There is No One Like Jesus
February 7, 2021
There is no one like Jesus. Jesus is the reason we are here today. Not to celebrate what WE HAVE DONE by making it to our 6th Anniversary as Rock Springs Church. But to celebrate WHAT GOD HAS DONE: How faithful GOD IS, how gracious GOD IS and powerful JESUS IS. You see when we started this church 6 years ago, we had one statement that guided everything we were going to do as a church. We wanted to be people who are helping people become friends, family and followers of Jesus. Our main calling has been to FULFILL the Great Commission so that we might make disciples who make disciples of Jesus. And when we are focused on making disciples of Jesus, then Jesus does what He promised: He builds His Church!
So over the past six years we’ve held countless worship services to proclaim Jesus and the good news of God’s grace to us through His death, burial and resurrection. We’ve helped many of you follow Jesus together in Journey Groups. We’ve faithfully served the Eloy Food Bank and donated enough food to feed thousands of families. We sent four different mission teams to serve with Regeneration Church to help them spread the love of Jesus in Ocean Beach. We’ve packed over 10,000 shoe boxes with Operation Christmas Child to help bring the good of Jesus to the ends of the earth. And we’ve recorded 13 conversions of faith in Jesus and witnessed the baptisms of 26 men and women. And as great as these things are to celebrate, the one thing that’s hardest to measure is how Jesus has carried us, changed us and worked among us. How he has carried us through difficult days, how he’s answered so many of our prayers, how he has grown and encouraged our faith, and for many of you, how He has awakened you to the reality: there is no one like Jesus.
And since there’s no one like Jesus, Jesus has become everything to you. And as a result this world is losing its hold on you. Because if Jesus is everything to you, you no longer fear what man can do, but love what God is doing. You no longer feel lost in this world but rejoice in the fellowship of your spiritual family with God. And you no longer worry about what this world’s coming to, but you know without a doubt there is never a time when God is not for you.
What I’m talking about is the ultimate goal of following Jesus. I have often defined following Jesus with this phrase: Following Jesus is learning to live and love like Jesus. But the ultimate end of following Jesus is knowing Jesus. It’s about having a relationship with Jesus, where just being with Him is enough. It’s about having a relationship with Jesus where you are so captivated by His beauty, and so satisfied with His love, that the things of this world lose their power over you, so that all you want is more of Jesus. As a result, you can say, “Jesus is everything to me.”
Now my guess is that there are many of you believe this, live this and can say this. But I also know that there are many of you who are not quite there yet, but you’d like to be. So for all of us here today, I want us to look to a passage in God’s Word that shows us why Jesus should be everything to us. And that passage is Colossians 1:15-20, where God’s Word is going to show us that there really is no one like Jesus. So if you’ve found that passage, let’s now look at how Jesus can be everything for you. And the first thing God’s Word tells us about Jesus is this:
Jesus is the Image of God He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15 To say that Jesus is the image of God is to say that in Jesus ALL the qualities of God have been PERFECTLY revealed. Jesus has made the invisible God visible to us. Jesus has revealed to us the mystery of God’s being. He became one of us to show us what God is like. That is why Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” John 14:9
When you look at Jesus you can see His heart for the helpless. Look at the Gospels. What did Jesus do when he saw the unclean? What was his first impulse when he came across prostitutes and lepers? He moved toward them. Compassion flooded his heart for them. He spent time with them. He touched them. He healed them. He showed us what God is like. God has a heart for the helpless. God has compassion on the hurting. But God does not stay distant. He is not repulsed by the worst in us. He is drawn to us. He comes to us that we might feel the warmth of his touch, and the goodness of His heart. And He heals. He forgives. He restores. He makes us whole.
So the good news is that since Jesus is the Image of God, you can know what God is like. You can witness His compassion when He heals the sick. You can see His power when He calms the seas. You can feel His grace when He forgives the prostitute. You can perceive His mercy when he dines with Zacchaeus. Jesus makes the invisible God visible. He shows us that God is approachable, relatable, generous and kind.
And God’s Word says, “Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. That means when you look at the Jesus of the Gospels, what you are seeing is what Jesus wants to do for you. He reveals what the Father is like, so you can approach him, relate to Him, and receive the same kind of compassion, mercy and love. You can know that He is gentle and kind. He is drawn to you at your worst. For His heart for you is a heart of mercy. And that makes Jesus incomparable. There’s no one like Jesus.
