The Whole Fullness of Deity
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Colossians 2:6-12
6. As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, 7. rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8. See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. 9. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, 10. and you have come to fulness of life in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12. and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
This world holds so many appealing opportunities and promises for wealth, recognition, power, beauty . . . perfection! Infomercials abound! Advertisers guarantee immediate results—you’ll look younger, be more energetic, acquire more wealth, be more than you could be without their product or system or program. And on those days when we’re feeling weighed down by our lives, when the cable goes out and the washer breaks and the outfit you planned to wear to work has a big rip in the seam, and the kids are poking around, and it starts to rain as you’re going out to pick up the paper from the front yard—on those days its so tempting to opt for the quick fix.
But Paul reminds the believers in Colosse that there is a better way. He beseeches them not to fall prey to those who prey on us with empty promises and proven track records of success by earthly standards. There is only one victor! And He is victorious over sin for all eternity. In him “the fullness of deity dwells” and we have “come to fullness of life in him.” Once that happens, nothing on the earth will satisfy us; nothing will offer us the comfort or security of salvation through Jesus Christ.
But the world tries mightily to dissuade us! Buy, lie, cheat, steal. Lust after, covet, murder if necessary. You deserve anything and everything you want. If only they knew the magnitude of their lies! If only they preached the Good News of the Risen Lord with such voracity! What kind of world would this be? No more wars over oil. No more massacres over desire for power. No more nuclear weapons or stealth bombers. No more sin. No more suffering. But the world isn’t ready yet for that news! Mankind isn’t prepared yet to turn to God and rely on his power and his might, his wisdom and his strength. We’re just not ready yet.
Empty deceit is the practice of the day. But nothing in this world will satisfy us. Nothing man-made. Nothing ever conceived of by man. Nothing ever dreamed of by man. Because the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is impossible to comprehend. God’s grace is just not tangible enough for us top be willing to be true to our conviction that we are saved. God knows we’re weak and subject to the frailty or our humanity. That’s what is so incredible about grace! He offers is to us, knowing we cannot fully embrace it in our earthly form. His covenant does not rely on our performance—only our honest effort to be worthy. His promise is eternal—and will far outlast anything on this earth.
“As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving”
I hope you spend today rooted and built up in Christ Jesus, abounding in thanksgiving for the sacrifice He made for each of us.
Mary
