Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. It's good to be here today. Well, we do all preach the same
message, but it is inevitable that we will at some point have
the same text. So I'm going to start with John
1, if you'll turn with me to John 1. John 1, and I'm gonna read the
first five verses. In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was
in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him,
and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was
life, And the life was the light of men. And the light shineth
in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not. This here says, in the beginning
was the word. We read in Genesis, Joe, in chapter
one of the beginning. we can see the Father, Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1.26 says, and God said,
let us make man in our image after our likeness. What does
it say from verse one? In the beginning, God. This is
seen as God the Father. Then in verse two we have the
Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. This, of
course, is the Holy Spirit. Then we have in verse 3 of Genesis
1, And God said, This is the Son, the mouth of God, the God-man,
Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word of God. So the Word being spoken
of here in John 1 is Jesus Christ the Lord who is God. But here
in John we have in verse 2 what it seems to be a repeat statement.
But it says something a little different. The words here in
the KJV says, in verse two it says, the same was in the beginning
with God. Verse one says the word was with
God. And I just got to looking at
Young's literal translation and the way it puts it, and it puts
it like this. This one was in the beginning with God. This
one who is the word of God, it is Jesus Christ who has always
been, he has always been with God, and he has always been God. So now, if you would, turn with
me to Colossians 1. And I wanna read verses 12 through
19, Colossians 1. giving thanks unto the Father,
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness
of sins, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature, 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. And he is before
all things, and by him all things consist. 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. For it pleased the Father that
in him should all fullness dwell. Jesus Christ being the head of
his church and also being the firstborn from the dead and it
says here that Or you can say it like this to the intent In
all that is all his his people the body the church. He would
be first Don't get me wrong. He is first before everyone but
this in context is talking about his church and Just like where
we read before where it said, God is not the God of the dead,
but of the living. God is the God of everyone, dead
or living. But we're talking about God's
people. I've entitled this message, The Preeminent Word. The head is first. I had the
carpal tunnel and I had to do some nerve conduction tests.
And they got to talking to me about my RA, the doctor did,
that did the test. And he started telling me about,
there's a deadly side of the RA. You know, it could have,
the erosion of the RA could give you, and he called it the hangman's
noose. And I heard him say that, and
I'm like, jeez, thanks, doc. The head is first. You can lose
a finger, a toe, an arm, and still go on. You can even have
organ transplants. But I don't think they've ever
done a brain transplant. The head is vital. So I want
to talk to you today about the preeminence of the word. Why
preeminent? What do we see in his preeminence?
And what if he is not preeminent with us? First of all, why preeminent?
He is the beginning. As we read in John 1, He is creator
of all things, so there is not anything in this world that He
did not create, even you and even me. God tells us in His
Word that He kills and He makes alive. But we read in verse 16
of Colossians, 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. So not only did
he create everything because it says they were created by
him, but it also says they were created for him. So some might
at times ask the question, what is the meaning of life? You know,
a lot of people want to know the answer to that question.
What is the meaning of life or why are we here? Well, the meaning
of life is this, it is all for Him. That is all for Jesus Christ
because everything that was created was created for Him. Proverbs
16.4 says, the Lord hath made all things for himself, yea,
even the wicked for the day of evil. So all things, and we can
see here that even the wicked for the day of evil were made
by him. But we also read in Isaiah 43.21,
it says, this people have I formed for myself. They shall show forth
my praise. So there are some who he has
created and these also for himself so that they would show forth
his praise. We had nothing to do with this.
