Col. 1:13-23, Our Purpose: To exalt Christ as Lord (3)

Another way we can see the exaltation of Christ is in what Scripture says about what He accomplished. 

·       He told Pilate, in John 18:37, You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that (hina) I should bear witness to the truth.  He was and is the Sovereign King.

·       In Hebrews 2:14 we see that inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that (hina) through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.  The devil is a defeated enemy because of what Christ accomplished.

·       Lastly, in 1 Peter 3:18, we see that Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that (hina) He might bring us to God.  How marvelous is God’s grace.  We were all born at enmity against God and against His Son.  Yet God has made a way for rebels to come and bow the knee to Christ now, today, in this life.  Rather than waiting for that time when people will have no choice.

Since Christ came to seek and save the lost, let us ask how the early Church applied the Lordship of Christ to their lives and ministry.  This will again involve verses with “hina” (purpose) clauses.  We will underline “hina” in each passage.

·       1 Cor. 1:17: Paul served under Jesus’ headship.  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  A ministry that emphasized fancy words or the wisdom of the world would be ineffective as a message of salvation.  We must carry out ministry in obedience to the Son of God.

·       2 Cor. 4:10-11:  Read these amazing words from Paul.  We die to self, carrying about the death of Christ that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our bodies.  Again, we are delivered to death for Jesus’ sake that the life of Jesus might be manifested in our flesh.  This is why Paul sought conformity to the death of Christ (Phil. 3:10).

·       Phil. 3:8: Thus, in the same vein, Paul counted loss and as rubbish all his former fleshly accomplishments, that I might gain Christ.

·       2 Tim. 2:4: Paul instructed believers to have the same attitude.  He challenged us to streamline our lives and set our focus on Christ that (we) may please Him who enlisted (us) as a soldier.  If our purpose is to exalt Christ, then our purpose is not to exalt ourselves.

·       Rev. 3:18: Jesus reproved the Laodicean Church, which claimed they were rich and well-dressed and strong in themselves, to seek riches and healing from Him so that they might have true riches and righteousness and spiritual eyesight.

Exalting Jesus as Lord is not just a verbal confession of faith.  It is a life and service that is subject to Him in every sense.