Jesus is the Creator of all things 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 by him and for him. Colossians 1:16 Everything that exists owes its existence to Jesus. If you can think of something that exists: whether galaxies or giraffes, asteroids or angels, oxygen or hydrogen, anything and everything that is – is here because JESUS SPOKE IT INTO EXISTANCE. Only Jesus has this amazing and miraculous power. Every living or non-living thing: the enzymes in your stomach, the nerves in your fingers, the cornea in your eyeball exists today because Jesus created everything. There is nothing in all creation that exists apart from Jesus. That includes not only the governments that rule over us but also everything in the spiritual realm. That’s why even the demons recognized Jesus and called him by name! All things were created by him, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.
But the amazing realty about Jesus as Creator is that: all things were created by him and for him. Oceans were created for him. The wildflowers on the backside of a mountain never seen by another person, were created for him. The cactus sitting in your front yard was created for him. And every single person ever created was created by Him and for Him.
Everything exists because of Jesus and everything exists for Jesus. That means every part of you exists for Jesus. You were created for Him – for Him to enjoy, for Him to love, for Him to delight over. This is what God’s Word says: The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 Jesus created your life to count, to matter. Since Jesus created you for himself, your life has significance, meaning and purpose. You were created in the image and likeness of God. You were created to live like God, love like God, create like God, to glorify God. Jesus is vastly invested in your life. Everything about you matters to Him. That’s why He gave His life for you! Jesus is the Creator of all things – especially you. That’s why there’s no one like Jesus. He has no equal. He is incomparable.
Jesus is the Sustainer of all things And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 I really love this one, especially how Professor Leonard Sweet describes Jesus. He says, Jesus is the cohesive force, the glue and gravitational pull that holds all created elements together. He is creation’s great adhesive, the hinge upon which the whole cosmos turns. Remove Christ, and the entire universe disintegrates. It comes apart at the seams. Remove Him, and creation’s wheel’s come off.
Jesus didn’t just create everything, wind it up like a clock and then let it go. No, HE IS INTIMATELY LINKED with every single particle of existence today, including you. Jesus holds all things together! Scientists say that 15 pounds of pressure per square inch is what holds us together. Warren Weirsbe tells this story: “A guide took a group of people through an atomic laboratory and explained how all matter was composed of rapidly moving particles. The tourists studied models of molecules and were amazed that matter is made up primarily of space. During the question period, one visitor asked, “If this is the way matter works, what holds it all together?” For that the guide had no answer. But God has revealed the answer: it is Jesus Christ who holds all things together.
So the next time you feel like the world is coming apart, remember who holds the world together. Jesus! Trust Him. When life seems out of control, don’t look at the chaos, keep your eyes on Jesus. He’s got this world, and he’s got you in his hand. Jesus is the sustainer of all things. So don’t worry. If he can hold the particles of an atom together, He can hold your life together. That’s why there’s no one like Jesus. He is the sustainer of all things.
Jesus is the Head of the Church And He is the head of the body, the church. Colossians 1:18a Jesus is the authority and life of the Church. The church is not a religious organization. It is a living spiritual organism. It is a living organism composed of members who are joined in a spiritual union with Jesus Christ. The moment you put your trust in Jesus, Jesus doesn’t just forgive you and give you new life and leave you to go and try to live that new life. No, at that moment, your life is united with Christ’s life, and you are united spiritually into His Spiritual body the church. At that moment, you are no longer the authority in your life, He becomes your authority, your guide, and your life. You don’t make Him your Lord. He is your Lord at the moment He includes you in His body – the Church.
