Skip to main content

The “Beginning” (and Initiator): The Beginning and the Head

 Uniting Heaven and Earth

Christ in Philippians and Colossians 

Lesson 8 - Wednesday 

The “Beginning” (and Initiator)

“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” (Colossians 1:18).

When Paul calls Christ “the beginning,” he is not merely speaking about time. He is speaking about authority, source, and initiation. Jesus is not just first in sequence—He is first in rank. As Head of the church, He directs, sustains, and gives life to His body. As “the beginning,” He is the origin of the new creation, the One who launched resurrection life through His victory over the grave.

The connection is powerful: the One who started the new creation is the One who leads it. The church does not invent its mission, define its truth, or supply its power. Everything flows from Christ. Just as a body cannot function without its head, the church cannot function apart from its living, reigning Lord. And individually, we cannot thrive spiritually unless He truly governs our lives.

Paul has carefully built the case for Christ’s absolute preeminence. Consider what he has already shown:

  1. Jesus perfectly reveals the unseen God.

  2. He is the Creator through whom everything came into existence.

  3. He existed before all things and holds all things together.

  4. He is the living Head of His church.

  5. He began both the original creation and the new creation through resurrection.

  6. By defeating sin and death, He secured the resurrection of all who trust Him.

  7. Though eternal, He now stands in supreme authority as Head of redeemed humanity and of the church.

This is not abstract theology. It is a call to surrender.

If Christ truly has preeminence, then He must have first place—not just in doctrine, but in daily decisions. You cannot claim Him as Head while running your own life. So what must change?

Perhaps your priorities need realignment. Maybe your time, your thought life, or your ambitions are centered more on personal success than on obedience. You may need to let go of control, confess hidden sin, or stop treating Christ as an advisor instead of Lord. Preeminence means He sets the agenda. It means you measure success by faithfulness, not applause. It means you trust His Word above your feelings and His will above your comfort.

Don’t overcomplicate it. Ask yourself plainly: Who is actually leading my life right now?

If the answer is not clearly Christ, then today is the day to reposition Him where He belongs.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Beginning, the Author of life, and the Head of Your church. Forgive me for the ways I have tried to lead myself. Reorder my priorities and reshape my desires so that You truly have first place in my life. Teach me to trust Your authority, follow Your direction, and live in the power of Your resurrection. May everything in me reflect Your preeminence. Amen.

More on Lesson 8: The Preeminence of Christ 

This Quarter's Sabbath School Lessons Here: Christ in Philippians and Colossians 


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Sabbath School Lesson 4: Sin in the Church

  First and Second Corinthians Lesson 4  Sin in the Church You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson. > Download the Notes for Lesson 4 Video Here   (Video is Below)  Lesson 4 Daily Reflections: Sunday: Dissonance Between Faith and Practice    Monday: Dealing With Scandals   Tuesday: Protecting The Church's Identity   Wednesday: Antidote Against Sexual Immorality    Thursday: Marriage and Singleness   Friday Further Thought: Your Bodies are a Temple  More on Lesson 4: When the Church Tolerates Sin   Love Does not Mean Calling Sin Good   When Sin Enters the Church, Love Must Be Courageous   When Should the Church Involve the Police?   Why the Church Must Protect Its Witness   Your Bodies: The Temple of The Holy Spirit   The Wreckage and the Call to Holiness   Sabbath School 3rd Quarter Online: First and Second Corinthians Quarterly  
Read more

Sabbath School Lesson 3: Unity in Christ

  First and Second Corinthians Lesson 3  Unity in Christ   You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson. > Download the notes for Les son 3 video here. (Video is Below)  Lesson 3 Daily Reflections: Sunday:   The Problem with Cliques in the Church    Monday: Centered on Jesus   Tuesday: Wisdom and Maturity    Wednesday: Christlike Servanthood   Thursday: A Lifestyle that Reflects the Cross   Friday Further Thought: United in Christ, Strong in Mission   More On Lesson 3: United at the Cross, Not Divided by People   Christ Above Every Personality   Small Groups that Build Unity, Not Cliques   Spiritual Infancy: Growing Beyond Divisions   Don't Follow People, Follow God   The Mind of Christ: Servants, Not Celebrities   The Mind of Christ: Love that Reveals God   The Footprints of a Suffering Servant   Sabbath School 3rd Quarter Online: First and...
Read more

Sabbath School Lesson 5: All to the Glory of God

  First and Second Corinthians Lesson 5  All to the Glory of God You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson. > Download the Notes for Lesson 5 Video Here  (Video is Below)  Lesson 5 Daily Reflections: Sunday:  Knowledge Versus Love   Monday: Selfless Love   Tuesday: Learning from the Past   Wednesday: Warning Against Idolatry   Thursday: Overcoming Idolatry    Friday Further Thought: Flee From Every Idol  More On Lesson 5: Love is Greater Than Knowledge   Giving Up Our Rights for the Sake of the Gospel    Temptation and Escape   Flee from Idolatry - Hold Fast to Christ   The Heart of Obedience  Sabbath School 3rd Quarter Online: First and Second Corinthians Quarterly  
Read more

Sabbath School Lesson 2: The Message of the Cross

  First and Second Corinthians Lesson 2  The Message of the Cross   You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.
Read more

The Problem of Cliques in the Church

  Sabbath School First and Second Corinthians  Unity in Christ Lesson 3 - Sunday Christ Is Not Divided Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:12–17 The church in Corinth was facing a serious problem. Believers were dividing themselves into groups based on their favorite leaders. Some said they followed Paul, others Apollos, others Peter, and some claimed to follow Christ alone. What should have been a united body of believers had become a collection of competing factions. Paul responds with a series of powerful questions: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). The answer is obvious. No human leader died for our sins. No pastor, teacher, evangelist, or church member can save us. Christ alone was crucified for us, and Christ alone deserves our highest loyalty. Paul's questions expose how absurd it is to build cliques around human leaders. While godly leaders are gifts to the church, they were never meant to ...
Read more