I listened to an online sermon this morning by a man named Maurice Montgomery entitled “Jesus Christ” using Colossians 1: 15-17:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist”.

Mr. Montgomery rightly observed that we so often talk of our redemption when we should be talking more about our Redeemer. This sermon surely and most certainly exalted the Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

His name is above every name that is named (Phi 2:9) and “That at that name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Phi 2:10). Christ has the preeminence over all and every divine purpose and work are in Christ. The elect will bow the knee in Grace, the reprobate in judgement.

To God the Father and God the Spirit, that name is above every name. The very work of the Holy Spirit is to take the name of Christ and show Him to the world, to glorify Him, to lift Him up and magnify and glorify the Lord Jesus. He takes the name of Christ and shows Him to His people, to me to you, so that we might know Him and have life.

To us, the redeemed, what are our thoughts of Christ. The name of Jesus, He is the living Word and He not only brought the message, He is the message. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Word become flesh. We beheld the Glory of God in the face of Jesus. He is the sum and substance of ALL Truth.

The angels in heaven sing Glory, Glory, Glory around His throne day and night. The saints in heaven sing; Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and this is written in our hearts, there is only One that is worthy, the Lord Jesus.

For us, the saints on earth, we have no boasting of circumcision or no circumcision for Christ is ALL. “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor 1:30) What do we trust to make us accepted in the beloved, we trust Jesus. He is our confidence, our trust, our hope and our praise. “There is a name I love to hear, the sweetest name on earth”

The name of Jesus strikes terror into the hearts of the fallen angels, they tremble at His Holy Omnipotence saying; “Let us alone’ what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us: I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1:24)

For the modern religionist His name is simply a signator for every false belief and religion under the sun. They know His name, but they don’t know Him. They say He has a plan for their life but they must cooperate with that plan to bring it about, He has a will but the sinner won’t cooperate with Him so the free-will of the created becomes the will and the Creator becomes the observer. They say that Jesus strives with all men alike and isn’t partial to any and yet the Scripture tells us that He will have mercy upon whom He will. They say you have to take the first step, God will do the rest, and yet again, the Scripture tells us that men are dead in sin and trespasses; they are completely unable to take a step from death into life.

Salvation is from the Lord from beginning to end, we can do NOTHING without Christ. Our Redeemer should be exalted as on the day of Pentecost, exalted in the sinner’s mind. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, who ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36)

He must be preached as Savior and as Sovereign, King of Kings and gracious and full of compassion, the Sustainer of all things, the Creator, the Preserver. He is why I am breathing and writing this very sermon down, He is actively holding me up. “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28) He is the giver of life and of breath for all things. He is a High Priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities and tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Heb 4:15) He works all things after the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11) and those things work for my good. (Romans 8:28).

When Christ told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven they were astonished and asked Him, ‘who then can be saved”.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be.
That Thou my God shouldst die for me. (Charles Wesley, Psalms and Hymns 1738)

May we always remember and exalt the Christ who said, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Mat 19:26)