THE PREEMINENCE

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Colossians 1: 17-18 KJV).

Preeminence, according to Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, means to be first, to hold the first place. In the Escarta Dictionary it means “standing out among all others because of the superiority in a field or activity.” In our text scripture we are informed that Jesus, as the head of the church, is to have first place in all things. This lets us know that Jesus the Christ stands superior; the Father in heaven expects us to give Christ the honor that is due Him.

Many will be lost in the final day because they fail to honor Christ for who He is. Paul said, “Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11 ASV). Men may deny him in this life; but one day they will have to give Him honor and at that time it will be too late. Paul further writes, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God” (Romans 14:10-11 KJV).

Christ is first, head or over all of God’s creation. There are those who deny Christ of his rightful position, belittling him, making him as just one of the created, not as one eternal. They will go to Colossians 1: 15, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” They stop there and do not continue to read to understand the reason why the statement was made in verse 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:” On earth Christ is the “first born and only begotten” of the Father (John 1: 18). As far as His existence, He has always been, He is the great “I AM”, “Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I AM” (John 8:58: Exodus 3: 14).

With the way that the world is going it is time for the world to wake up and recognize the preeminence of Jesus Christ. It time for the world to awaken and recognize that God cannot be mocked without retribution, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7 ASV).

As Christians, it is our responsibility to warn the world and bring them into the knowledge of what is required of them (Ephesians 3: 10). It is time now for all Christians to awaken and show our belief in the preeminence of Christ. Let the world know that we believe that He is Lord. As Christians, we must stop trying to be like the world, separating ourselves from God, “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4 NIV). The commission is still ours today to lift up Christ and teach the world what Christ taught the Apostles, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV).

It is time now for the world to see our work for the Lord (Matthew 5:16). As Christians, we recognize Christ as our sole head and in our lives He has the preeminence. Now is the time for us to be about the Lord’s business, lifting him up, striving to bring as many as we can to Him before it is everlastingly and eternally too late. “…it is high time to awake out of sleep for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11). RB