PREEMINENCE

What is Preeminence?

Preeminence means being superior, above all, or holding the highest rank. It signifies supreme authority, importance, or excellence over everything else. In a biblical context, preeminence is often used to describe Jesus Christ’s ultimate authority, sovereignty, and supremacy over all creation.

Biblical Perspective on Preeminence

🔹 Colossians 1:18 (NLT) – “Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.”
✅ This verse highlights Jesus' preeminence—He is first in everything and reigns above all creation.

🔹 John 3:31 (NLT) – “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but He has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.”
✅ Jesus is above all, proving His divine authority and unmatched greatness.

🔹 Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT) – “Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
✅ Jesus' preeminence means every being will acknowledge His supreme authority.

Who Should Have Preeminence?

Jesus Christ alone deserves preeminence in our lives.
We are called to serve, not seek personal glory.
Humility and submission to Christ’s leadership lead to true greatness in God’s Kingdom.

How Does Preeminence Apply to Our Lives?

Putting Jesus First – When we recognize Christ’s preeminence, we align our priorities with His will, not our own.
Worshiping Him as Supreme – Knowing Jesus is above all, we worship Him as the ultimate King and Lord.
Surrendering to His Authority – Acknowledging His preeminence means yielding our lives, choices, and plans to His leadership.
Living with Kingdom Focus – If Jesus is preeminent, then our lives should reflect His values, mission, and love.

Preeminence means Jesus is not just important—He is everything. He is the first, the highest, the greatest, and the only one worthy of our complete devotion.

God’s Heart on Preeminence

God’s heart on preeminence is centered on the truth that Jesus Christ is above all things—in creation, in authority, and in our lives. His desire is for humanity to recognize, worship, and submit to Christ’s supremacy, living in alignment with His perfect will.

Jesus is First in Everything

God’s heart is for Christ to have the highest place in all creation and in our hearts.

🔹 Colossians 1:17-18 (NLT) – “He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.”

✅ God’s plan is for Jesus to have preeminence—not just in the universe but in our personal lives.

Worshiping Jesus as Supreme

God desires that we acknowledge Christ’s lordship and authority with true devotion.

✅ God's heart is that all creation recognizes and honors Jesus as Lord, the ultimate ruler over all.

Living in Submission to Christ’s Authority

God desires that we submit to Jesus' leadership in every area of our lives.

🔹 Ephesians 1:22 (NLT) – “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church.”

✅ When we submit to Jesus’ authority, we walk in God’s divine order, wisdom, and blessing.

Giving Jesus Preeminence in Our Hearts

God’s heart is not just for Christ to be first in creation—but first in our hearts.

🔹 Matthew 6:33 (NLT) – “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”

✅ God calls us to put Jesus first—above our ambitions, desires, and plans.

Reflecting Christ’s Preeminence in Our Lives

God’s heart is for us to live in a way that reflects Christ’s supremacy to the world.

🔹 Galatians 2:20 (NLT) – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

✅ When Jesus is preeminent in our lives, we no longer live for ourselves but for His glory.

💡 God’s heart on preeminence is that Jesus reigns supreme—over creation, the Church, and our lives. He calls us to worship, submit, and align with Christ’s authority, making Him the foundation of everything we do. Will you give Jesus the highest place in your life today?

Biblical Steps to Overcoming Self-Seeking Preeminence

Self-seeking preeminence—desiring to put oneself above others—goes against God’s design for humility, servant leadership, and Christlike living. The Bible calls us to deny ourselves, exalt Christ, and serve others rather than seeking personal power, status, or recognition.

Recognize the Sin of Self-Exaltation

The first step is acknowledging that seeking our own preeminence is sinful and opposed to God’s will.

🔹 3 John 1:9 (NLT) – “I wrote to the church about this, but Diotrephes, who loves to be the leader, refuses to have anything to do with us.”

✅ Like Diotrephes, many seek control, but God calls us to humility instead of dominance.

Embrace Humility as Christ Did

Jesus, though He had every right to be exalted, chose humility. We must do the same.

🔹 Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT) – “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

✅ The key to overcoming self-seeking preeminence is humility and a Christlike mindset.

Seek to Serve, Not to Be Served

True greatness in God’s Kingdom comes through serving others, not elevating ourselves.

🔹 Mark 10:43-45 (NLT) – “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

✅ Instead of striving for recognition, strive to serve.

Surrender Leadership and Authority to Christ

Instead of seeking personal influence, we must submit all authority and leadership to Jesus.

🔹 Colossians 1:18 (NLT) – “Christ is also the head of the church, which is His body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything.”

✅ Jesus alone deserves preeminence—we should honor Him, not ourselves.

Die to Self and Live for Christ

Seeking preeminence is rooted in self-centeredness. The Bible calls us to die to self and live for Jesus.

🔹 Galatians 2:20 (NLT) – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

✅ Instead of making ourselves the focus, we must make Christ the center of our lives.

Practice Contentment in God’s Plan

Instead of seeking status, trust that God’s plan is enough.

🔹 1 Timothy 6:6 (NLT) – “Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.”

✅ When we are content in God’s will, we won’t feel the need to elevate ourselves.

Let God Exalt You in His Timing

Instead of self-promotion, wait on God’s promotion.

🔹 James 4:10 (NLT) – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.”

✅ Promotion comes from God, not human effort.

💡 True greatness is not in self-exaltation but in self-denial and service. Overcoming self-seeking preeminence requires humility, surrender, and a Christ-centered heart. When we put Jesus first, everything else falls into place.

🙌 Will you choose to live for His glory instead of your own today?

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