Christ at the center Colossians 1:12-23 · Join the Journey

Try to imagine this. It is the year 1944 and Germany is at war with England.

Now suppose you have dual citizenship in both Germany and England and you are living in Germany. How will you be treated?

Now, suppose you have dual citizenship in both Germany and England and you are living in England during the Blitz; how would you be treated?

In either case, you would be forced to renounce your citizenship in the opposing country and declare your loyalty to the country in which you found yourself in or flee. There would be no middle ground.

They would have never allowed dual citizenship in Germany and England during the 2nd world war, and we cannot have dual citizenship in this world. We cannot belong to the Kingdom of God by living in Jesus Christ AND live in the kingdom of darkness at the same time. They are drastically opposed to one another!

The spiritual war going on for the hearts of men and women in this world is no less intense than the war that took place between the Axis and the Allies in the 2nd world war!

The only difference would be the tactics. The evil one has us by the throat because of sin. He wishes to destroy us not only in this life but in Hell forever.

God, on the other hand, loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross to make a way for our sins to be forgiven, to adopt us into His family and to give us eternal life. Because Jesus is above all else, we must choose—remain in the dominion of darkness or be rescued into the Kingdom of God.

Last week we started studying through the book of Colossians. We saw that Paul was writing this letter to the young church at Colossae. Even though Paul wasn’t physically present, he had heard of their faith in Jesus and their love for all of God’s people. Paul wanted these believers to grow in maturity in Jesus. And we said this will be shown through the fruit we will bear. We asked what fruit are we as individuals and what fruit as we as His church here at Journey Church bearing?

This Fruit comes from Gospel that has been planted in us when by God’s grace, through our faith, at our repentance and baptism. This seed of the gospel is the foundation of our faith, the foundation of our lives and the foundation of us as His church, is Jesus Christ himself and that’s what we are going to explore this morning. Jesus above all else. Lets dig in to Colossians 1:12

Colossians 1:12

If you have your bibles turn with me to the book of Colossians. It’s on the right side of your bibles, in the NT, comes right after Philippians and right before 1 Thessalonians.

I. We’ve Been Redeemed Through Christ

Colossians 1:12–14

Paul opens this section reminding believers what they already have in Jesus Christ:

• We’ve been qualified.

• We’ve been delivered.

• We’ve been transferred.

• We’ve been redeemed.

• We’ve been forgiven.

This is gospel identity. Not something we earn, but something we receive. We were once in the domain of darkness, ruled by sin and death, but God transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.

Think of it this way: We had a spiritual credit score of zero—no righteousness, no standing, only debt. But Jesus took our guilt and gave us His perfection. Jesus took our debt, our guilt, our filthy rags—and gave us His righteousness, His holiness, His standing before the Father. That’s grace. God’s Riches At Christ Expense.

II. Jesus Is Supreme Over All

Now that Paul has reminded of us our Identity in Jesus Christ, he zooms out. He shifts from what Jesus has done for us to who Jesus is. And this is one of the richest Christological passages in all of Scripture.

Colossians 1:15–20

A Sunday school teacher was testing her student after a series of lessons on God being all powerful. She asked, “Is there anything God can’t do?”

There was silence. Finally, one boy raised his hand. The teacher, disappointed that the lesson’s point had been missed, asked reluctantly, “Well, just what is it that God can’t do?” “Well,” replied the boy, “He can’t please everybody.”

God does not promise to please everyone but he does have all power and authority. And as we saw last week when we grow in maturity in Jesus because he has been given all authority and power, we cant help but overflow with giving joyful thanks to the father!

Jesus says in Matthew 28:18 ““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ”

Matthew 28:18

Paul gives us seven declarations of Jesus Christ’s supremacy:

1. He is the image of the invisible God.

2. He is the firstborn over all creation (not created, but preeminent).

3. By Him all things were created.

4. He is before all things.

5. In Him all things hold together.

6. He is the head of the body, the church.

7. He is the firstborn from the dead.

Jesus is not just a religious teacher or moral example. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He is the glue holding everything together—including your life. It is through Jesus that we have peace through His blood shed on the cross.

Peter explains it like this

1 Peter 2:21-25

1 Peter 2:21–25

21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” r 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” a but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Through His body on the cross, Jesus bore all our sins—past, present, and future. He paid the full price, once for all. Everything you and I have done and will do he paid for on the cross. So we might die to sins and live for righteousness.