But what’s so amazing about this union with Christ’s body is this: at that moment your life is united with the life of every other believer in Christ. You now belong to Jesus and to your new forever family – His Church. You are now part of God’s plan to bless the world. You are now His beloved son or daughter. You are now connected with every believer who has ever lived. You have brothers and sisters here as part of Rock Springs, but you are also spiritually connected with believers around the world. So the good news is that you never have to go it alone. You have people who will love you, pray for you, encourage you, and help you follow Jesus. That’s why there’s no one like Jesus. Jesus is the head of the Church and He’s made you part of His life and what He’s doing even today. That’s pretty amazing. That’s why Jesus is everything to us. But there’s even more:
Jesus is the Risen Savior He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent. Colossians 1:18b When Jesus rose from the dead He triumphed over the grave. Jesus broke the barrier of death. And that makes Jesus powerful enough to handle anything you might face. For without the resurrection of Jesus there would be no resurrection for anyone. But because He is the firstborn from the dead, He possesses resurrection life, and He imparts that life to you the moment you believe in Him. That’s why at the moment you put your trust in Him, He gave you eternal life. For at that moment the risen Jesus took residence in you.
That’s the good news of The Risen Savior. For now with His life in you, you have within you power over sin and death. Now, when you die, you will pass directly into the presence of Jesus. And that gives you a hope the world cannot take away. It is this hope that’s the anchor for your soul. It’s this hope in you that conquers all your fears. For when Jesus threw off life’s greatest enemy, Jesus won the victory over anything we might face…
Now because Jesus rose from the grave: neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 Now, because the Risen Savior lives in you, there’s no obstacle you can’t overcome with him. With Jesus you can overcome your fears and your sins, your worries and your weaknesses. That’s why Jesus is the incomparable Lord. He is our hope and our life! There’s no one like Jesus. Are you starting to see why Jesus is everything? Jesus is the Risen Savior. But even more…
Jesus is Fully God For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, Colossians 1:19b All the divine attributes and character of God live in Jesus. I love this word “dwell.” It means that the fullness of God has a permanent abode in Jesus. That means Jesus is not just fully human, but fully God.
Knowing this about Jesus matters greatly, because this world tries to limit Jesus’ influence in your life. This world wants to put Jesus on the same level as other prophets, teachings or religious leaders. The world wants to tell you that all religions teach the same thing. But that’s just not true about Jesus. He is divine. His resurrection proves it. God’s Word declares it. His love for you insures it. His life in you secures it. That’s why there is no one like Jesus. And that’s why what Jesus is doing in your life today and will do in and through our Church tomorrow will prevail! For if Jesus is God, and God is for you, then nothing can stand against you! And that’s why Jesus is everything to me. Is He everything to you?
And finally, Jesus is the Reconciler and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. Colossians 1:20 Can Jesus get any better? Yes! Jesus came to earth to give His life on the cross to reconcile to Himself all things on earth or in heaven – including you. Think about what Jesus has done for us: We were the guilty party. We were the ones who turned our backs on our Creator and went our own way. We were the ones who offended God by our sin, by choosing to make ourselves our own gods.
But what did God do? God, the offended party, took the initiative to die in our place on the cruel cross while we were still sinners. Why? So Jesus could clear away the sin that keeps us from having a right relationship with God. He is the ultimate peacemaker. And now, because Jesus is our peace, we have peace with God – we are fully accepted, fully forgiven, and been made right with God, simply by putting our faith in Jesus.
And now because Jesus is the reconciler, you’ve become friends with God. Because of Jesus, nothing stands between you and God. And that’s why Jesus has no equal. That’s why Jesus is incomparable. That’s why there’s no one like Jesus. And that’s why Jesus is everything to me. But is Jesus everything to you?
This is why we exist as a Church. We want to be a people who are helping people become friends, family and followers of Jesus.
A people who are so captivated by Jesus, a people who are so changed by knowing Jesus, that we can’t help but want others to know this Jesus.
- For when you know Jesus as the Image of God, you will know what God is like. You won’t have to wonder what God is like – for when you see Jesus, you will see the Father.
- And when you know Jesus as the Creator of all things, your life will have meaning and purpose
- And when you know Jesus as the One who holds all things together, you can trust He will hold onto you no matter what you might face
- And when you know Jesus as the Head of the Church, you will know fellowship with a family that will last forever
- And when you know Jesus as the Risen Savior, you will have hope and life and power to live with Him, for nothing can separate you from the love of God
- And when you know Jesus as Fully God, you will have an unshakable confidence that He is for you
- And when you know Jesus as the Reconciler, you will know God’s peace and live as God’s friend.
This is who we celebrate today. It’s all about Jesus. For there is no one like Jesus. This is who we know. This is who we want others to know. Jesus is everything to us. Is Jesus everything to you? Let’s pray.
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