The Preeminence of Christ in Scripture

 

“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is preeminent in the Book of God. How I wish I could get every man who claims to be a preacher to see this! The Bible is not a book about science, morality, history, politics, philosophy, or law. It is not even a book about prophecy, church dogma, or theology. The Bible is a HIM-BOOK. It is all about HIM, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not enough just to preach the Book; we are sent of God to preach the message of the Book, and the message of the Book is Jesus Christ and him crucified. There is not a page in this Book that does not speak of Christ, not a page!

 

            The Son of God tells us plainly that he is the message and theme of Holy Scripture, that he is the living Word of whom the written Word speaks (John 5:39; Luke 24:27, 44-47). The Apostle Paul considered the preaching of Christ to be synonymous with preaching all the counsel of God, for Christ is all the counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:2). I want you to see this clearly. The Bible, the Word of God is a Book with one message, and that one message is redemption, righteousness, and eternal life in Christ.

 

Old Testament

 

The Old Testament Scriptures speak of Christ, point us to Christ, and call us to faith in Christ. From the moment that God announced in the Garden of Eden that the Seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15), Christ was the central fact and figure of Old Testament prophecy. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon, and all the prophets spoke of him. Here are a few of the many prophetic statements that pointed directly to the coming of Christ, his glorious Person, and his redemptive work (Genesis 22:13-14; 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Psalms 2:7-8; 45:6-7; 110:3; Proverbs 8:22-23; Song of Solomon 1:2-4; Isaiah 53:8-11; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 12:10; Malachi 3:1).

 

            In addition to the direct prophecies about the coming of Christ, God gave numerous types and pictures to foreshadow his coming. The types are so numerous that I cannot begin to name them. I direct your attention to just a few. They may be divided into three different categories.

 

            Typical People: Adam (Romans 5:14), Noah (Hebrews 11:7), Melchizedec (Hebrews 7:1-3), Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15-18), Aaron (Hebrews 5:1-5), Joshua (Hebrews 4:1-9), Boaz (Ruth 2:1; 3:18), David (Acts 2:25-36), Solomon (1 Kings 10:1-24).

 

            Typical Things: The Ram Caught in a Thicket (Genesis 22:8-13), Jacob’s Ladder (John 1:51), The Brazen Serpent (John 3:14-16), The Paschal Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), The Scapegoat (Lev. 16:21), The Manna (John 6:32-33), The Smitten Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), The Altar of Sacrifice (Hebrews 13:10), The Mercy-Seat (1 John 2:1-2).

 

            Typical Places - The Tabernacle (John 1:14), The Temple (John 2:18-20), The Cities of Refuge (Hebrews 6:18).

 

            The lists could go on and on. I have not even mentioned all the instituted, ceremonial types, the sabbath days, and the many other instituted types of the Old Testament, all of which pointed to the Person and work of Christ as our Mediator (Colossians 2:16-17).

 

New Testament

 

Who can fail to recognize that the doctrine and message of the entire New Testament is the Lord Jesus Christ? As he was preeminent in all the types and prophecies of the Old Testament, so he is preeminent in all the New Testament.

 

The four Gospels give us four views of Christ. Matthew presents him as the promised King. Mark presents him as the Servant of God. Luke presents him as the Son of Man. John presents him as the Son of God.

 

The Book of Acts demonstrates that our Lord Jesus Christ was the singular subject of preaching in the earliest days of Christianity. The words “preach,” “preached,” and “preaching” are used thirty-seven times in the Book of Acts. It is not insignificant that every time they are used the subject preached was Jesus Christ and the resurrection. If the Book of Acts is to be taken for our standard, it must be concluded that unless Christ has been preached no preaching has been done. That man who pretends to be a preacher but does not preach Christ and him crucified mocks the people who hear him, and rather than serving their souls he destroys them.

 

The Epistles reveal and explain the mysteries of Christ and his gospel. — Romans 5:1-21 - Justification by His Obedience. — Hebrews 10:1-14 - Sanctification by His Blood. — Ephesians 3:1-21 - The Universality of God’s Mercy, Love, and Grace in Christ. Grace is for chosen sinners out of every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue, not just for Jews.

 

The Book of Revelation is a declaration of the sure triumph of Christ and his church by the gospel (Revelation 1:7; 5:9-14; Revelation 19:6).

 

The only two ordinances of worship prescribed in the New Testament are designed to focus our hearts upon Christ. Baptism is a symbolic burial and resurrection with him (Romans 6:3-6), portraying the fulfillment of all righteousness by our Savior’s death, burial, and resurrection as our Substitute. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic remembrance of Christ and his great work of redemption as our Mediator (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

Listen to sermons at FreeGraceRadio.com