1. To Reveal God (verse 9)
2. To Redeem Man (verse 10a)
3. To Rule the Earth (verses 10b)
An Exhortation (verse 8)

This sermon was delivered after the children of Rock Valley Bible Church put on a wonderful performance of the Christmas story during an evening service. The youngest of the children were sheep. Some children were angels, while others were the magi, who traveled from the east. Mary held one of our youngest children, while Joseph looked on. The stage was nicely set, complete with a manger in a stable filled with straw. The performance was narrated using only the texts of the Christmas story (Matthew 1-2; Luke 1-2), while the children sang familiar Christmas carols. Many visiting family members were present.

We have just witnessed a very nice presentation of the Christmas story, put on by our children. In our minds, we are forced to reflect upon what happened that night in Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago. In an effort to put the story in perspective, I want to share with you three reasons why Jesus came to earth. I will pull each of these reasons from one single passage of Scripture, which says, "For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is head over all rule and authority" (Colossians 2:9-10).

Jesus Christ came to earth ...
1. To Reveal God (verse 9)

"For in Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form."

This verse tells us that the little baby we sung about tonight was God in the flesh. The Scripture clearly teaches that the second person of the Godhead was with God and was God. And He "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The Bible says that "no one has ever seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him." Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Jesus came into the flesh to reveal God. Jesus came into the flesh to reveal what God was like. If you want to learn about God, you simply need to read about Jesus. In recent weeks, the Rock Valley Bible Church family has had the opportunity to see what God is like as we have studied Matthew 8-9. We have seen that Jesus has the authority to heal. He has the authority to calm storms. He has the authority over the demonic world. He has the authority to forgive sins. He is compassionate to those who are dead in their sins. This reveals what God is like.

Secondly, Jesus Christ came to earth ...
2. To Redeem Man (verse 10a)

"And in Him, you have been made complete."

This verse is describing the state of a believer in Jesus Christ. The moment you believe in Jesus Christ, your life is made completely whole. There is nothing that you lack. You don't need more experience of God. You don't need miracles to prove to you that Jesus is God. You don't need to have visions of God.- You don't need to be bound by rules and traditions of men. In Jesus Christ you are complete. Your sins have been wiped away. You are a "new creation" in Christ. You have the ability to be victorious over sin.

There is nothing you lack. Around Christmas time, there is often the slogan that goes around, "Jesus is the answer for the world today." That is exactly right. I don't want to sound to trite, but Jesus is the answer for every problem you have. Do you have marriage problems? Jesus is the answer. Do you have drug problems? Jesus is the answer. Do you have financial problems? Jesus is the answer. Do you have problems in your relationships? Jesus is the answer. Do you experience physical problems in your body? Jesus is the answer. Now, the answer may not necessarily mean a reconciled marriage or financial prosperity. But, Jesus will give you the grace to live in light of your difficulties in a way that honors God.

Thirdly, Jesus Christ came to earth ...
3. To Rule the Earth (verses 10b)

"and He is head over all rule and authority."

There is a major power struggle in our world today. It is between Iraq and the United States. It is between the forces of terrorism and those who oppose terrorist activity. But let me tell you, there is no rule or authority greater than Jesus Christ. "He is head over all rule and authority!"

Leaders come and go. Kings and kingdoms come and go. But there is One who sits upon the throne. There is one who will sit upon the throne forever. It is Jesus Christ. By His death and resurrection, He has proven that He has rightful rule and ownership of this earth. Someday, all will bow down to Him.

The choice before all of you today is this: Will you bow willingly to Him now? Will you bow to Him only when we are forced to in the future? I'm telling you, at the judgment day, you will fall on your face before Jesus Christ, when you see His glory and His majesty. If you have trusted in His finished work on the cross to accomplish the redemption for your sins, Jesus will say to you, "Well done, good and faithful one. Enter into the joy of your master." If you refuse to trust Jesus today, but trust in your own work, you are demonstrating yourself to be a rebel against a holy God and you are displaying for the world to see that you are resisting His rule in your life. To such people, Jesus will send you away to eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power (2 Thess. 1:9).

This is because Jesus is the ruler of this universe. Right now, He is patient, in allowing you time to acknowledge your sin and repent and believe in Jesus. But His patience will run out. And when it does, it will find you either resisting Him or loving Him.

I would like to close my time tonight with ...
An Exhortation (verse 8)

My exhortation will come from the verses immediately prior to what we have already examined. "See to it that nobody take you captive through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

There are many philosophies of the world which will see to pull you away from the simple truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ: that He came to earth (1) to reveal God; (2) to redeem man; and (3) to rule the earth.

- Some philosophies believe that "He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake." This isn't true. We are only made good by Jesus Christ. We are to do good only because we love him.
- Some philosophies believe that all roads to God. Let me ask you, "Do all roads lead to Rockford?" Of course not! Neither do many roads lead to God. In fact, there is only one road to God, it is through Jesus Christ, who has said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6).
- Some philosophies believe that God will accept everybody. This isn't true either. At the last day, God will judge between the sheep and the goats. The sheep are those who have trusted Christ and have demonstrated it. The goats are those who haven't trusted Christ. God will accept the sheep and He will reject the goats (Matt. 25:31-46).
- Some philosophies believe that God doesn't exist. But He does. And He has clearly manifested Himself to all of us (Rom. 1:19).
- Some philosophies believe that we will be reincarnated. This too is wrong. The Bible says that "it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (Heb. 9:27).
- Some philosophies believe that we have no soul, so that when we die we go out of existence. This isn't true either. Our souls will live on forever.

I'm here to warn you tonight, "Don't be taken captive by any of these philosophies." They are wrong and filled with deceit. The truth is that Jesus came to earth (1) to reveal God; (2) to redeem man; and (3) to rule the earth. Do you believe this? Or do you believe some other worldly philosophy? In Colossians 2:8, we are warned not to be taken captive by any of these philosophies, which are not "according to Christ." By simple faith in Jesus Christ is the only way that you will ever be made complete before God. Jesus is the answer for you today.

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on December 15, 2002 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rvbc.cc.