"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, {2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; {3} Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; {4} Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. {5} For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? {6} And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. {7} And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. {8} But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. {9} Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. {10} And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: {11} They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; {12} And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. {13} But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? {14} Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:1-14)

"Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." (Colossians 3:11)

    In but four short words which are contained in Colossians 3:11 the Holy Spirit puts the 'capstone' upon the entire framework of true Theology, that Theology which is contained in and taught by the inspired Word of God.
    An unyielding faith in and adherence to those four words are what separates true Christian religion from the numerous false religions, both in this nation and around the world. Those four words, recorded by the divinely inspired apostle, are an anchor to the soul for all those who know the One to whom those words refer. It would greatly benefit each of God's precious elect to ever have those four words in the forefront of their minds, that at all times they would be comforted and directed by them.
    The four words which we wish to take note of this morning are, 'but Christ is all'.
    We wish to speak for a few minutes unto you this morning on the subject of, "The Preeminence Of Christ." The expression or phrase, "The Preeminence of Christ", is often used by those who seek to declare in many words what the Holy Spirit has declared in Colossians 3:11 in but four words, those words being 'but Christ is all'.
    As we have noted on previous occasions definitions can be tedious and boring. However they are also sometimes necessary, that both the speaker and the audience are in the same thought pattern.
    Therefore we will offer a few brief definitions before proceeding any further.
    The word 'preeminence' is a compound word composed of the prefix 'pre' and the word 'eminence'.
    According to the 1933 edition of the Funk & Wagnalls 'Practical Standard Dictionary' the prefix 'pre' means, 'Before, as in time, place or RANK.'
    In the same volume one of the definitions given for 'eminence' is 'An exalted rank, condition or degree'.
    And finally in that same volume for the word 'preeminent' we read one of the definitions as, 'Supremely eminent; distinguished above all others; transcendent; supreme'.
    What a wonderful definition of a word that in the strictest sense is applicable only to our dear Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, 'distinguished above all others.'
    Whatever you may remember of what is said here this morning please remember that divine declaration of Colossians 3:11, 'but Christ is all', that He is 'distinguished above all others.'
    Sometimes people will seek, either intentionally or unintentionally, to make something far more complex than it actually is. There are those who, for whatever reason, like to unnecessarily use big words and flowery speech in describing the great doctrines which are taught in the Bible. One wonders if they do not sometimes think in some measure that they can add to the power or validity of those doctrines they are expounding by making them seem mysterious and difficult to comprehend.
     Indeed there are many things taught in God's Word which are deep and that require prayerful and diligent study to discern them. And that study must be by a regenerated and Spirit lead heart and mind to be truly effectual. The natural or unconverted mind will never understand the things of God as they are in truth.
    Yet, the truth of Christ's preeminence and of His saving grace is simple. Now lest anyone be offended, simple as used here does not mean common, bland or humdrum. But it does mean uncomplicated and easily understood. Easily understood that is to the Holy Spirit enlightened mind. In fact the Bible declares that the gospel is simple.

 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." ( 2 Corinthians 11:3)

    In expounding God's Word we should seek to do so with plain straight forward speech that the power would be in the message and not in the one who presents it.

"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." ( 2 Corinthians 1:12)

    Let us now begin our consideration of this great and wondrous fact, that 'Christ is all', by briefly looking at some verses from the first chapter of Hebrews.
    The first point for our consideration is:
    I.) The Lord Jesus Christ is superior to and has preeminence over Old Testament prophets.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, {2} Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son," (Hebrews 1:1-2)

    The apostle begins his discourse by declaring the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ over and above all of the Old Testament prophets. When we say, 'the apostle declares' it is to be understood that we are in fact saying, 'God, the Holy Spirit, through the apostle declares'.

 "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." ( 2 Peter 1:21)

    The apostle in Hebrews 1:1-2 reminds his readers that in different times and in different fashions God spoke to their forefathers by the inspired prophets. That was the manner in which He conveyed His will for them, that was the manner in which He instructed them in the acceptable form of worship. It was through the prophets that God's chosen nation, Israel, was instructed in the sacrifices and offerings performed under the Mosaic economy, all of which pointed to the person and to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    The prophets of old spake as they were moved or directed by God, the Holy Spirit. Therefore their message was not their own message but that of the very God of the universe Himself. Perhaps some of the Old Testament Jews heard that message but discounted it as being conceived in the minds of those who proclaimed it. Perhaps such was also the case in New Testament times and certainly that is sometimes the case in the time in which we now live.
    However, as it was in those Old Testament times, and as it was in New Testament times so it is now that some who hear the word spoken by God's messengers receive it as it is in truth, the Word of God and not the words of men.

