CHRIST IS ALL

Sermon of the Week for October 3, 2010

The third chapter of Colossians is the chapter that proclaims to all who will hear-CHRIST IS ALL! The message comes through loud and clear from the Apostle, "There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." Christ is all. He is all in everything. This chapter indicates the many ways where Christ is all. For one thing, He is all in the ordinance of baptism.

BAPTISM

The very fist verse of this chapter says, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things, which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
The book of Colossians like all the other books of the Bible was not written with verse or chapter divisions, uninspired men supply the chapters and verses. Chapters were not inserted until the middle of the thirteenth century. The verses were not set to number until the middle of the sixteenth century. When this book was originally written it was one letter with no break for chapters.
So when Paul says; "IF YE BE RISEN WITH CHRIST" we look back a few lines and note that he had said in what became the twelfth verse of the second chapter; "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead." Then a few verses later the significance of that burial in baptism is evident when he says that since we were risen with Him we should set our affections on things that are above and not on the things of the earth.
Our faith saves us at the point of our burial with Jesus in baptism. If we take this statement at face value then our forgiveness through faith does not happen until the very moment that we experience this burial. It is there that we meet Jesus at the cross and contact His saving blood.
The salvation is not in the water; salvation is in Christ at the point of our obedience in this ordinance. So were you raised with Christ? When it comes to a matter of this ordinance we can say with Paul: CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL! Christ is also all in the Ascension.

ASCENSION

That same first verse states that we are to seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Luke tells us in the first chapter of Acts how Jesus got to that position at God's right hand. And when he had spoken these things, while they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
When Jesus ascended, the Apostles could no longer see Him but be assured Jesus saw them. The first Russian cosmonaut said that when he went up into outer space that he looked for God and did not see Him. Ladies and Gentlemen, God saw him. God saw him and laughed. At least that is what David said, "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall hold them in derision."
We can say that Christ is all and in all in the Ascension because of what He does for us at God's right hand. Paul says in Hebrews, "For Christ...entered into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own… but now once at the end of the ages He hath been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."
When Jesus ascended He presented His blood before the Father in the most holy place of heaven for the cleansing of our sins. If the Father would ever entertain the notion to take this whole world and slam dunk it into hell; it would still be the nail scarred hand of Jesus that would stay him from that purpose.
Christ is also waiting for us at the throne of grace as our daily intercessor. Paul informs us, "Seeing then that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Jesus is the only go between for us and the Heavenly Father. Paul further states it for us in First Timothy, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
When you consider that this statement rules out of bounds all prayers to Mary and the Apostles as well as all other saints living or dead, whether St. Tom, St. Dick or St. Harry; it is evident that in the Ascension. CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL. Christ is also all and in all the Second Coming.

THE SECOND COMING

The fourth verse of this chapter says: " When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
At one service I attended many years ago there was a discussion on the Second Coming. One person wondered why the Lord would come again since He had already been here once. Why would He want to come again? Besides, how would we know Him? The first time He came most did not recognize Him so how would we know now if it was really the Lord?
Ladies and Gentlemen, there will be no difficulty in knowing the Lord when He returns. Who else but Jesus would appear in the Heavens without benefit of space ship? Who else but Jesus would come with the sound of a trumpet? Who else but Jesus would come in flaming fire? Who else but Jesus would come surrounded by a host of angels? Who else but Jesus would come with a shout that would awaken the dead? Who else but Jesus would appear with the keys of death and Hades on His celestial key chain?
The Christian can say; "He is my life and I shall be manifested with Him in glory." John tells us in the first chapter of Revelation: "Behold He cometh with the clouds and every eye shall see Him, yea and they that pierced Him, and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over Him, even so."
Our relationship as Christians is told in the thrilling words of Paul in First Thessalonians. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
And so as far as the Second Coming of the Lord is concerned, CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL. Christ is also all and in all in Heaven.

HEAVEN

The second verse of this chapter tells us, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." The Christian is exhorted to be concerned about heavenly things.
Some of hell bound folk too sneering refer to the hope of the Christian as pie in the sky until the day a loved one dies and then they talk about how he is better off now that he has gone to heaven. I wish they would make up their minds, is there a heaven on not? If my hope of Heaven can be classified as pie in the sky, that is well and good. I will eat my pie in the sky with the Lord Jesus at what John calls the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
There is another supper that God has prepared for the unrepentant. John tells us of an angel that gave an invitation to all the birds in the heaven to come to the great supper of God where they will eat the flesh of kings, captains, mighty men, horses, and them that sit thereon, the flesh of all men great and small. What a supper that will be for the buzzards.
Jesus will be the center of attraction of all in Heaven. John further states in Revelation chapter five: "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
Yes my name is in the Bible, and I know the Bible’s true.
It was written there by Jesus, whosoever that means you.
And He knew it when He wrote it, by the bright and glassy sea,
That my name is whosoever, that means you and that means me.
In heaven: CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL. Christ is also all and in all in the life style of the Christian.

