Complete in Christ!
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· 2 viewsIn Christ, we have all we need. We are complete in Him.
Notes
Transcript
Read Col 2:6-10
Introduction:
Very often, we see new doctrinal and theological currents appearing in scene.
If it is new, it’s probably false!
It is strange that took 2000 years to discover what they call “new truth” or “new revelation”.
I can mention some from the last 20 years: Prosperity theology, Toronto blessing (holy laugh), Word of Faith (blab it and grab it),and the most recent: “I declare or I decree!”.
All of them are based on the premise that something is missing in your spiritual life to be complete.
The apostle Paul knew about the false theologies of his time; and that’s why he gave us the warning of v. 8:
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
He also reminded us that we are complete in Christ.
Complete in faith.
Complete in faith.
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
What is faith?
What is faith?
Faith is belief, trust, confidence.
Either you have it complete or you do not have it at all.
It is not a matter of partial belief or partial confidence.
Can we add to our faith?
Can we add to our faith?
The disciples’ request was “increase our faith”. But Jesus answered, “if you have faith as a mustard seed…”
It seems that Jesus is telling them: it is not a matter of having more faith, but of exercising the one you have.
Illust. Muscles: we are all born with the same number of muscles. We do not add more muscles to our body. With exercise, we made them stronger, not more!
A child may be able to lift 25 pounds, while an adult may lift 100 pounds. Does he have more muscles than the child? No! He has bigger or stronger muscles, but no more.
Faith become stronger when we exercise it!
Complete in power.
Complete in power.
strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
God has given us all the power.
God has given us all the power.
The power of the believer is not of himself, but of the one who resides in him: the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8)
God will not give us more of His Spirit. He has given all of His Spirit.
Why we do not have power then?
Why we do not have power then?
We have power in us, but we quench it, we constrict it.
Illust. Crinkled Hose
We quench or grieve the Holy Spirit by our actions and by refusing His complete influence on us.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Complete in salvation.
Complete in salvation.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Redemption implies complete purchase.
Redemption implies complete purchase.
Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις ) is the act of rescuing or liberating a person or thing by paying the required random price in full.
Christ paid it all! - as the old hymn expresses it.
There is nothing else to add, much less by us!
Salvation is complete for those who believed in the rescuer!
Salvation is not earned, but received.
Salvation is not earned, but received.
It is a gift! It is given completely, not in installments.
How about “work out (ocupaos) your salvation with fear and trembling”?
Do you work out to get a body? Do you work out a body that it is not yours?
Complete in freedom.
Complete in freedom.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—
Freedom from darkness.
Freedom from darkness.
We have received light. We are light.
We cannot have more light, but we can be brighter lights. It’s just a matter of keeping our lamp clean!
Freedom from sin.
Freedom from sin.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Not freedom to sin.
Not freedom to sin.
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Complete in revelation.
Complete in revelation.
that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
God has revealed all He had to reveal.
God has revealed all He had to reveal.
Creation is complete.
Creation is complete.
(Gral Revelation)
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
The Bible is complete.
The Bible is complete.
(Spec. Revelation)
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
The last book of the Canon, the book of Revelation ends with a warning that insinuates that the revelation is complete:
I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.
Incomplete in knowledge.
Incomplete in knowledge.
Colossians 1:9–10 (NASB95)
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
If Paul was praying that they may filled by knowledge of God was because they didn’t have it all; there was room for more.
that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
It does not depend on God, but on us.
It does not depend on God, but on us.
God has given us all we need to know, but it’s up to us to know it.
You may have a collection of books on any theme: poetry, math, science and not know all that it is there. It will depend on the effort you put to it. God has given us 66 books, but it’s up to you how much you know of them!
It will depend on your desire, the time you put to read and study them...
I wonder how many will complete the challenge given at the beginning of the year: reading the entire Bible in 365 days.
It is process that will be completed when we get to His presence.
It is process that will be completed when we get to His presence.
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.