WE ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST

In this post we learn what it means to be complete in Christ.

Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power….

This is just another one of many places in scripture that affirm that Jesus the Christ is God in flesh. 

It is “in Christ” that the believer achieves completion or perfection.

2Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we are positioned “in Christ.”  Paul explained this clearly in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Romans 8:9–11 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

His righteousness in us, in the person of the Holy Spirit, equips us fully for any trial or testing that may come our way.  We possess access to His strength, His instruction, His comfort, His wisdom, His peace, His love--His provision for our every need.  There is no greater authority in heaven or earth than He.  He has complete authority over every created spiritual and physical ruler and authority to which we are subjected in this body of flesh.  We have absolutely nothing to fear “in Christ.”

Colossians 2:11-12 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Circumcision is a cutting away of the flesh that was established as a public commitment to covenant with God for the Jewish people.  It was meant to convey a heart attitude that would be reflected in their faith and obedience to Him.  This is much akin to the baptism of the believer today.  Baptism is a public picture of our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection to new life—a life of eternal righteousness in His presence.  When we accept Jesus as Savior, He cuts away our sinful flesh and replaces it with His righteousness.  It is spiritual circumcision that only He is qualified and empowered to do. The Greek for operation is a reference to the effectiveness of God’s power and energy.  It is a result of your faith in God’s provision for you through His Son, just as surely as the Savior’s resurrection was an act of God in response to His faith.  Faith in the Son is faith in the Father.  Again, you can’t separate the One from the Other. 

Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross….

Paul is contrasting the position of the believer before accepting Christ and after.  Before accepting Christ we are spiritually dead in our sins and are in subjection to the sinful nature of our flesh.  After receiving Christ we are given new spiritual life and forgiven of the sin that would condemn us before God.  The Father accepts His Son’s sacrifice as sufficient to redeem us and take us into His family.  He effectively circumcises our spirit and frees us from the power of sinful flesh and empowers us through the Spirit to live in righteousness.    By accepting His gift of grace we are no longer held accountable to the demands of the law.  Any accusation the enemy tries to bring against us has no legal validity.  Christ has nailed the affidavit detailing our sins to the cross and clothed us in His righteousness; the Father looks at us through the blood of Christ and sees us as pure and holy.

(to be continued…)