Complete In Christ
Notes
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Introduction:
Purpose #1- That their hearts might be encouraged
1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; 2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Purpose #2- That they might not be deluded
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
In vv. 6-8 Paul gives the commands that must be followed if we are to grow in spiritual maturity
Command #1- You must live in the same dependent faith in Christ as when you received Christ
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Command #2- You must guard your life carefully against any teaching that is not according to Christ
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
In vv. 9-15 Paul gives the reasons why the only hope for spiritual maturity is found in Christ
This is Paul’s purpose in these remaining verses. Paul wanted to instruct the believers in Colossae that the only hope for spiritual maturity is found in Christ.
This morning it is my goal that you believers would come to a fuller understanding and deeper conviction that your only hope for spiritual maturity / for spiritual completeness is found in Christ alone.
In order to accomplish this goal I want you to see two truths that you must believe.
If you would come to a fuller understanding and deeper conviction that your only hope for spiritual completeness is found in Christ alone, then:
I. You must believe in the sufficiency of Christ
I. You must believe in the sufficiency of Christ
A. All that is accomplished IN HIM
A. All that is accomplished IN HIM
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
9 ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ κατοικεῖ πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος σωματικῶς,*
Because in Him dwells all the fullness of the Deity bodily,
Here Paul begins his argument for why you should follow his previously given commands.
Why should I walk in dependent faith, and why should I guard my life carefully against false teaching?
Because #1: IN HIM- dwells the full measure of Deity bodily
Because #1: IN HIM- dwells the full measure of Deity bodily
In Christ- dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily
In other words- Jesus is completely God.
Paul states that in Christ dwells all the fullness
Fullness- πλήρωμα- completeness, sum total, full measure
Because in Him dwells the full measure of Deity bodily.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon The Answer to the Threat (2:9–15)
Paul meant that the fullness of deity dwells in Christ. The expression is unusual, but the God-man relationship cannot be expressed well in human language. The fullness of deity was Paul’s way of stating that Jesus is every bit God.
This does not mean that Christ is all there is of God. The Godhead, Deity is expressed fully in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But it does mean that Jesus is every bit of Deity. Everything that makes God the Father Deity, in Christ dwells the full measure of that Deity. Jesus is fully God.
Finally, Paul states the wonder of the God/Man. The full measure of Deity dwells in Christ in bodily form. Christ is both fully divine, fully God and fully man.
Christ is sufficient for your spiritual growth because IN HIM dwells the full measure of Deity in bodily form.
Because #2: IN HIM- You are filled up or fully complete
Because #2: IN HIM- You are filled up or fully complete
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
10 καὶ ἐστὲ ἐν αὐτῷ πεπληρωμένοι,*
And in Him you have been brought to fullness
⸀ὅς ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ πάσης ἀρχῆς καὶ ἐξουσίας.* *
Who is the head of all rule and authority.
There is an incredible play on words here. In v. 9- IN HIM all the fullness/πλήρωμα of deity dwells bodily.
Paul uses the same root word in v. 10- IN HIM you are complete/πληρόω/or lit. you have been brought to fullness.
Now Paul does not mean that believers are elevated to the same position as Christ, we are not deity. But using the incredible idea of the word fullness- just as Jesus was fully God, believers are fully complete IN HIM. Nothing is lacking in our salvation! We have everything we need to grow in spiritual maturity in Christ. IN HIM we are fully complete.
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon The Answer to the Threat (2:9–15)
The understanding of salvation may grow, and the appropriation of the blessings of salvation may increase; but in Christ, they had all there was, the “fullness” of salvation.
Support for this statement is found in the second half of the verse.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
IN HIM- who is the head of all principality (Rule) and power (Authority)- We will save this thought for later this afternoon.
Because #3: IN HIM- the power of sin is conquered
Because #3: IN HIM- the power of sin is conquered
Col. 2.11-12a
King James Version Chapter 2
11 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: 12 Buried with him in baptism,
11 Ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ
And in Him you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by human hands
ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος ⸆ τῆς σαρκός,
by putting off the body of the flesh
ἐν τῇ περιτομῇ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,*
by the circumcision of Christ,
12 συνταφέντες αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ ⸀βαπτισμῷ,*
Having been buried with Him in baptism
In whom / IN HIM you were circumcised (Aor tense- point of salvation, Passive- something that God did for you)
This is no ordinary circumcision- Paul qualifies this saying it was a circumcision made without hands- not handmade / not made by human hands. This is no physical earthly man made circumcision- that kind of circumcision is of no spiritual use. Even in the OT, circumcision was of no value in saving an individual, rather is was an outward demonstration that man was born sinful and needed cleansing.
“From the beginning, circumcision was used symbolically to illustrate the desperate need man had for cleansing of the heart.
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
Spiritual life does not come from something that is according to human hands- it only comes in Christ. What we as sinners need is not human made circumcision- we need something that is spiritual, something that effects our hearts. This is exactly what we get IN CHRIST.
