Title: NEEDED—AN EXALTED VIEW

Focus: Christians need an exalted view of Jesus to lead a life worthy of the Lord.

Function: To inspire the people to increase their opinion of Jesus, so that we honor Jesus by the way we live.

Text: Colossians 1:15-23

Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 19

INTRODUCTION

When my wife and I visit the Netherlands, we always make it a point to visit the St. Catherine’s Church in the small, historic town of Den Briel. We climb the more than 350 narrow, winding steps in the church’s tower all the way to the top. Why? Because of the breath-taking view we have of the surrounding area.

Holland is small when it comes to surface space, narrow when it comes streets, and flat when it comes to terrain. It’s also crowded. And because of that, you do not always get a clear picture of the area you visit or live in. That happened to me when I lived in the Netherlands. But then, after emigrating to this continent, and then returning for an occasional visit to Holland, I gained a much deeper appreciation for the area where I used to live. How? The exalted view from this St. Catharine’s Church tower has inspired my enthusiasm and appreciation for the region in which I grew up.

The Christian church knows St. Augustine of Hippo as a powerful Christian leader in the latter part of the 4^th century. Known for his writings such as his Confessions, St. Augustine has shaped generations of Christians by his leadership, biblical example, and theological writings. Behind this influential bishop of Rome, however, stood a simple woman by the name of Monica. She was a woman of prayer. She believed that God could change her son’s promiscuous behavior and restless, sinful heart. And so, she prayed and prayed, and prayed for her son’s conversion. And God answered her prayers. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, had an exalted view of God, who is able to hear and respond to our prayers.

The Christian Church today--you and I included—needs an exalted view of Jesus so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord.

FACING SOME PROBLEMS

Let me explain. One of the things that troubles me about myself is my failure to live up to the high standards of Jesus. Those standards come through in the summary of God’s law, where we are called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. I fail to do that perfectly. Yes, there are moments that I see some progress in myself, but more often there are moments that I need to confess my sins before God. I may start the day with a clean slate; but at the end of the day, my slate needs to be cleansed through confession and Christ’s forgiveness.

My hunch is that most of us can identify with my comments about myself. It’s disappointing, even distressing at times, to realize that we have failed to live a life worthy of the Lord. And yet, that’s what we are called to do according to the Scriptures in Col. 1:10. Holding up in prayer the members of the church in Colossae, the apostle Paul prays that God will fill them “with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” Why? So that,“… you may live a life worthy of the Lord….”

Personal failure to live a consistent Christian lifestyle is only part of the picture that troubles so many. There are the sins of the church’s leadership, of pastors like myself who slip into so-called “moral failures,” of priests who bring dishonor to Christ and the church because of sexual abuse, for example. And then there are the sins of inconsistent behavior by members of the church.

What is the most heard objection by people who stay away from the church? That we are “hypocrites,” that we do not walk our talk. In one of our confessional documents (The Belgic Confession, Article 29), we admit the presence of hypocrites in the church. In every church where Christ is preached, the sacraments are administered, and discipline is practiced, we recognize that there is a “company of hypocrites who are mixed among the good in the church and who nonetheless are not part of it, even though they are physically there.” Don’t you find that distressing and discouraging?

There is truth in these comments. I will not try to give “explanations” or excuses for our inconsistencies and sinful acts. I will only put my finger on these sore spots to inspire us to live a life worthy of the Lord by deepening our view of Jesus, by embracing a highly exalted perspective of him.

Sometimes, the truth hurts. Consider this fact: research indicates that there is no difference in the divorce rate among Christians and non-Christians in America. Is that praiseworthy or worrisome? A very high percentage of Americans claim to be Christians but their knowledge of the Bible is minimal, their worship attendance is sporadic, their stewardship and giving is low, and their way of viewing the world does not differ very much from secularists. For example, a large number of Christians in America believe that faith is personal and therefore private, and must be kept separate from the public sphere of life. In other words, on Sundays you put your faith in “gear” and for the rest of the week you put it in “neutral.”

What the church needs today is a highly exalted view of Jesus. We need to see Jesus through the glasses of his ascension, his kingship, his astonishing identity and work, so that we deepen our appreciation for him and live a life worthy of him.

