Christ, the Center

1. Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer

·      John 1: 1-3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

·      Colossians 1: 16-17: “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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

·      Hebrews 1: 2-3: “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. 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.”

·      Proverbs 8:22 – “The LORD created/fathered me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.”

·      John 17:5 – “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

2. Jesus as the Fulfillment of Scripture

·      Luke 24: 27: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

·      John 5: 39: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”

·      Matthew 5: 17: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

3. Jesus as the Savior

·      John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

·      Matthew 1: 21: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

·      Acts 4: 12: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

·      1 Peter 2: 24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

·      Romans 6: 23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

4. Jesus as the Mediator

·      1 Timothy 2: 5: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

·      Hebrews 7: 25: “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

·      Hebrews 9: 15: “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

5. Jesus as the Head of the Church

·      Ephesians 1: 22-23: “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

·      Colossians 1: 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.”

·      Matthew 16: 18: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

6. Jesus as the Judge

·      John 5: 22-23: “For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.”

·      2 Corinthians 5: 10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

·      Acts 17: 31: “Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

7. Jesus as the King

·      Revelation 19: 16: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”

·      Philippians 2: 9-11: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

·      Luke 1: 32-33: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

8. Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life

·      John 14: 6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

·      Acts 10: 43: “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

·      John 8: 12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

9. Jesus as the Ultimate Revelation of God

·      Colossians 1: 15: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”

·      John 14: 9: “Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”?’”

·      Hebrews 1: 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.”

10. Jesus as the Restorer

·      Revelation 21: 5-6: “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.’”

·      Ephesians 1: 10: “As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

·      Romans 8: 21: “That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”