The Preeminence of Christ

Today we are going to talk about the subject of preeminence. That is a big word, a Bible word that means having the highest rank, authority, importance, or superiority above all others. Another word for preeminence is superiority or supreme.

And the question today is, who has preeminence over your life?

There are three areas in life that will help us determine who has preeminence over our lives. And for the sake of memory, all three words begin with the letter P: Purpose, Plan, and Power.

I. Purpose, Plan, and Power Defined

Purpose. What is a purpose? A purpose is the reason something exists or is done.

Plan. A plan is a detailed idea in order to reach a certain purpose.

Power. Power is the ability, capacity, or authority to act, influence, or accomplish a purpose.

What is your purpose?

What is your plan?

What do you apply your power towards?

This has preeminence in your life.

For most people, their main purpose in life is set on doing something they desire because it brings about something they want.

Whether that is joy. Whether that is financial stability. Whether that is riches and wealth. Whether that is material gain, like houses, cars, clothes, etc. And so from an early age, this purpose is decided upon. And from that day forward, a plan is designed and executed.

Whether that is college. Whether that is an apprenticeship. Whether that is a trade school. And from there, the person begins to apply power towards accomplishing this purpose. This, my friend, is the pattern that most live.

This is the pattern that our society conforms to, and even celebrates and calls good. And so ultimately, who has preeminence over our lives? We do! Man has made himself the preeminent Lord and King over their own lives. Jesus is not Lord and not King. This is why Jesus said:

“Why do you call me Lord but do not do what I command?” (Matthew 7:21)

And what is it that he commands? Well, many things concerning behavior. But if Jesus was talking about behaviors here, then we all fail miserably, and none of us can rightfully call Him Lord.

Because none of us can be sinless in our behaviors. Not because it’s impossible, but because we choose not to.

The Bible says:

• None are good, not even one. (Romans 3:10)

• None choose God. (Romans 3:11)

• All like sheep have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)

But what Jesus is talking about here is purpose.

“Why do you call me Lord but not live according to my purpose? You do not live for me and my purpose.” (Matthew 7:21)

II. Biblical Examples — Good and Bad

That is why in Matthew 7, he says on Judgment Day:

“Depart from me, I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23)

But you will say: “But my behaviors! I did this and said that.”

But he will say:

“I do not know you.” (Matthew 7:23)

The word knew means to choose, to set aside for a purpose, like when he told Jeremiah:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

So it is with us. He knew us in the womb. He had a purpose for creating us. But all have sinned and fell short of that purpose, and like sheep, all have turned to their own way and gone astray. But through Christ, we can return and be restored.

Romans 12:2

“No longer be conformed to the pattern of the world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Nobody should be confused as to what this looks like. The Bible is full of examples of what this looks like—both good and bad examples, in both the Old and New Testaments.

Does your purpose, plan, and power reflect the purpose, plan, and power of those examples in the Bible?

Does your life look like Jeremiah’s, Moses’, Daniel’s, Joseph’s, Abraham’s, John the Baptist’s, Peter’s, Paul’s?

If not, then whose?

The Bible says these examples were given so that we may know and therefore have hope.

Does your life look like Adam and Eve’s, desiring to have a taste of this world for yourself?

Does it look like Cain’s, giving to God what you think is enough, contrary to what He desires and commands?

Does it look like those at the Tower of Babel, who said:

“Come and let us make a name for ourselves.” (Genesis 11:4)

Does it look like Jonah’s, who didn’t like God’s plan and ran in the opposite direction? (Jonah 1:3)

Does it look like Ananias and Sapphira’s, who didn’t give all and held back some for themselves? (Acts 5:1–10)

I want to look at an actual example of this with you. I’d like you to turn to Daniel chapter 4. Here we have King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Babylon is important because it is a picture of something today. But historical Babylon, located where modern-day Iraq exists, was one of the biggest, most beautiful, powerful cities ever known to this world.

And at its time, it was the biggest, most beautiful, powerful city in the world. It had the Hanging Gardens, which became one of the wonders of the world. Nebuchadnezzar built this great city. Here in chapter 4, we see King Nebuchadnezzar go out on a high roof and overlook his city and make some statements:

“Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’” (Daniel 4:29–30)

Do you see what I see?

Purpose, plan, and power.

He is boasting that he had a purpose: to build a kingdom—a great kingdom. He orchestrated a plan to build that kingdom. And by his power, he accomplished his purpose.

How many of us live according to this same pattern? We step back and look at our lives, our homes, our vehicles, our careers, and say: “Look what I did.” And look at what God says to him in the next verse:

“While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: preeminence has been removed from you.’” (Daniel 4:31)

III. Christ’s True Preeminence

In the Book of Revelation, Babylon is used as a picture of an apostasy, a false following of God, that allows people to remain preeminent over their own lives while calling Jesus Lord.

Colossians 1:15–18

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will have preeminence.”

Jesus has preeminence over what? Over all! He, therefore, is our purpose. We were created by Him and FOR Him. We live for Him. He is the head.

What part does the head play in the body?

• It is the part that creates a purpose.

• Designs a plan.

• It is the mind and thoughts that direct the body.

The body carries out the purpose of the head. That is why the Apostle Paul teaches that we are all parts of the body:

• Some are the legs.

• Some are the arms.

• Some are the mouth.

• Some are the ears, etc.

And all work together to carry out Christ’s purpose. That is what it means to be a Christian. To no longer live according to the pattern of the world. To no longer work towards your purpose. To no longer build your kingdom. But the Lord’s.

Repentance is a decision in the mind. To make a change in one’s purpose, that leads to a change in one’s plans, that leads to a change in one’s actions.

Baptism is the death of the old pattern—purpose, plan, power, and preeminence. A surrender of self-preeminence, and to make Christ preeminent over all.

But Christ will not ask you to do anything He Himself has not first done.

In Hebrews, it tells us:

• Christ Himself surrendered all His preeminence as God, became a man, and became submissive to the Father,

• Lowering Himself even lower than His own creation, the angels, and He died for us. (Hebrews 5:8–9)

Who will now lower themselves and become submissive to God and die for Him? Sadly, not many. Many will follow the false apostate teachings of Babylon, and are on the road to destruction. And only a few will make Christ the Lord of their life. You cannot have both. You cannot serve both God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24)

Who will bow their knee and confess His name as Lord of their life? Who will give Him all authority, dominion, and power? And let His name be the name above all names, King of kings and Lord of Lords?

“May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Not my will, but Thy will. To Him be glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.”