AN EXALTED VIEW OF CHRIST

How would you like to play basketball with Michael Jordan as your coach? Or how would you like to walk the golf course with such people as Jack Nicklaus, Mike Weir, and Tiger Woods? That would be a “cat’s meow” for many. Why? Because you have a high view of them. And if you like to play the game of basketball or golf, then your exalted opinion of these athletes inspires you to follow their example.

Well, then, let’s consider the high view of Jesus—a view that should inspire us to lead a life worthy of Jesus.

Consider:

· Who Jesus Is: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” The Bible tells us that God is Spirit; he is invisible to the naked eye. Yet, we learn that God reveals himself to us in and through his Son, the Lord Jesus. We deepen our view of Jesus, however, by echoing the teachings of Scripture saying that Jesus not only images or reveals God; he is God. Paul says, for example, in Col. 2:9 that “…in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form….” And in Col. 2:3 Paul says that in Jesus “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” All of this fits also with the apostle John’s opening statement in his gospel that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

It is true that Jesus is fully human, like us, but without sin. His sinless humanity qualifies Jesus already as a unique creature. I say “unique” because with respect to his divinity, Jesus must not be treated or seen as a mere creature; He is raised high above every creature and created thing. That is why Paul says that Jesus is the One to whom belongs the right and dignity of the firstborn in relationship to every creature (cf. Hendriksen). In view of his deity, Jesus is “the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” And to drive home Jesus’ exalted position, the apostle adds: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” This view of Jesus opens within us the fountain of admiration, which inspires us to live a life worthy of him.

Also consider:

· Who Jesus Is In Direct Relationship to His Body, the Church:

“…he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” As all the members of our bodies depend on the health and functioning of the head, so all the members of the church find their life, their health in Jesus Christ, the head of the church. In verses 15-17, we noticed that all of creation finds its origin and dependence in Jesus. Now we learn that the new creation, the redeemed or rescued people of God also completely depend for life and health on Jesus, so that in everything Jesus might have the supremacy.

Jesus is the center of all creation; he is also the center of the new creation, where his people, the church, find new life, eternal life and hope and strength in him. Jesus’ highly exalted status—his uniqueness as the divine Son of God, and his divine status as Savior of the world and well-spring of life for the church—inspires us to live a life worthy of him.

Let me spell out the inspiring consequences of Jesus’ highly exalted status. These are the factors or benefits that come our way:

· We are in a new situation: (1:13) “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” In other words, Jesus has set us free from the slavery or power of sin. It’s possible to live as forgiven sinners, no longer in bondage to the powers of sin and death, but in service to the power of Christ, through his Holy Spirit. We are in a new situation. Also,

· We are in a new relationship with God: (1:21) “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation….” The burden of guilt, the wrath of God, the enmity between us and God because of sin---are all removed because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He paid the wages of our sins, so that we may receive the benefits of eternal life. We are in a new relationship with God today.

The Bible teacher in L.D. 19 identifies similar and additional benefits related to Jesus’ exalted position. He gives us heavenly gifts, and he holds us in the palm of his hand keeping us safe. Listen: “How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?” “First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out his gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.”

But Jesus’ exalted position also gives us hope and strength to maintain a long view of things—a view that stretches to the day when Jesus makes all things new, when he overthrows all opposition, and makes right all that what is so wrong today. That’s why the Bible teacher in L.D. 19 also asks: “How does Christ’s return ‘to judge the living and the dead’ comfort you?” “In all my distress and persecution I turn my eyes to the heavens and confidently await as judge the very One who has already stood trial in my place before God and so has removed the whole curse from me. All his enemies and mine he will condemn to everlasting punishment: but me and all his chosen ones he will take along with him into the joy and the glory of heaven.”

So tell me: Do you see with the eyes of faith the greatness and exalted position of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our King? Will you and I embrace him as Lord, and bow before him as servants?

When Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, saw the greatness of God to hear and answer her prayers, she stormed the heavens with her prayers.

When the German Christian theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, caught the vision of a righteous God, he opposed the Nazi regime of Hitler, even at the cost of his own life.

When Christians see clearly the highly exalted position of Jesus, you and I will also be moved to live a life worthy of Jesus, the King. Let’s focus, then, our eyes of faith on the exalted Son of God.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.