Because Jesus is alive, ruling and reigning – his kingdom is here and now – life with God is here and now - you are richer than you think

---
How do you talk about Jesus?
What words would you use and not use?
Is it possible to over-hype Jesus? To be to extravagant?

---
Colossians 1:15-17

15 The Son is the image
of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or powers
or rulers or authorities;
all things have been created
through him and for him.

17 He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.

---
Image of Invisible the God
- When you see Jesus – you are seeing God
- Image – tie back to Genesis – when you see Jesus you see the perfect expression of humanity

---
Firstborn
- Some religions take this and run – ah, see, Jesus isn’t fully God – he’s created
- for the Hebrew mind (Paul) – firstborn is more an expression of position, rank, authority
- John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

"If Jesus is not fully God, then humanity is still stuck in sin because God has not touched creation to draw it back to himself."

Athanasius vs Arius – early 4th century –

---
All things created…in him…through him…for him
- He’s placing Jesus with God in the act of creation

---
And all things hold together through him
- Jesus is active within creation
- Jesus wills our existence
- Even as he hangs on the cross, he is holding all things together

---
Colossians 1:18-20

18 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.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 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.

---
Notice the shift?
vs 15-17 are about creation and Jesus as creator
vs 18-20 are about new creation and Jesus as redeemer

---
Where does one find/experience this new creation?
As part of the church. (vs. 18)
God is forming a new people, a new creation.

What do you think about the church?
Important to be part of the church? To gather? To give? To serve?

If you’re looking for your place in the new creation – it’s in the church.

“The church exists in this space between creation and new creation.” – Glenn Packiam

“The church reveals new creation now by living under the supremacy of Jesus.” - Glenn Packiam

---
Memory Verses

Colossians 1:19-20
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.

The church is the body proclaiming this to the world!

---
Colossians 1:21-23

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 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— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move 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.

---
Temptation is to move on from Jesus. To think you can or should find a new hope.
To think you don't already have the full story.
To think you can transcend Jesus.