Christ: Our Supreme Identity and Source of Growth

Today begins a journey through the book of Colossians, a letter written by Paul to a small, seemingly insignificant church facing a subtle but deadly lie: that Jesus is good, but not enough. In a world—and even a church culture—that constantly whispers, “You need more,” Colossians boldly proclaims that Christ is not just an option among many, but the very center of everything. No matter how ordinary our lives or our communities may seem, the gospel takes root in the most unexpected places, reminding us that no believer is too insignificant for God to work through.

Paul’s opening words to the Colossians are a powerful reminder of our true identity. Our citizenship is not ultimately in our city, our culture, or our achievements, but in Christ. Like a passport that both declares our identity and grants us access, being “in Christ” means we carry heaven’s authority wherever we go. Our lives are to be marked by faith, hope, and love—faith looking back to what Christ has accomplished, love expressed in how we treat others, and hope anchoring us in God’s promises for the future.

Spiritual growth, Paul insists, is not about adding spiritual extras or chasing after secret wisdom. Growth comes from being filled with Christ, who has already rescued us from darkness and transferred us into his kingdom. Just as we could not save ourselves, we cannot grow by our own striving. Real transformation is the fruit of ongoing surrender to Jesus, who drags us out of danger and into the safety of his love.

Paul then paints one of the most breathtaking portraits of Jesus in all of Scripture: Christ is the visible image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer of all things, the head of the church, and the one who holds the universe—and our lives—together. If he is supreme over all creation, he is more than able to hold together the chaos of our own lives.

Finally, Christ is supreme in redemption. He doesn’t just forgive; he restores, reconciling us fully to God and presenting us holy and blameless. The cross doesn’t merely erase our past; it restores our future. The question is not whether Christ is supreme—he is. The real question is whether he is supreme in every area of our lives. Today is an invitation to surrender those places where we’ve tried to hold on, and to let Jesus be the center, the supreme one, over all.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True Identity Is Found in Christ Alone Our truest identity is not defined by our culture, our past, or our achievements, but by our union with Christ. Like a passport that declares our citizenship and grants us access, being “in Christ” means we carry the authority and security of heaven wherever we go. Faith, hope, and love are the marks of this new identity, anchoring us in what Christ has done, is doing, and will do. When we live from this identity, the labels and limitations of the world lose their power over us. [59:29]
• 2. Spiritual Growth Flows from Surrender, Not Striving Growth in Christ is not about adding spiritual extras, secret knowledge, or religious rituals. It is about being filled with Christ, who has already rescued us and transferred us into his kingdom. Just as we could not save ourselves, we cannot grow by our own effort; real transformation comes from ongoing surrender to Jesus, who alone gives us endurance, patience, and joy. The evidence of true growth is not perfection, but a life increasingly marked by fruitfulness and gratitude. [63:43]
• 3. Christ’s Supremacy Holds the Universe—and Us—Together Jesus is not merely a wise teacher or a spiritual option; he is the visible image of the invisible God, the creator and sustainer of all things. If he holds galaxies, oceans, and the very fabric of creation together, he is more than able to hold our lives together, even in seasons of chaos. Our security and peace are found not in our ability to control, but in trusting the one who is truly supreme. [73:26]
• 4. Redemption in Christ Is Complete Restoration, Not Just Forgiveness Through the cross, Jesus does not merely erase our sins; he reconciles us fully to God, restoring what was broken beyond repair. We are not just patched-up versions of our old selves, but new creations—holy, blameless, and without fault before God. This redemption is so complete that we are invited to stop rehearsing our faults and instead stand firm in the assurance of the gospel. [79:37]
• 5. Christ’s Supremacy Demands Our Ongoing Surrender The supremacy of Christ is not just a theological truth, but a daily invitation. We are called to examine every area of our lives—identity, growth, control, and hope—and surrender what we have tried to hold onto. Freedom and peace come as we allow Jesus to be supreme, not just in theory, but in the practical realities of our worries, ambitions, and relationships. The journey of faith is one of continually making Christ the center, trusting that he is enough. [86:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [40:35] - The Trap of “Not Enough”
• [42:09] - The Colossian Heresy: Jesus Plus Something
• [43:48] - The Gospel in Ordinary Places
• [46:28] - The Lie Then and Now
• [47:53] - Four Ways Christ Is Supreme
• [48:52] - Christ Shapes Our Identity
• [51:31] - Faith, Hope, and Love: The Marks of Identity
• [55:05] - Abraham: A Picture of Faith, Hope, and Love
• [56:35] - The Passport of Heaven
• [57:58] - Identity and Access in Christ
• [59:29] - Marked by Faith, Hope, and Love
• [60:18] - Christ: The Source of Spiritual Growth
• [63:43] - Rescued and Transferred
• [67:11] - Christ Supreme Over All Creation
• [73:26] - Christ Holds All Things Together
• [74:15] - Christ Supreme in Redemption
• [79:37] - Complete Restoration in Christ
• [80:40] - Is Christ Supreme in Your Life?
• [86:01] - Surrendering Every Area to Christ
• [87:53] - Worship and Response

Bible Reading

Colossians 1:1-23 (ESV) — 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,
4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,
7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf
8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul, what are the three marks of the Colossian believers’ identity in Christ? ([51:31])
2. What does Paul say God has done for believers in verses 13-14? How does he describe this change? ([01:02:31])
3. How does Paul describe Jesus’ role in creation and the universe in verses 15-17? ([01:08:55])
4. What does Paul say is the result of Christ’s work on the cross for us, according to verses 21-22? ([01:15:56])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes faith, hope, and love as the core of Christian identity, rather than achievements or background? ([51:31])
2. The sermon compared being “in Christ” to carrying a passport that gives us both identity and access. What does it mean for a believer to “carry heaven’s authority” in daily life? ([56:35])
3. Paul insists that spiritual growth comes from being filled with Christ, not from adding spiritual extras or secret wisdom. Why is this distinction important for Christians today? ([01:03:43])
4. The sermon says that Christ’s redemption is not just forgiveness, but complete restoration. How does this challenge the way we see ourselves and our past? ([01:18:33])

Application Questions

1. The world often tells us we need “more” to be fulfilled. In what areas of your life do you feel the pressure that Jesus is “not enough”? How can you remind yourself of Christ’s sufficiency this week? ([46:28])
2. Paul says our true identity is “in Christ,” not in our culture, achievements, or past. What is one label or identity you’ve carried that you need to surrender to Jesus? ([59:29])
3. The sermon used the image of a passport to describe our identity and access in Christ. Where in your life do you need to start living with the confidence and authority that comes from being “in Christ”? ([56:35])
4. Spiritual growth is described as the fruit of surrender, not striving. Are there areas where you’ve been trying to “out-swim your sin” or grow by your own effort? What would it look like to surrender those to Jesus? ([01:04:49])
5. If Jesus truly “holds all things together,” what is one area of chaos or anxiety in your life that you need to trust him with? ([01:13:26])
6. The sermon said that Christ’s redemption means we are “holy, blameless, and without fault.” Is there a past failure or shame you keep rehearsing? How can you stand firm in the assurance of the gospel instead? ([01:19:37])
7. The closing challenge was to identify one area of your life where Christ is not yet supreme. What is that area for you, and what is one step you can take this week to surrender it to Jesus? ([01:26:01])