Allegiance

As Christians, our allegiance must always be first and foremost to Jesus Christ Himself. 

Any allegiance to country, culture, race, politics, personal philosophy, family, group or tradition must be laid before His feet.

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist….. that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:17-18

To be Preeminent means : “having paramount rank, dignity or importance”  Webster’s

The Greek word prōteuō simply means:

1) to be first, hold the first place

Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed [us] into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption through His blood,  the forgiveness of sins.

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Col 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Col 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Col 1:19 For it pleased [the Father that] in Him all the fullness should dwell,

Col 1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.