In the rest of v. 11 Paul clarifies what he means by this spiritual circumcision.
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh
11 Ἐν ᾧ καὶ περιετμήθητε περιτομῇ ἀχειροποιήτῳ
And in Him you were circumcised with a circumcision not made by human hands
ἐν τῇ ἀπεκδύσει τοῦ σώματος ⸆ τῆς σαρκός,
by putting off the body of the flesh
We were circumcised with a circumcision not made by human hands
By putting off the body of the flesh
By this I think Paul means that the power of sin has been conquered, which takes place when a person puts their faith IN CHRIST. At that moment the domination of sin is broken in their lives.
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
2. By the circumcision of Christ
This kind of circumcision, a spiritual act whereby the powerful domination of sin is broken in the life of a believer, can only be performed by Christ- it is not human hand made, it is spiritual and only possible in Christ.
3. By identifying with the death of Christ through spiritual baptism
By the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism
Here Paul relates the concept of the circumcision of Christ to the concept of spiritual baptism in Christ.
Paul is using these two concepts, circumcision and baptism, as illustrations for the power of sin being broken in the lives of believers.
The power of sin is broken in our life because we identify with the death and burial of Christ when we was nailed to the cross and buried for three days. It was the act of Christ’s death and burial that we by faith identify with that breaks the domination of sin over us.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Here Paul is not saying that the event of water baptism is what breaks the power of sin over us, but the spiritual meaning behind water baptism- the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ- this is the power that breaks the domination of sin in our lives.
This is the only power capable of dealing with our sin. Only by means of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ can we gain victory over our sin. In Christ we have that kind of spiritual circumcision. In Christ we have that kind of spiritual baptism. Why would we seek after anything else to become spiritually mature or complete. We are fully complete only in Christ. He is sufficient.
Because #4: IN HIM- you have been made spiritually alive
Because #4: IN HIM- you have been made spiritually alive
12 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.
ἐν ᾧ καὶ συνηγέρθητε
And in Him you were raised from the dead together
διὰ τῆς πίστεως τῆς ἐνεργείας τοῦ θεοῦ
through faith in the energy/powerful working of God
τοῦ ἐγείραντος αὐτὸν ἐκ* ⸆ νεκρῶν·*
the one who raised Him from the dead.
Also/And- with Him or IN HIM you were risen (Aor, Pass, Ind)- this newness of life, becoming spiritually alive has already happened in Christ at the moment of salvation.
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
We identify with the resurrection of Christ in several ways- one is that we look forward to the day when we will be resurrected and our bodies will be glorified. Two, right now we have been made spiritually alive so that we can walk in newness of life. This is what Paul is talking about in Colossians. Not only was the power of sin broken when we identified with Christ’s death, but we now have the ability to walk in newness of life because we identify in Christ's resurrection as well.
How do we identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection- and how do we participate in its effects?
Through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Through faith in the energy/power off God!
This is Paul’s theological arguments- walk in Christ and avoid false teaching because Christ is your sufficient Savior- just look at all that is accomplished IN HIM.
B. All that is accomplished IN HIS CROSS
B. All that is accomplished IN HIS CROSS
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 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;
Aspect #1- What needed to be accomplished?
Aspect #1- What needed to be accomplished?
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
13 καὶ ὑμᾶς νεκροὺς ὄντας °
And you being dead
[ἐν] τοῖς παραπτώμασιν
In trespasses
καὶ ⸆ τῇ ἀκροβυστίᾳ τῆς σαρκὸς ὑμῶν,
and in the uncircumcision of your flesh,
Those of you who have trusted Christ, at one time you were dead (spiritually dead- no relationship with God, no goodness, no righteousness, nothing but sin)- you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh (you were still under the domination of your sinful nature). You were dead dead- no life whatsoever.
Filthy rags- illustration of maggots in animal remains left behind by Grace.
But notice what needed to be accomplished.
God hath quickened (made alive) together with Christ- God took you being very dead, and He made you live, gave you life, TOGETHER with CHRIST! How is this possible?
Aspect #2- How was this accomplished?
Aspect #2- How was this accomplished?
Hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
συνεζωοποίησεν ⸀ὑμᾶς σὺν αὐτῷ,
He made alive together with Him,
χαρισάμενος ⸁ἡμῖν πάντα τὰ παραπτώματα.*
having forgiven us all our trespasses.
He made you alive with Christ- by forgiving you of all of your trespasses/sins.
How did God do that?
14 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;
14 ἐξαλείψας τὸ καθʼ ἡμῶν χειρόγραφον ⸋τοῖς δόγμασιν⸌
Cancelling/erasing/obliterating the record of debt with legal demands
ὃ ἦν ὑπεναντίον ἡμῖν,*
that was in opposition to us,
καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου
and this he destroyed from our midst
προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ·*
nailing it to the cross.