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

    Returning to Hebrews 1:2, we see that the apostle declares that God had sent a new messenger who is infinitely superior to those Old Testament messengers which God had sent in times past.

"Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;" (Hebrews 1:2)

    Please bear in mind that it is not the message which is under consideration, for the message of the Old Testament prophets is the same message as the message of the Lord Jesus Christ.
    But it is the messengers which are under consideration and the last messenger whom God had sent, the Lord Jesus Christ, is infinitely superior to any messenger who had ever gone before Him.
    There is an old saying that we sometimes hear people use, 'I saved the best for last.' Now while those who use this old saying may or may not really mean what they are saying there is no contradiction that when it came to messengers, God saved the best for last.
    Many of the Jews of Christ's earthly time had great respect for the prophets and fathers, and this is as it should be, for we should all have respect for those whom God has used for His own purpose and glory. But perhaps the Jews sometimes lost sight of the fact that all of the prophets and fathers were but mortal and therefore depraved men. Perhaps they elevated them to a position far higher than they should have been elevated to or undoubtedly would have wanted to be elevated to.
    No God sent messenger, lead by and acting in the Spirit, really wants to be the focus of attention and admiration. It is the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ that they seek to put in a place of prominence and central focus.
    That great messenger of God, John the Baptist, had things in their proper perspective. Speaking of his own position before mankind and Christ's position of preeminence he makes it clear what the proper order is, not only for himself but also for all of God's servants.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

    Note if you will in the latter part of verse 2 of Hebrews chapter 1 and in verse 10 of that same chapter that creation is ascribed unto the Lord Jesus Christ.

"... by whom also he made the worlds ..." (Hebrews 1:2)

"And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:" (Hebrews 1:10)

    God's great messenger Moses, whom He used to record for us His creation of the universe and all things contained therein, was made privilege to the knowledge of that creation by supernatural revelation. He was supernaturally instructed as to what went on during a portion of that creative fiat. Neither he nor anyone else were there at the time of that creation.
    Moses would have had no message of that creation to deliver unto mankind if God had not given him knowledge of that creation and charged him with declaring that creation message.
    However, God's messenger, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is under consideration here in Hebrews 1 required no one to tell Him of that creation, for it was He who performed that stupendous feat.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: {15} Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: {16} For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: {17} And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:14-17)

    Note if you will that in verse 14 we are told that 'we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:'.
    Then in verse 16 we are told that the one who redeemed us through His own blood, as declared in verse 14, is the same one who created all things.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16)

    That can be a reference to non other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
    Note also if you will that in verse 17 we are told that not only did the Lord Jesus create all things but that He is the one who keeps all things together.

"And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:17)

    That statement is in perfect harmony with Hebrews 1:3 where we read that He upholds, 'all things by the word of His power'.

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3)

    We will return to this verse of Scripture later in our discussion but for now we would like to leave the point of the Lord Jesus Christ being superior to and having preeminence over the Old Testaments prophets and go on to our next point for consideration:
    II.) The Lord Jesus Christ is superior to and has preeminence over angels.
    For the sake of brevity we will not reread Hebrews 1 verses 4- 14 at this time but we will make a few observations on them as we pursue this point, 'the Lord Jesus Christ is superior to and has preeminence over angels.'
    In verse four 4 we are told that Christ was, 'made so much better than the angels'. The Creator is superior to the creature. No matter how majestic and glorious the host of heaven are their glory pales, and that profoundly so, when placed alongside the majesty and glory of their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ.
    The superiority of the Creator over that which is created is also spoken of in Hebrews 3:3 in reference to Moses and the system of religion which he delivered by divine instruction to the people. There in Hebrews 3:3 is declared the superiority of the one who instituted that system of religion over the one who delivered it to the people.

"For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house." (Hebrews 3:3)

    The Master is greater than the servant. The angels are servants sent forth to minister unto the 'heirs of salvation', that is the elect and redeemed of God.

"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14)

    The One who is worshipped is superior to those who worship Him.
    Angelic or any other creature worship is strictly denounced and forbidden by the inspired Word of God. The Roman saints were shown that any creature worship is a lie and therefore sin.

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1:25)

    Even the beloved apostle John was rebuked for his momentary lapse of judgment in the presence of one of God's holy angels as he sought to give worship to that angel instead of the One who created them both.