We have nothing to boast in because we did not create ourselves and
we did not create anything else. If we were created to this end,
then it is because of him creating us to this end. Hebrews 2.10
says, for it became him for whom all are all things and by whom
are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain
of their salvation perfect through sufferings. If we are those vessels
created for mercy, it was he that afore prepared us unto that
end. All things that he has done was
done for his honor and glory. So his honor and glory. He gets
the glory because he did all the work. He was here before
there was anything or anyone else. And it is he who created
everything and that was done for himself. Everything from
the beginning that was created was created by him and for him. So that he might be praised and
extolled. He deserves it, he earned it,
and he merited it. So this leads me into what do
we see in his preeminence. Romans 11, 36 says, for of him
and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory forever,
amen. Glory, that is honor, praise,
and worship. He deserves all glory because
He is the glory of God. The glory being total, absolute
righteousness and holiness. We by Him were created to inherit
that glory. What a glorious thought that
we will inherit that glory. Since He is the glory of God,
you can say it like this. We shall inherit Jesus Christ
the Lord, Him being our head. so inheriting his glory. First
Samuel 2.8 it says, he raises up the poor out of the dust and
lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill to set them among princes
and to make them inherit the throne of glory for the pillars
of the earth are the Lord's and he hath set the world upon them. God created all things and we
read here of poor and beggars sitting on a heap of rubbish
or filth. That is where you will be found
by God if you are to inherit his throne of glory. You think
of any filth you can and God has pulled his people from that
place. He created this world, this says,
and those things that hold this world up is Jesus Christ. He
hath set the word upon those pillars. We are nothings before
God. Now how did he do this? Keep
in mind he is creator of all things and everything that was
created was created by him and for him. So everything that was
created was to this end to give him glory. Glory for his works
and not anything of what man would do. So what was this end
or the purpose that he created man and purpose that man would
fall? Redemption through his blood,
verse 14. In whom we have redemption through
his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Now, if you don't think
you have sins or you do not care about forgiveness of sins, this
will mean nothing to you. But if God has given you that
circumcised heart, then what I have to say to you will be
good news. It will be music to your ears,
as they say. And it will continue to be music
to your ears. Redemption, deliverance. Deliverance
from the cesspool, the dung pile of sin against God. Jesus Christ,
the one who was from the beginning, the one that created everything
by himself and for himself, was pleased to show forth his glory
in saving some people. He did all this to show forth
his glory in redeeming a people for his name. If you do not like
having God doing all things for his own pleasure in the way he
wants, then you hate God. All of what we see around us
that has happened from the beginning of time up until this very moment
is all for God. He is just pleased that some
get to boast in Him for all that He has done. The rest will never
bow to Him. But this redemption we read about
in John 2 where it talks about the Cana of Galilee miracle of
Christ turning the water to wine. This was the manifesting forth
of his glory, that glory when he would be made sin for me.
That cesspool of sin that I am and that I do, he was made that
for me. John 2 11 says, this beginning
of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee and manifested forth
his glory and his disciples believed on him. This all was his very
purpose from the beginning. This is what it all had to do
with, him redeeming a people for his name, for his glory alone. If you do not like boasting in
Jesus Christ, then he is not preeminent with you, meaning
he is not your head because he is the head of his people, his
church, and it says he is preeminent. So what if he is not preeminent
with you or with us? If you are seeking out good works
to present before God so that he will see you and what you
have done, you will not see life. You will not inherit the glory
of God. Proverbs 25, 27 says, it is not
good to eat much honey. So for men to search their own
glory is not glory. There will be no man that God
will have any respect to them for anything of what they have
done. Jesus Christ is preeminent. It is not like Jesus Christ is
first and then works are second. That is not what that is saying.
What that is saying is he is the one that matters because
he created all things and holds all things together. Without
him, you will have nothing but destruction. Isaiah 23, 9 reads,
the Lord of hosts hath purposed it to stain the pride of all
glory and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. You want to glory in your supposed
free will? God will bring it into contempt.
You want to work with your hands as if you can do enough works
to outweigh your bad? God will bring it into contempt.
Salvation is by grace, and if it be by grace, it is no more
of works. Otherwise, grace is no more grace. Even our righteousnesses are
as filthy rags in God's sight. We have all before, both Jew
and Gentile, proved that we are all under sin. Even what I am
doing right now is of no value as righteousness before God,
where it will cause God to accept me. 1 Corinthians 9.16 says,
for though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of, for
necessity is laid upon me, yea, woe is unto me if I preach not
the gospel. God is in all things because
he made all things for his purpose. Jesus Christ and his work is
that glory of God, and if you think anything you do, anything
you think, Anything you say or anything you believe is what
gives you favor of God, then it is your glory and God will
bring it into contempt. Isaiah 42.8 says, I am the Lord,
that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither
my praise to graven images. Do not think that what you do
before men will give you any glory that God has any respect
unto. He will not respect you in your
own person or work. Neither one of these will God
respect. If that is what you're trying
to do or think you can do, that is all you'll have. As it says
in Matthew 6 too, it says, therefore when thou doest thine alms, do
not sound the trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in
the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have
their reward. You will have no reward of inheriting
glory if you glory in man in any way. God tells man in Jeremiah
13 6 to give him the glory before he causes darkness. And while
you stumble around trying to find light, he will turn it into the shadow
of death and make it a gross darkness. That is darkness in
the soul where you cannot see your hand in the front of your
face. Your glory, God says, will fly away like a bird. I have
no power to make you give God the glory. Only he can do that
which is needed to turn you to himself where you give him all
the glory. There are some who are around
God's people and have benefit from being around his people,
but they do not give glory to God for those things which he
has given. That is the news of his son.