God was able to forgive all of your trespasses because of one reason only-
He Blotted Out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us
Blotted out- Cancelled, Erased, Obliterated
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
What did God blot out?
The handwriting of ordinances that was against us
The record of debt with its legal demands, that was in opposition to us
Illustration: Mortgage burning ceremony- legal document that claims the bank owns your property. Until your debt is paid in full, then you can burn that document, you can erase it, it no longer stands against you.
What is this talking about for us?
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The dead were judged how? According to their works. One day all of the unrighteous dead will be raised from the dead and they will stand before a great white throne and God will sit on the throne and He will judge them. One of the books that He will use is a book that contains all of the deeds all of the works that people have done in their lifetime. God will hold them accountable for every single sin, every single trespass, ever single offense. And how will those people pay for their record of debt with its legal demands that is in opposition to them? They will be cast into the lake of fire.
But God in His mercy provided a way for your record of debt to be erased, to be canceled, to be obliterated, God has provided a way for the legal demands of your works that stand in opposition to you demanding that God sentence you to an eternity spent in the lake of fire. How did God do this?
And took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
καὶ αὐτὸ ἦρκεν ἐκ τοῦ μέσου
and this he destroyed from our midst
προσηλώσας αὐτὸ τῷ σταυρῷ·*
nailing it to the cross.
God took those legal demands and the debt that I have incurred and he destroyed in from our midst, by nailing it to HIS CROSS.
God couldn’t just allow the legal demands of your debt to go unpaid. He is a just and and a righteous God. His nature demands that your sin debt be paid. So God, in His great mercy and His great love for us, He took all of your sin debt and all of its legal demands and he took it out of the way, he destroyed it- by nailing it to the Cross of Calvary. Jesus paid your sin debt. Jesus suffered the consequences of your legal demands. Jesus shed His blood so that God could make you alive by forgiving you all of your sins.
God nailed it to the cross. Did God actually nail a legal document to the cross? No. What did God nail to the cross? Jesus Himself.
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.
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities:
The chastisement of our peace was upon him;
And with his stripes we are healed.
Folks, Jesus is sufficient in all things. What else can even compare to being IN CHRIST? What else can even compare to the power that is in HIS CROSS? Why would we seek to become spiritually mature in anything other than Christ?
If you would come to a fuller understanding and deeper conviction that your only hope for spiritual completeness is found in Christ alone, then: you must believe in the sufficiency of Christ.
Illustration: Horatio Spafford- It Is Well With My Soul
Here is a man who found his Savior sufficient. Even in the midst of terrible tragedy He was able to say, “It is well with my soul”
Listen to v. 3 of that song-
My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Folks, do you find in Christ your sufficiency for spiritual completeness?
If you would come to a fuller understanding and deeper conviction that your only hope for spiritual completeness is found in Christ alone, then:
II. You must believe in the sovereignty of Christ
II. You must believe in the sovereignty of Christ
A. His Position
A. His Position
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Christ is Head over all Principalities and Powers- All Rule and All Authority.
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Here Paul is destroying the two parts of this heresy that was creeping into the Colossian church.
1. Human tradition
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Christ is sufficient- only IN HIM does one find fullness
2. Powers / Authorities
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
Why turn to any other power or authority other than Christ- He is sovereign over them all. He is supreme, He is Head over all powers and authorities.
B. His Power
B. His Power
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
This comes directly after the glorious thought that God forgave us all our our sins by nailing the record of our debt with its legal demands to the Cross. One of the other effects of the power of the cross was not only did it allow God to remove our debt, but it also allowed Him to:
Spoil or disarm or render helpless principalities and powers (Rulers and Authorities)- evil spiritual beings
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
Satan has been rendered helpless, he has been disarmed. He can accuse you day and night all he wants, it doesn’t matter, because his weapons (sin and death) have been rendered powerless. He might accuse you but Christ our Great High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us- can say to the Father, “Satan’s accusations are powerless, because I have paid for their sins by shedding my blood for them on the cross.” Christ spoiled He disarmed all other rulers and authorities- He is sovereign because of His cross. Why would you worship any other spiritual power other than Christ?
His victory is so complete that the text goes on to say:
He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
He exposed them in openness to the public / publically disgraced them
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Concerning Asceticism (2:16–17)
When defeated or demoted, the first symbolic act was to remove the royal garments. The image Paul used here portrayed that action. God stripped his enemies of their “royal facade,” exposing them for what they really were. No one should follow them. They were defeated, disgraced, and powerless because of the work of Christ.
God triumphed over them- IN HIM!
Illustration: Triumphal procession
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
If you would come to a fuller understanding and deeper conviction that your only hope for spiritual completeness is found in Christ alone, then:
You must believe in the sufficiency of Christ
You must believe in the sovereignty of Christ
May we seek to find all spiritual fullness in Christ alone.