"And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. {9} Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God." (Revelation 22:8-9)

    At  His incarnation the entirety of the angelic host were given the divine directive to worship the Lord Jesus Christ, thus indicating His place of 'preeminence', that He is to be 'distinguished above all others.'

"And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." (Hebrews 1:6)

    When we see this divine directive here we might be prone to think only of the angels in heaven. However all of the fallen angels, including their leader, satan, will one day fall prostrate before the Lord Jesus Christ and acknowledge that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

"And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:11)

    We would next like to put before you for your consideration that:
    III.) The Lord Jesus Christ is superior to and has preeminence over mankind.
    You may at first wonder why we would even consider such a statement, for everyone knows that Christ is superior to His creatures.
    The sad and frightening truth is that the lost world doesn't know or believe that He is superior to them. But for now we will not concern ourselves with the admittedly declared lost sinner. All our arguments are based upon God's inspired Word and until the Holy Spirit convicts and saves a person nothing from that Word will have any import or significance to them.
    It is to those who profess to be redeemed by the Lord Jesus that we wish to address this third point.
    Wait, you say, how can anyone who professes to be saved not believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is preeminent over mankind? Beloved, there are millions of people who profess to know Christ as Lord and Savior who believe that they are preeminent over Him.
    Remember that preeminent means, 'Superior in all things.'
    Those who claim to have a free will that can thwart the design and purpose of God are declaring that they are preeminent over Him!
    I normally give little credence to quaint old religious sayings, for they are usually unscriptural and seek to exalt man rather than God. But there is one which I have on occasion heard that may have some merit in this context. Speaking of the Lordship of Christ it says, 'Christ is Lord of all or not Lord at all.'
    The professing Christian who denies the absolute sovereignty of Christ in all things, including the totality of their salvation, is certainly not acknowledging that He is 'Lord of all'.
    To reserve any part of one's salvation for themselves is a denial of Christ's preeminence.

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" (Hebrews 1:3)

    The clear, plain and forceful declaration by God is that the sins of God's people are purged and that they were purged solely by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When the Lord Jesus Christ was engulfed in the holy wrath of the Father's judgment against the sins of His people there was none other assisting or comforting Him as He bore the full brunt of that wrath.
    To deny that the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ is totally sufficient and requires no creature additions is in measure to deny the truth of what God has declared about that atonement and His acceptance of it.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

    God does not declare that His people were made better by the bruising of Christ but that they 'are healed.'

"He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." (Isaiah 53:11)

    God declares that He saw the travail of Christ's soul, that travail being in the place of His elect people, and that He was satisfied. He was satisfied because Christ bore 'their iniquities' For anyone to declare that they must add anything to that travail, even their acceptance of it, to make it valid is to flatly contradict the inspired Word of God.
    IV.) The Lord Jesus Christ should be preeminent in the lives of His people. All those commands and precepts taught in His Word should be joyously done by them.
    As has been stated from the pulpit of this church many times God's people do not have the prerogative to select which commands and precepts they obey and which ones the ignore.

"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)

    In the lives of His people the Lord must be the center of their love and adoration. We are commanded to love our parents, love our children and love our spouses. But the love which God has given us for them must never exceed or supersede that which we have for the Lord Jesus.

"He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37)

    V.) The name of the Lord Jesus is superior to and has preeminence over any other name.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: {10} That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:9-10)

    As our pastor has said on occasion, 'name is indicative of character'. The name of the Lord Jesus is indicative of a character that is superior to and preeminent over the character of the most righteousness and moral mortal who ever lived or shall ever live.
    No matter how saintly and Godly a man or woman may be, they are while yet in this life totally depraved creatures who are engaged in a constant warfare against their old nature. That warfare is addressed by the apostle Paul in Romans 7. By divine enablement through the Spirit's leading there are times when the saint truly hates sin and loves righteousness, but sadly that is not a constant state of being for us while we still tabernacle in this house of clay.
    However, the character of the Lord Jesus Christ was above reproach, totally superior to and preeminent above any that had gone before or that has come since.
    He always ' loved righteousness, and hated iniquity', continually and constantly.

"Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;" (Hebrews 1:9)

    When the Jews were seeking to find fault with our dear Lord they could not find any guilt in Him and had to bring in 'false accusers', that is liars, to build their case against Him.
    He had once challenged His listeners to find any fault, that is any sin, in His character and no one could answer to that challenge.