LIFE STYLE

The fifth verse of this Christ is all chapter is noted when these sobering words are spoken: "Put to death your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the sons of disobedience."
It is evident to many people in the world that there is no difference in the life style of the Christian and the people of the world. Paul is speaking to the Colossian Church of Christ in this epistle. A person who belongs to the Church of Christ does not subscribe to the doctrine that once you are saved you can never be lost, although there are a lot of members of the Church of Christ who practice that doctrine.
According to this statement of Paul when we come into the Church we stop living as we did when we were in the world. That statement about the wrath of God on the sons of disobedience ought to shake you up.
When Christopher Columbus discovered the Western Hemisphere perhaps there were some that might have been skeptical as to where he had been all those months. This problem was settled when they saw the natives of the New World that he brought back with him. When they saw the new kind of people they knew he had discovered a new country. The world is not going to believe that the Church is filled with people who have been to Calvary until they see a new kind of people. CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL. Christ is all, and in all also in the Church.

THE CHURCH

The fifteenth verse of this Christ is all chapters say how he deals with His Church. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Jesus never started one single denomination. Jesus never started but one Church. There were no Protestant Churches in the New Testament, nor were there any Catholic Church in the New Testament. If there is no such thing as a Protestant Church or Catholic Church in the Bible where did they come from?
The only answer I can give is that they did not come from Jesus or any of His Apostles. If they had then the Lord and the Apostles would have mentioned them many times. Since they never spoke of them they must have been started by men after the New Testament was written by men who were never became acquainted with the Lord or His Apostles.
However the only thing I am really concerned about is the question, "Am I a member of the Church that the Lord calls His Church and the one Paul refers to as the One Body?" I am not concerned about telling any of you that you are not a member of it or that you are, I have a soul to save and I want to be sure it is in the One Body that Paul mentions here.
In Acts chapter two verse forty-seven Luke tells us: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Those who were saved were members of the One Body. Now who were the saved?
Acts chapter two verse thirty-seven says the people who heard the first gospel sermon concerning the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus said, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" Verse thirty-eight says that Peter told them, "Repent, and be immersed every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
What you have just heard is a question asked by people in the Bible. The answer is the answer that was given by a preacher in the Bible to the Jews at that time as well as to all that were afar off; even as many as the Lord our God should call unto Him and that means you! Since the preacher in the Bible said that it was by the authority of Jesus I conclude that in the matter of becoming a member of the One Body; CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL.

PRAYER

In verse seventeen Paul says: "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
Whatever you do; do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said tell God about it and tell God you are praying through Jesus. Certainly then Christ is all and in all as far as prayer is concerned. So go ahead do something in the name of the Lord and thank God through Jesus Christ for it. This is a short rule of thumb for Christian conduct. Try it on for size.
Can you deliberately miss the Lord's Supper in the name of the Lord and give thanks to God the Father through Him? Can you tell a dirty joke to someone today in the name of the Lord and give thanks to God the Father through Him? Can you drink a few beers in the name of the Lord and give thanks to God the Father through Him? Can you smoke a cigar in the name of the Lord and give thanks to God the Father through Him? Can you look at pornography on the inter-net in the name of the Lord and give thanks to God the Father through Him? Can you commit adultery in the name of the Lord and give thanks to God the Father through Him. Can you perform or submit to an abortion and give thanks to God the Father through Him? When you consider that our prayers are answered in His name, it is evident that CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL. Once more Christ is all in the all important matter of His word.

THE BIBLE

Verse sixteen instructs us: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The word of Christ is the whole Bible. Remember what the Lord told those who objected to His authority in John chapter five: Ye search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and these are they, which testify of me.
Jesus was speaking of the Old Testament scriptures and speaking of them He said they testified of Him. The story of the Old Testament as well as the New Testament is the story of Jesus. The entire Bible testifies of Him. Christ is all and in all.
I saw a picture of the Declaration of Independence. It was written in such a way that some parts were darker than others were. The darker parts formed the head of Thomas Jefferson who was the major author of that document. The Bible in a similar way has the outline of the Lord Jesus Christ from Genesis to Revelation.
You will see Jesus in all the parables of the Bible. You will see Jesus in all the prayers of the Bible. You will see Jesus in all the poetry of the Bible. You will see Jesus in all the prose of the Bible. You will see Jesus in all the preaching of the Bible. You will see Jesus in all the prophecies of the Bible. You will see Jesus in all the praise of the Bible. You will see Jesus on every page of the Bible. As far as the word of God is concerned in whatever category: CHRIST IS ALL AND IN ALL.