THE PREEMINENCE OF GOD.
Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Christ Fellowship Bible Church, pastor
The preeminence of God speaks of the marvelous truth of God’s superiority over everything. He surpasses everything else in wonder, worth, and dignity! God far surpasses all else. This is the PREEMINENCE OF GOD. God exists as superior with the most lofty status of dignity, worth, and glory as He is most distinguished and exalted and supreme over all His creation.
Colossians 1.18 clearly states this truth in the Christological hymn when we read: “Christ is Head over His body, the Church, and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place (=preeminence) in everything.” This word for “first place” or preeminence speaks of that which is first and foremost, that which has the first and most honored place and position. This is Christ’s preeminence and unrivaled magnificence.
The preeminence of God should grab our hearts because our God is most exalted and unrivaled more than anything and everything else. And because God exists as the greatest good, then He deserves our highest honors and praise. None can compare with Him.
Because Jesus Christ is God in human flesh — truly God and truly man in one perfect person — He is preeminent in His status and must be preeminent in our hearts as well. In fact, not only does Christ have preeminence because He is God and not only must He have preeminence over our hearts as His redeemed ones, but He has preeminence over all His creation — everything in heaven and on earth (Colossians 1:18-20).
Consider the preeminence of your God today. God Himself declares: I am God and there is no one like me (Isaiah 46.9). The Psalmist extols: “There is no one like you among the gods, O LORD” (Psalm 86.8). Exalt the Lord your God! Consider Him! Get lost in wonder and honor and praise of His exclusive supremacy!
And then let your life reflect the preeminence of Christ. Because He has perfect beauty, glory and preeminence, He must have first place in your life. This means Christ must reign supreme in every area, in every aspect, in every sphere of your life. He wants Lordship over everything. Christ is Lord and thus deserves heartfelt and jubilant honor and worship. Christ upholds the universe by His own power (Hebrews 1.3). Therefore, He must be the center of our lives, the center of our worship, and the center of our affections. Our decisions should revolve around Him and we must delight in considering His worth and exaltedness. None can relate to Him.
The preeminence of our Christ should so consume our hearts that we think of Him, love Him, serve Him, and speak of Him daily! God exalted Christ and gave Him the Name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow (Philippians 2.9-11). So then, let us honor the preeminence and splendid glory of the Son just as we honor the Father (John 5.23).