"Which of you convinceth me of sin?" (John 8:46)

    The name and character of the Lord Jesus are superior to and preeminent above all others.
    Prior to the birth of the Lord Jesus both Joseph and Mary were instructed by a divinely appointed angelic messenger that His name should be Jesus.
    To Joseph it was said:

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

    And to Mary it was said:

"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." (Luke 1:31)

    There was no question what the name of the Lord Jesus would be. And with those of His people who have prayerfully and diligently read His Word there is no question that He did indeed 'save His people from their sins.'
    Salvation is totally, completely, singularly, solely and exclusively restricted to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is not one of the ways to be found acceptable in God's eternal presence. Jesus Christ is the only and exclusive way to be found acceptable in God's eternal presence. When we say that Christ is the exclusive way we are denouncing every other person and every other way as false!

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

    The clear and plain declaration by God is that there is 'none other name', that is none other person by which we can be saved.
    Salvation is not made available through the merits of Christ's atonement. Salvation is not begun by Christ and then left to the individual to complete. Salvation, in its fullness and totality is the product of God's unmerited and free grace. It is to Jesus Christ and Jesus only that we need to look for the origin and consummation of our salvation.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

    The Lord Jesus Christ authored our faith and our salvation and He will also finish it. It is not left up to the frailties and weaknesses of puny mortals to undertake the monumental task of safekeeping their everlasting souls once they have become as it were 'a brand plucked out of the fire'. The same preeminent One who rescued them will deliver them safely to His celestial shore.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)

    Christ does not save a person part way and then let them fall away and be lost. He saves His people all the way, even to the uttermost.

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)

    VI.) The salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only true salvation and is therefore superior to and preeminent to all other claimed and supposed forms of salvation.
    We are not only speaking here of the fraudulent claims of cults and false religions but also the bogus professions of those who claim to be God's people but deny His totally free grace.
    In sinning against God man obligated himself to satisfy God's perfect and holy justice and pay that sin debt which he owes. Man's inability to pay that sin debt in nowise relieved him of the responsibility and obligation to do so.
    God's justice demanded that the sin debt be paid. God is perfectly holy and therefore He could not and would not simply ignore that sin debt. The law was given as a schoolmaster to show the people their inability to pay that sin debt and therefore be justified before God.

"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:39)

    God required a perfect and complete payment of that sin debt if anyone was ever to be released from its curse, go free and be acceptable in His eternal presence.
    The atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ fully satisfied all that God required.
    Therefore the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ is all that the sinner needs.
    If there was a requirement, and there was, and if that requirement was fulfilled, and satisfied, and it was, what need is there of anything else?
    VII.) The Lord's book, that is the Bible, is preeminent to and superior to every other so called 'holy book' that mankind have come up with.
    Every other so called 'holy book' was authored by some person or a group of persons. It doesn't matter if it is some far eastern religion or a cult started here in the United States, every one of these so called 'holy books' which men have authored are fallible, they contain error and false teaching and they are the products of that great counterfeiter, satan.
    Although the adherents of these other so called holy books will affirm their divine origin the fallacy of that claim becomes evident when one examines them ever so superficially.
    The Bible claims to be divinely inspired and It backs up those claims by being without error and in complete harmony throughout. In areas of true science and history the Bible is without peer, as it is in every other realm.
    Psalm 119 extols the power and majesty of God's holy Word.
    There is but one true Holy Book and that is the inspired Word of the sovereign and triune God. It is, in its' original manuscripts, totally complete and inerrant. No one has the authority to add to it or take from it. To do so is to incur the plagues contained in it.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:" (Revelation 22:18)

    VII.) The Lord's church is preeminent to and superior to every other so called church.
    The Lord started His church during His earthly ministry and assured it age long perpetuity. The Lord's church did not apostatize and need to be reformed. The Lord's church did not cease to be in existence and need to be restarted.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

    There is but one church that was purchased with the sinless blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

    To that precious blood bought church is the Lord Jesus betrothed.

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:2)

    One day in glory that marriage between the Lamb and His chaste bride will be consummated and it will then be evident to all the universe that His church did have preeminence over all man made organizations.

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. {8} And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. {9} And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:7-9)

    The Bible declares that the Lord started and preserves His church and that He will one day be wed to it. Therefore it behooves every redeemed person to diligently search out one of His churches and to thankfully serve Him through it.
    May the blessed Holy Spirit lead each of us to continually rejoice in the assurance of Colossians 3:11 , 'Christ is all'.
    In closing please permit me to read a portion of that great Fanny Crosby hymn, 'All The Way My Savior Leads Me'