COMPLETE IN CHRIST – PART ONE
Consider Your “Completeness”
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:9-10
We could easily spend a year unpacking the beautiful and life-changing truths that lie deep within verses 9 and 10 in Colossians. For that reason, I have chosen to do a mini-series over the next few weeks, to help us stop and take time to dig deep and breathe in the astounding fact that you and I are “complete” in Christ.
Sometimes I think that in the desire to teach and apply Scripture to everyday life, we can miss pondering and meditating on the rich theological truths that establish the solid foundation upon which we are to grow in the Christian life. We are told in Hebrews 2:3 to not neglect so great a salvation and we do just that when we never take the time to stare deeply into our salvation and consider the “greatness” of our “completeness”.
Just as a diamond has many facets that establish its beauty, so we too have these truths that deserve to be uncovered, appreciated and beheld. If we miss even one facet, our loss is tremendous, because each one is priceless and contributes to the overall beauty of the gem.
You are complete in Christ.
We can translate that phrase, “You have come to fullness of life”. Christ’s fullness is imparted to us. The word “complete” means entire, finished, made full, perfect. It carries the same idea as verse nine where as all the fullness of the eternal God is Christ’s, all the fullness of Christ is yours and mine. John 1:16 helps us to better comprehend this idea of “fullness”
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
The Greek word for fullness is “pleroma”. Consider Strong’s definition:
In the New Testament, the body of believers, as that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, riches of God and of Christ; that which fills or with which a thing is filled of those things which a ship is filled, freight and merchandise, sailors, oarsmen, soldiers, completeness or fullness of time. fullness, abundance a fulfilling, keeping
Imagine a ship that is filled with everything that it needs to accomplish its voyage. It is fully stocked and equipped, able to complete its journey, lacking nothing.
Sometimes we find greater meaning in looking at a word’s opposite. What is the opposite of what it means to be “full” or “complete”?
- Incomplete
- Empty
- Unfinished
- Imperfect
- Unfulfilled
- Insufficient
- Lacking
These polar opposites provide a pathway to identify where there may be missing pieces in our spiritual foundation, wrong thinking, lapses of faith, or even a buying into the philosophies of the world of which Paul warned the Colossians about. As we dive deep into this series we want to use these definitions to start examining our hearts and lives to ask
- Is emptiness an issue in my life?
- Am I trying to find fulfillment in my life outside of Christ?
- Is something lacking in my life?
- Do I feel unfulfilled?
- Do I truly believe that Christ is enough?
- Am I availing myself of all that is mine as a believer in Jesus Christ?
- Do I walk in a God-confidence?
- Do I see myself as perfect in Christ?
I leave you with an incredible truth this week; one that will be hard to wrap your mind around, but let it start sinking in:
From God’s viewpoint, nothing is wanting in you because of Christ.
Jesus fully meets every demand of God for you.
God’s estimation of you is equivalent to His estimation of Christ.
You are complete in Him!
Can you say with all your heart, mind, soul and strength
ALL I NEED IS YOU LORD!