why?

The ultimate end (verses 21, 22) “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” The end is good, the end is eternal, the end is with no sin, the end is perfect peace, strength, beauty, glory, rest.

But we struggle. Why? Because the perfect is not here as yet. My body is failing with ill health now. I know I will get a new body, but I am suffering now. We struggle because we have lost a parent, a spouse, a child or a friend. One day, we will be in perfect relationship with our bridegroom, Jesus, in eternity, but now we miss the ones that we have lost. This causes pain, hurt, and struggle. It challenges our faith and therefore our witness.

That’s why we need to hear these words again this morning. Christ is central in creation, of all things. He is sovereign over everything and every event. Jesus put it simply to the disciples, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29) It’s interesting that he explains His sovereignty over us through a description of death – sparrows dying.

In this world, death is part of life. The clock is ticking, even from conception. Some clocks are faster than others. Jesus is through all and in all. Jesus goes on… He clothes the grass or the field today, and then tomorrow it’s in the fire. Pain is part of the purpose. Trial is essential to triumph.

When we say we are saved, and we are, what are we saved from? Saved from sin; saved from death. Death entered the world through sin, but sin has been defeated as Paul has said, “reconciled in his body of flesh by his death.” But we still have the loss, the pain, the trial. What is the hope, what is the comfort in this? But there is a purpose.

Paul said he rejoiced in his sufferings. Why? What an absurd comment to make. The reason: he said, “for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” (verse 25) Your trial, your loss is part of your witness to make up for what is lacking in the ministry of Christ to others in the church. Your trial, your suffering helps complete Christ’s witness in the church.

For what purpose? “to make the word of God fully known.” (verse 26) The word of God is placed in the center, where it belongs. The focus is on the gospel; not your loss. The focus is on Jesus being the center of other people in the church as they observe your loss and trial. This is why we don’t keep the pain, the suffering and trials to ourselves in the church.

Our Lord uses these things to keep Himself and the gospel at the center of the church. So that when that day comes, when he returns and we get our new bodies, we know the power of redemption; being completely free of sin and its affects. Jesus, as the center, who holds all things together, gets the glory: where it belongs; not to us or what we are going through, or our comfort on earth, our easy life here, our wonderful retirement, our successful children. No. Jesus wants the church to be like Him. Keeping Jesus as the center – in all of life, the joys and sorrows, the triumph and the tears; Jesus is in the center.

Let Christ be your distraction in life. We may be tempted by things now and then, but Christ should be our lifelong distraction. Paul said, “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Verses 28, 29) May this be true of everyone here this morning. It is the responsibility of everyone in the church to see to that end, stirring up others in love and in good works.