They are like those in Luke 17 where there were 10 lepers and
they all cried out for mercy from Jesus Christ. All of them
did, these 10, that's what it says. But only one of them turned
to Christ giving him the glory for cleansing them. They are
like those who have tasted of the heavenly gift and then turned
from it. They got what they could from
it and they were done. They cannot be renewed again
until repentance is what it says. Are you here because you just
want something for yourself? You want some kind of benefit
that being here can give you? If you have benefit from hearing
his word, you better give God the glory for what he has done. Christ tells us in Luke 9 26,
he says, for whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words,
of him shall the son of man be ashamed when he shall come in
his own glory and in his father's and of the holy angels. It may be done unto you what
was done unto King Herod in Acts 12. God may smite you if you
do not give him the glory. Man, as he is by nature, will
not give God the glory. What do they do? They change
or make different the glory of the uncorruptible God into something
that looks like man or beast. Fallen sinful man is what men
would rather glory in, rather than glorying in Jesus Christ
the Lord, who is the glory of God. We are told in 1 Corinthians
3 and 21 it says, therefore let no man glory in men. We can,
as believers, start to glory or boast in ourselves. But what
does God's word instruct us in 1 Corinthians 4, 7? For who maketh
thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou
didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? God is
creator of all things, and everything that was made was made for Him,
for His glory, and He holds it all together. The glory, all
glory goes to Him because it is His. We read in our text in
John 1 that Jesus Christ is life. His life is the light of men,
but man comprehended it not. Those who are His, we read in
Colossians 1, that God hath made us meet, or that is qualified
us to be partakers of the inheritance. That inheritance being Jesus
Christ the Lord, who is the glory of God. So we are partakers in
His life. So even though as we are born
in Adam, we do not comprehend his life and light, by his power
and working, he has translated us, that is transferred us into
the kingdom of his dear son. So Jesus Christ was in the beginning
and he is God. All things are by him and for
him. His purpose was to redeem his
people from their sin, which he did. But this is the glory
of God. We should in all things give
Him the praise for He is the head and preeminent in all of
His people. He is first and there is nothing
else that comes in close to this. We do love His people, but even
then, that is because of Him and not because there is anything
in His people that would cause them to love one another. We
love one another because of what He has done. So the glory all
goes to Him. No glory in what we do. God does
not glory in what we do. Not even that which we do because
of Him. He glories in that which He has
done, is doing, and shall do. Because it's all of Him. So what
should we do? Matthew 6.33 says, But seek ye
first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you. He deserves your full undivided
attention. All glory goes to Him because
He does all the work. Should He let us go but for a
moment, we would spiral down. You always see in scripture where
man in his ways always goes down. But God be thanked because of
Him, we will be lifted by Him from the dung pile if He is pleased
to do so. So that we might be able to give
Him all the honor and glory due Him. We read that all of His
creation declare His glory in Psalm 19.1. The heavens declare
the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. What is
it that we are lifted up to do from the dung pile? What are
we lifted up to do? To give God the glory. We read in our text
in John 1 where it tells us of John who was sent to bear witness
of Him. That is what we are to do. Declare
him, him who is the glory of God. Declare the life and light
of the world. Perhaps he will be pleased to
transfer or that is translate someone into the kingdom of his
dear son. First Chronicles 16.24 says,
declare his glory among the heathen, his marvelous works among all
nations. We are instructed that there
is nothing for us to inglorian, and woe is placed on us if we
preach not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glory
of God. If you are boasting in anything
that man has done, if you are boasting in anything that you
have done, even now as a believer, then you are trying to take glory
unto yourself. God will not have it. God will
not give his glory to another. So if you want to boast in man
in any way, you are fighting against God. Jesus Christ is
the only one who is the glory of God. He was from the beginning,
the Word of God, and what he says is what we should be concerned
with. What does he say about himself
in Isaiah 6 3? One cried unto another and said,
holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is
full of his glory. His whole purpose was to bring
those for whom he was pleased to himself. He wanted to give
glory to himself. The only one word is okay for
him to boast in himself. He deserves it, and we should,
as a matter of doing that which is our duty to do, give him all
the glory, because it is his. To that, I say, God, give me
the ability to praise and honor and give you all the glory. Amen. Dear old God, thank you for allowing
us a place to where we can come and hear words of praise and
honor to your name. Dear Lord, enable us always to
preach your name, your word, for you are all things to your
people. Open our hearts, mind, and ears,
dear Lord, that we may hear your truth. Be with Walker as he stands
to speak, that he may speak boldly the truth, the glory of God in
the face of Jesus Christ. All these things we ask in Christ's
name.