Jesus is First

Sermon Title: Jesus is First
Date: 1-1-17
Text: Colossians 1:15-18

The Apostle Paul was an amazing, seemingly fearless, man who courageously faced great dangers to proclaim Jesus. But there was something that caused him grave fear.

Intro: In 2 Corinthians 11:3 we read Paul's words, “But I am afraid . . . - But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

His fear? He feared that the minds of followers of Jesus would be led astray from Christ.

It obvious as he writes to the church at Colossae - Paul had this same fear for them.

2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf . . .

2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

2:16 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—

2:18  Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,

Instead of walking in faith in the simplicity of the gospel of Christ, there was an active assault to distract the believers from the purity of their devotion to Jesus. The letter we call the book of Colossians is Paul's effort to help the Colossian believes remain faithful instead of being sidetracked into dead end diversions.

So, we might ask, what remedy is presented to them? How can we avoid being deceived? What will protect us from being led astray? The answer that Paul gives is the same answer that little kids in Sunday School classes frequently give – Jesus.