And through Him, Paul says, God is reconciling all things to Himself, making peace by the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. The One who is supreme became the sacrifice. The Ruler became the Redeemer.

III. How Should We Respond?

Colossians 1:21–23

Paul reminds us of our past:

• We were alienated from God.

• Hostile in mind, resisting Him.

• Doing evil deeds, living for ourselves.

But Jesus changed everything.

We’ve been reconciled. We’ve been made holy, blameless, and above reproach before God—not because of our efforts, but through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

So what do we do in light of this? How do we respond to such a Savior?

1. Continue in the Faith — Don’t Drift

Paul says in verse 23: "if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast…"

This isn’t just a one-time decision—it’s a lifelong direction. Don’t let comfort, doubt, or distraction slowly pull you away from the hope of the gospel.

Action Step: Recommit to the spiritual disciplines—prayer, Bible reading, and community. Make your walk with Jesus a daily priority, not just a Sunday habit. Ask yourself: What do I need to cut or add in my life to continue in the faith?

2. Be Stable and Steadfast — Stay Rooted

The world is shifting, chaotic, and constantly changing. But Jesus is our unshakable foundation.

Staying rooted means anchoring your life in Him even when things get hard.

Action Step: Get connected deeply to the church body.

• Join a life group.

• Serve on a team.

• Find accountability.

As Journey Church we build strong relationships, walking side by side through the messiness of life with prayer, accountability, and encouragement. Outside of Sunday mornings. Stay rooted by connecting with each other.

If you're going to stand firm in a shaking world, you need strong roots—and roots grow in community.

3. Don’t Shift from the Hope of the Gospel — Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

It’s easy to let our eyes drift to lesser hopes: money, career, comfort, entertainment, politics, even relationships.

But the gospel is our hope—it’s not just how we begin the Christian life, it’s how we live every day.

Action Step: Preach the gospel to yourself daily.

Remind yourself: I am redeemed. I am forgiven. I am loved.

As Journey Church we live lives that are pleasing to God. Every day we joyfully give God the best of everything we are and everything we have. We trust that Jesus is all we need, being transformed by who He is and what He has done.

Let your identity flow from what Jesus has done, not from what the world says.

4. Let Jesus Be Lord of Your Time

Jesus is not just Lord of Sunday morning—He’s Lord of all seven days.

Action Step: Audit your calendar.

• What gets your best time?

• Where does Jesus show up?

Set aside intentional time for worship, rest, and serving others—not just when it’s convenient, but as a priority.

Challenge: Give Jesus the first 15 minutes of your day this week. Start your day with Him.

5. Let Jesus Be Lord of Your Gifts

You were made with purpose. Your talents, personality, and experiences were given to you for a reason.

Action Step: Identify one gift or talent you’re not currently using for the kingdom—and find a way to use it. Maybe it’s leadership, hospitality, creativity, teaching, encouragement, or craftsmanship. Use it to build up the church and bless the world.

6. Let Jesus Be Lord of Your Story

Your story is powerful because it points to His story.

Action Step: Share your testimony with someone this week.

Start simple: “Can I tell you about what Jesus has done in my life?”

People don’t need perfect arguments—they need authentic witnesses.

Who in your life needs to hear the hope of Jesus?

• A neighbor.

• A co-worker.

• A classmate.

• A family member.

Challenge: Write down three names. People you know are far from Jesus. Start praying for them by name—and ask God to open a door for you to share.

Jesus didn’t save us to sit. He saved us to go.

Matthew 28:18–20

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command. We are His ambassadors, His messengers, His church.

Action Step: Say “yes” to His mission.

• Make disciples where you are.

Wherever you go, carry the name of Jesus.

Conclusion & Invitation

Because Jesus is supreme—above all else—we surrender all. Today If you’ve never fully surrendered to Jesus—don’t wait. Come like Carson did yesterday. Put your faith in Jesus. Repent. Be baptized. Step into His Kingdom.”

Today is the day to declare your new citizenship in His Kingdom. Don’t stay in the shadows. Come into the light. Come home to Jesus.

And if you already belong to Him—then live like it. Let every part of your life point to this truth: Jesus is not a part of my life—He is my life. He is all that I need.

Let’s not treat Him like a consultant.

Let’s not make Him our last resort.

Let’s crown Him as King.

Because Jesus is above all else.