Slides: Satan’s Main Aim

Satan’s Main Aim
Colossians 1:15-20; 2 Corinthian 4:4-6

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

He is the image of the invisible God

• Muslim: Jesus is not God appearing among us but a prominent prophet.

• Mormon: Jesus came from Mary’s union with the visible body of Elohim the Father.

• Catholic and Eastern Orthodox: Rather than be satisfied with Jesus as God’s image, statues and icons are aids to worship.

• Spirituality: My inner feelings are the best indicator of who God is.

… the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created… all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things…

• Arius, Jehovah’s Witnesses: Christ is the first creature; he is not God the Creator.

• Pantheism: The universe is God.

• Naturalism: Ultimate reality is impersonal evolution, not a personal Creator.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

• Angel worship: becoming “spiritual”

• Tribal religions: local spirits and ancestors

• Catholic: prayers to Mary and patron saints

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

• Deism: God got the universe going and then left it to run on its own.

• Moral therapeutic deism: God wants me to be nice and happy, but he is a non-factor in “the real world” and daily living.

• Civil religion: God-talk, public displays, and traditional values hold things together.

And he is the head of the body, the church.

• Catholic: In practice the pope is head.

• Consumerist: The customer is king. Church should aim to please me.

• Individualist: Who needs a church body? I can experience Jesus anywhere.

• Doctrinalist: We are ruled by truths and principles—who needs the living Christ?

He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

• Liberalism: Jesus did not rise.

• Easy believism: I can be forgiven and go to heaven without Jesus taking over my life.

• Consumerism: What I want from a church is _________. (Jesus might make the list as one of many things the customer wants.)

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell

• Judaism, Arian, Muslim, Unitarian, Deist, Jehovah’s Witness: Jesus is not God’s fullness united to human nature.

• Consumerist: Focusing on Jesus does not fulfill us; we want something more.

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

•Muslim: Jesus did not die.

•Legalist: We can save ourselves.

•Pluralist: Many paths lead to God.

•Universalist: All people are saved, even if they do not count on the cross of Christ.

Satan blinds, God shines 

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4-6)

Seeing Christ in all Scripture

Exodus I AM, lamb of God, bread from heaven, water of life, rock, cloud of glory

Psalm 22 crucifixion and resurrection

Psalm 23 the good shepherd

Psalm 24 “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. For he founded it…”

Message of Hebrews: JESUS IS GREATER!

• Greater revelation (1:1-3)

• Greater than angels (1:4-2:18)

• Greater than Moses (3:1-6)

• Greater rest (3:7-4:13)

• Greater priest (4:14-7:28)

• Greater tabernacle (8:1-5; 9:1-6)

• Greater covenant (8:6-13)

• Greater sacrifice (9:7-10:25)

• Greater era for faith (11:1-40)

• Greater city (11:10; 13:14)

• Greater insight in trials (12:1-14)

• Greater mountain (12:18-24)

• Greater meal and altar (13:9-10)

“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2)

Radiance and exact imprint

1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

The Word became flesh

1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made… 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth… 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. (John 1:1-18)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.