08.27.2023 | THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST JESUS
Pastor Leon Threatt
Introduction:
In the beginning God… (Genesis 1:1a)
Four of the most powerful and telling words in all holy scripture.
I. Jesus is the central figure in all of life!
Jesus is seen in every book of the Bible!
Jesus is the heir of all things!
And uphold all things by the word of His power. …and upholding all things by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:1-8 NKJV)
Jesus is slain from the foundation of the earth!
Slain from the foundation. (Revelation 13:8 NKJV) …He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world… (First Peter 1:18-21 NKJV)
His works was finished from the foundation!
…although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews 4:3 NKJV)
In Him all things consist!
… all things created by Him, and for Him …in Him all things consist…preeminence. (Colossians 1:16-20 NKJV)
All things were created for His pleasure!
…created all things, and for thy pleasure… (Revelation 4:11 KJV)
He is the Father personified!
… He who has seen Me has seen the Father; … (St. John 14:8-14 NKJV)
The earth is the Lord’s!
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.” (Psalms 24:1-2 NIV)
II. In Jesus alone!
He alone is our life!
The Holy Spirit is drawing all of us into a great dependency upon Christ Jesus alone.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…apart from me you can do nothing.” (St. John 15:1-8 NIV)
To know Him must be the chief goal in life!
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. … for whose sake I have lost all things… (Philippians 3:7-14 NIV)
Found a treasure in a field sold all he had and bought that field. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. …and sold all he had and bought that field.” (Matthew 13:44 NIV)
Redeemed by His blood!
Christ redeemed us from the curse… (Galatians 3:13,14 NIV)
There is no other name given where we can be saved!
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV)
Complete in Him!
And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10 NKJV)
Life is hidden with Christ!
…For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God … (Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV)
We are reconciled to the Father!
… who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, … (Second Corinthians 5:18-21 NKJV)
We are made near or nigh!
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13 NKJV)
In Him we live, move, and have our being!
For in Him we live… (Acts 17:28 NKJV)
He is our peace!
For He Himself is our peace… (Ephesians 2:14-18 NKJV)
He is our sabbath rest!
…For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:1-10 NKJV)
He is our portion!
O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance… (Psalms 16:5 NKJV) (Psalms 73:26)
We were chosen to live in Christ before the foundation of the world!
…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, … (Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV)
III. How to live fully in Christ?
a. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and being!
Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37)
b. Walk and live in the Spirit!
If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16, 25)
c. Pray in the Spirit!
…I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding… (First Corinthians 14:15)
d. Read, study, and memorize the scriptures!
…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (St. John 6:63)
e. Live a crucified life!
I am crucified in Christ. (Galatians 2:20)
f. Live by faith in Him!
Just shall live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38)
g. Total unquestionable obedience to Christ Jesus!
If you love me keep my commandments. (St. John 14:15)
h. Absolute surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!
…the blessed and only Potentate [Ruler], the King of kings, and Lord of lords; … (First Timothy 6:15)
i. Live a set apart life!
Come out from among them… (Second Corinthians 6:17)
j. Set your affection upon those things which are above!
Set your affection [exercise your mind, think] on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
k. Live and do the word!
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves… (James 1:22-25)
l. Maintain an attitude of thanks, praise, and worship!
In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (First Thessalonians 5:18)
m. Set your mind, thoughts, and attention upon Him!
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)
n. Abide in Him!
… If you abide in me… (John 15:1-8)
o. Endure hardness as a good soldier!
…endure hardness [hardship, affliction, suffer trouble] as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (Second Timothy 2:3)
p. Seek to make disciples!
Go you therefore, and make disciples of all nations… (Matthew 28:19)
q. Walk humbly before all!
…for God resist the proud, and gives grace to the humble (First Peter 5:5)
r. Purpose and commit to love everyone!
…Thou shall love your neighbor as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)
Conclusion: Jesus Christ is the central figure and focus of all of creation as witnessed in the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. Humanity was ordained to live life solely and exclusively in Jesus Christ. Our daily task is to draw from Him the life, purpose, and power entrusted in Him to fulfill His plans and His will in all the earth.