Complete In Christ

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus In Every Chapter
Date: Monday, December 07, 2015
Chapters: The Book of Colossians
Message Title: Complete In Christ

Hello My Friend,

The Book of Colossians is the twelfth book of the New Testament, fifty-first book of the Bible and it contains four chapters. The author of this epistle is Paul, it was written to the church of Colosse and people of Laodicea and Nymphas. Paul wrote the letter approximately 64AD, the purpose was to address false doctrinal issues within the church. What we are to learn from the book is that Christ, God in the flesh, created and is everything. “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.” - Colossians 1:16.

Before we know of Christ we try to live our lives the best we can, but deep down there is a void we can't seem to fill, which is why many of us wind up in unsatisfying and sometimes dangerous relationships. Once we learn of, accept Christ, and start walking with Him, we see that He fills that void, He completes us. Walking with Christ is not always easy, at first, we are learning of Him and that's great, but we can get stuck in neutral when only walk with what we think we know of Christ. That is where going to a Gospel only believing church, reading the Bible, and fellowshipping with likeminded Christians helps us move forward. It came to Paul's attention that there was some false doctrine going around in the church of Colosse so, he wrote this letter. He first commends them for their faith in Christ, but tells them they have a lot to learn about Him.

“Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” - Colossians 1:4-6,10-12.

“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,” Being complete in Christ means we walk with Him and grow in Him daily. Sure, we're not going to be perfect, and we're going to mess up as we go, but that is what Christ is for. He fills in the holes and cracks that sin made in us, and through the Holy Spirit, He helps us be the best we can be in this stinking, corrupt, and greedy world.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 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. 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: 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. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;” - Colossians 2:6-13.

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” The Godhead, one God in the form of three persons, God the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Probably one of the hardest things to comprehend is the fact that God is Jesus in the flesh, and the Holy Spirit all wrapped up into one powerful God, who can be in several places at one time. You can use visual aids to explain this triage such as an egg, a car, or even a person (a father, and son, and an uncle, all three individual, but still one person), but what it all comes down to is this, faith. It's simple to trust in the things we see, but true blessings come from trusting the things we can't see. “Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” - John 20:29.

The truth is this, God is God, He can do whatever He wants, besides it was important for Him to identify Himself as three separate persons. By faith, we believe Jesus is the sinless Son of God, who died on the cross, was buried, and three days later resurrected. By faith, we accept Christ as our Saviour, depending only on Him to save us from death and hell. By faith, we are accepted of God, and understand there is only One God, existing in three persons. Instead of trying to recreate God in the image we want Him to be, perhaps it's time to let Christ work in us so that He can be seen in us. To be complete in Christ, Paul stresses the importance of seeking the things of Christ, not the world.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” - Colossians 3:1-7.

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” The flesh itself is what brings death to us, rather the sin of the flesh. We are by nature sinners, no matter how good we try to be, we mess up because our flesh desires to be fulfilled, and let me tell you, sin truly destroys us. However, Christ completes us, His blood removes all the stains that sin left behind so that we can stand before God clean and sin free. In closing his letter to the Colossians, Paul encourages them to respect all no matter what they believe, but keep praying and studying the Word of God to be able to know and teach the truth themselves.

“Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” - Colossians 4:1-6.

“that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” You are complete in Christ, rejoice in that, keep studying God's Word, learn the truth, be ready to respond to anyone trying to tell you otherwise what you have learned. Don't be rude, if they want to believe something else, let them believe it, but at least you will know how to respond the next time they try to tell you to change your belief. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” - 1 Peter 1:18,19.

Today's Prayer: God, In the midst of all my struggles, failures, and doubts I remain confident that You will complete the work that began in me. You accepted me as I was, and You lovingly began reshaping my life into an image of Your Son. Not only are You continuing the good work You began, but You are perfecting those things that weaken my faith and my testimony. I thank You that You will fulfill Your purpose in me, no matter what I believe, but as long as I study Your Word, and live by it, I can be ready to answer those who are trying to discredit You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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