GIVING CHRIST THE FOREMOST PLACE

Colossians 1:15-29

Christ is the express image of the person of invisible God (Colossians 1:15a) He is the "firstborn" first in position as heir, supreme and ruler of all creation (Colossians 1:15b, 18; Hebrews 1:1,2). All things, both material and spiritual, were created by Christ and for Christ (Colossians 1:16; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2). He keeps all things together; He sustains them (Colossians 1:1 7; Hebrews 1:3). Christ is exalted above all. Unto His Name, every knee bows and every tongue confess. He has supremacy over all. Thrones, principalities, powers, dominions, etc, are all under the feet of Christ. That is why, when we become genuinely born again and begin to seriously follow the Lord, Christ must have the supremacy and the foremost place in all areas of our lives. He must be first in our homes, academics, business, profession, friendship plans, pursuits, programmes and projects (Ecclesiastes 3:19; 3 John verse 9). Christ must be All in all.

It is this Holy Spirit's demand from every believer on giving Christ the foremost place that forms our study. In the study, we will consider three (3 points thus: (1) Rights And Claims Of Christ To The Foremost Place, (2) Resistance Of The Carnal To Christ As The Foremost Personality, (3) Repentance And Consecration Of All To Christ At The Foremost Place. 

RIGHTS AND CLAIMS OF CHRIST TO THE FOREMOST PLACE

Colossians 1:16: Proverbs 16:4; Isaiah 43:7 Colossians 1:13,14; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1Peter 1:18,19; Colossians 1:18, John 5:23: Colossians 1: 15-20; Matthew 12:6,8,29,41,42

Christ alone has the absolute right to occupy the first place in the life of everyone who is truly born again. The devil seeks the first place in the lives of many. But it is not his right to have it. Why must Christ have the foremost place in our lives? (1) Because He made us (Colossians 1: 16). We were created "by Him" and "for Him". He made us, that He might be first in our hearts and lives. (2) Because He redeemed us (Colossians 1:13,14). We belong to Christ by legal right, because He has purchased us with His own life's blood (1 Corinthians 6:20 compared with 1Peter 1:18-19). Through His full, final and finished sacrifice upon Calvary's cross, and by the mighty power of His resurrection, God has delivered us from the power of darkness, and "hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Colossians 1:13). Every kingdom is ruled by a king. In Christ's Kingdom, we are His children and His subjects, and it is His right to reign over our lives. (3) Because God has given Him the supremacy (Colossians 1:18 compared with John 5:23). Christ has the supremacy and eternal authority over all. He has been given the supremacy in (i) likeness (Colossians 1:15), (i) power (Colossians 1:15), (iii) creation (Colossians 1:16), (iv) eternity (Colossians 1:17), (v) authority (Colossians 1:17), (vi) the new creation (Colossians 1:18), (vi) riches (Colossians 1:19), (vii) final victory (Colossians 1:20).  

Now, as we see the revelation of the Bible in the Epistle to the Colossians concerning Christ having the foremost place in all things, so the Lord Himself asserts His supremacy clearly in Matthew Chapter 12, by saying that He is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6), the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8), the Devil (Matthew 12:29), Jonah (Matthew 12:41) and, Solomon  (Matthew 12:42). He is greater than them all. He must have the foremost in every area of our lives! 

RESISTANCE OF THE CARNAL TO CHRIST AS THE FOREMOST PERSONALITY

Luke 9:59,6 1; 3 John verse 9; Matthew 10:37: Luke 18:23

There are many who claim to know the Lord Jesus and even say that they have a relationship with Him, but they resist Him  and do not allow Him to have the foremost place in their lives.

These are carnal Christian. They are like a man who the Lord loved and said unto him, "Follow me". But he answered and said, 'Lord, you see, I have a burial, it will not allow me to follow you now, we'll see later'. The Lord said unto him, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God" (Luke 9:60). Also, the carnal Christians are like the man, Diotrephes, who loves church position. His love for position made to resist the Lord as the foremost personality in his life, though he claimed to be among the brethren (3 John verse 9).

For many believers today, their personal ambition, worldly pleasure, material possessions (Luke 18:23), another way of living different from what the pastor and the brethren know (Matthew 10:37). Others, it is projects, desire to make it quickly, pursuit after worldly recognition could not allow them to give the Lord the foremost place. In their lives, the Lord is present like a visitor but not supreme. He is in, but not the King; He is resident but not president. At times, carnal Christians say, 'but, the Lord is there. I talk about Him everywhere. But I need to do certain things my own way'. The Lord is permitted but not supreme; prominent but not President. This is not the will of God for true believers.

REPENTANCE AND CONSECRATION OF ALL TO CHRIST AT THE FOREMOST PLACE

John 21:15: 14: 15: 2:5: Acts 9:6: Matthew 11:26

The Lord calls everyone who is carnal, worldly and disobedient to repent and totally surrender himself to Him, giving the Lord the foremost place in all areas of our lives. When the Lord reigns and rules supreme in our lives, we will (1) love Him supremely (John 21:15). We will love the Lord, more than any other person, ahead of His service, and even more than ourselves, (2) obey Him completely without questioning His commands (John 14:15; 2:5 compared with Acts 9:6). What He says we will do; where He sends we will go. We will just trust Him and obey Him, (3) completely submit to His will (Matthew 1 1:26). We shall be willing to serve Him wheresoever He chooses, to suffer should it be His will, and if necessary, to die for Him. Our life daily will be, to walk in His will and to do only His good pleasure. May Christ be in the foremost place, reign and rule supreme and be all in all in our lives in Jesus Christ Name.