275. COL 2:10. COMPLETENESS IN CHRIST

Col_2:10. Completeness in Christ

"Ye are complete in him."’97Col_2:10.

Christ is all and in all to the believer; he in his light, his life, and his salvation. From him all his blessedness is communicated; through him he is enriched with all the precious promises; and with him he shall spend an eternity of pleasure, and have joy, for evermore. The apostle directs our attention to Jesus, as possessing all the fulness of the Godhead, and says, "Ye are complete in him."

1. Our Redemption is complete in Christ.

He is the only living and true Redeemer. His blood the price, and his work the means by which it has been effected. He has removed every obstacle. He has met every demand. He has satisfied every claim. He has finished the mighty undertaking. He has obtained eternal redemption for us. With him it originated. He carried it on. And, finally, he exclaimed, "It is finished, and gave up the ghost." Rom_8:3; Gal_4:4.

II. Our Justification is complete in Jesus.

He is the great meritorious cause of justification. He is the medium of our justification. Believing in him, we are justified freely, &c. Act_13:38, &c. Hence remission of sins is to be preached in his name. Luk_24:47. Justified in he name of the Lord Jesus. 1Co_4:4. And our sanctification is so complete in Christ, that an attempt to unite any thing else with his merits will entirely prevent it from being effected.

III. Our Holiness is complete in Christ.

He is made unto us sanctification. His blood cleanseth us from all sin. 1Jn_1:7; Heb_9:13, &c. His mind, possessed by the believer, is holiness to the Lord.

His spirit dwelling in them, is a holy spirit They are called by his grace to holiness His example which they imitate, and the model to which they are daily conformed is holy. All their holiness they derive from him, and it is complete in him.

IV. Our Peace and Comfort is complete in Christ.

He is our peace. His word, the word of peace. The legacy he has bequeathed to his church, is his peace. His peace he bestows, and his peace dwells in us richly. And we possess all peace and comfort through believing in him. His kingdom is "peace," &c. Rom_14:17; 2Th_3:16; Joh_14:27; xvi. 33; Act_10:36. All our consolation aboundeth by Christ. 2Co_1:5.

V. Our Services are complete in Christ.

We serve God by the aids of his grace. Our services are only acceptable as they ascend through the medium of his merits and are rendered holy by his priestly intercessions to his glory. Rev_8:3. They must all be done in his name, and to his glory. "Whatsoever ye do, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus."

VI. Our Triumph over our spiritual Adversaries is complete in Christ.

He supplies us with invincible armor. He is the captain of salvation. "We triumph always in Christ." 2Co_2:14. "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Rom_8:37. "We can do all things through Christ," &c.

VII. Our Tranquillity and Happiness in Death are complete in Christ.

His death has hallowed the dreary passage. His body perfumed the grave, and irradiated it with hope and glory. Death is now the chartered friend of the believer "Death is yours," &c. "Death is gain." "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." "O death, where is thy sting?" &c. 1Co_15:57.

VIII. Our Resurrection and Eternal Glory are complete in Christ.

He is the resurrection and the life. The firstfruits. "He will change our vile bodies," &c. He will judge, and clear the righteous. Confess them, and give the crown, &c. Receive them to his kingdom. Welcome them into his glory. And give unto them eternal life. O yes; all that is sacred and precious in the interests of the believer, whether for life, or death or eternity, is "complete" in Christ.

Application

1. How important, then, that we possess the Saviour. Having him, we possess all things. With him, we are heirs of all the promises. Heirs of God, &c.

2. All the honor and glory of our salvation belong to Christ. "Not unto us," &c. How we should labor to exalt the Redeemer. How necessary to avoid self-righteousness.

3. This completeness must be personally realized by the experience of his grace in our hearts. There must be close spiritual union between Christ and our souls. We must be in Christ, and Christ in us, the hope of glory.

4. Offer Jesus, and his complete salvation, to all who will receive him by faith.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS