Listen to the final class session on this subject: 

Download the Notes: 10202013ThePreeminenceOfChristDonRuhl

The Preeminence of Christ 

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • August 11, In the year of our Lord, 2013

 

  1. The Preexistence of Christ
    1. He lived 33 years on the Earth, but
      1. that is not when He began,
      2. as we do.
        1. You might hear people refer to His pre-incarnate existence.
        2. He has existed from eternity.
    2. His preexistence demonstrated:
      1. John 1.1
      2. John 1.15
      3. John 8.56–58
        1. Abraham was
        2. Jesus is
    3. He came from heaven
      1. John 6.38; 3.13
      2. John 6.51–58
      3. John 6.61, 62
    4. With the Father before creation – John 17.5
    5. Was rich, became poor – 2Co 8.9
    6. Phi 2.5–11
      1. Preexistence – equality with God
      2. Incarnation – made in likeness of men
      3. Coronation – God highly exalted Jesus
    7. Heb 1.1–3
      1. Made the worlds
      2. Made purification of sins
      3. Sat down at God’s right hand
    8. Would He have been inactive between creation and His ministry on Earth?
      1. Col 1.17
      2. Heb 1.4
    9. The Angel of Jehovah
      1. Gen 16.7–13
      2. Gen 18.1–5, 22; then 19.1, 13, 17–22
      3. Gen 31.11–13
      4. Gen 32.24–30
      5. Gen 48.15–16
      6. Exo 3.2–18
        1. Acts 7.30–38
        2. Gal 3.19
      7. Exo 23.20–25
      8. Exo 32.34; 33.2 and then vv. 3 and 14–16
        1. Isa 63.9–10
      9. Joshua 5.13–15
      10. Jdg 2.1–4
        1. Exo 20.2
        2. Lev 26.44–45
      11. Jdg 13
      12. Jer 31.31–34
        1. Other passages sound like the Angel of Jehovah
        2. Heb 8.7–13; 9.16
  2. Christ: The Summation of God’s Plan
    1. Eph 1.9–11
    2. Jesus fulfilled:
      1. The Purpose of God – Eph 3.1–11
      2. The Promise of God – Gal 3.8, 16
      3. The Prophecy of God – Luke 24.44–47; Acts 3.18–19; Rev 19.10
  3. The Preeminence of Christ – Col 1.14–23
    1. His relation to God – v. 15a
    2. His relation to the universe – vv. 15b–17
      1. He is the first born because He is the Creator – vv. 15b–16
      2. He is the first born because He is before all things – v. 17a
      3. He is the first born because He is the sustainer – v. 17b
    3. His relation to the church – v. 18
    4. His relation to sinful man – vv. 19–23

Exhortation: 

  1. Think about all these things the next time you eat the Lord’s Supper!