The Preeminent Christ — E.A. Johnston

The Preeminent Christ as Head of the Church

In Colossians 1 18 we read, 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. The title of my message today, friends, is The Preeminent Christ.

Repenting of Worldly Compromise in the Church

What's happened in our churches is a crime because in our attempt to reach the world we let the world into the church, and when we did that we grieved the Spirit of God away. All of our fleshly efforts and man-centered methodologies haven't made a dent in our communities which are going to hell by droves.

Praying for Holy Ghost Revival

We need to repent and turn from our wicked ways and cry out to God for a Holy Ghost revival to make a way for Christ to have the prominence and preeminence in our sanctuaries once again. Christ's preeminence must be in our daily living.

Scriptural Witness to Christ's Preeminence

I've known some men where Christ was prominent in them. When you spent time with them they made you more thirsty for Jesus. We see the preeminence of Christ, friends, in the following verses of scripture.

John 3 .31 declares, He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. He that cometh from heaven is above all. Romans 14 .9 states, For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

Christ's Absolute Lordship

His Lordship is an acknowledgment of his preeminence. Go take a walk through the book of Hebrews and you will soon find that Christ is more excellent than the angels, more excellent than Moses. The preeminence of Christ runs all the way to the book of Revelation, where in chapter 1 and verse 11 we read, Saint I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.

The preeminent Christ must be Lord of our lives. Self must be dethroned and another enthroned there. The Lord Jesus Christ. There must be no compromise on the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ. Christ must have first place, first call, and first allegiance.

Redirecting Every Part of Life to Christ

We must redirect our all to a Christ-centered life. For if he is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all. We must direct all of our talents and influence and energies to getting right with the Lord. The risen Christ reproved the church at Ephesus because thou hast left thy first love.

Returning to the First Works

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works. We need to repent and do the first works as well and return back to the preeminent Christ who deserves our all because he gave his all for us.

Living as Those Purchased by Christ

We need to realize the fact that when we were saved, we were bought with a price and that price was his blood. Therefore, our time is not our own. Our money is not our own. Our body is not our own. Christ must be a complete master.

Christ's Preeminence in All Things

We must redirect all we are and all we have so that in all things he might have the preeminence. Let us pray.