Fullness in Christ

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

-Colossians 2:9-10

You and I have an innate desire to be full; to be filled with something that makes us complete. We see in scripture that true fullness comes from Christ. It makes complete sense that this is the case! Christ is the fullness of God and if one thing can fill the longing of our infinite hearts, surely it is the infinite God of the universe. But the question becomes, how do we, through Christ, make this happen?

Paul gives us 2 directions in the verses that follow:

1. The first direction is to look away from sin. In the verses following Colossians 2:9-10 it speaks about the “circumcision done by Christ” and our “burial with Him in baptism.” Both point to a turning from our old sinful ways. When we cease to admire sin, we can begin to find fullness in Christ. Psalm 49:16-20 talks about not being “overawed” at the things of this world. We often make the desires of this world out to be much more than they really are. Paul is calling us not to be overawed at the fullness the world offers us.

2. The second direction is to look to Christ. In Colossians 2:13-15 Paul speaks about the forgiving love shown to us in Christ. We were dead in our sins, but Christ “forgave us all our sins” and made us alive with Himself. When we daily die to our sins and live with Christ, then we find fullness; a fullness that this world can not offer. The love and relationship of Christ is so much greater than anything offered in this world. Paul is calling us to look at the beauty of the gospel of Christ.

C.S. Lewis gives a great analogy concerning the emptiness of this world and fullness of Christ:

“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

To find fullness in Christ, do not be overawed at this world; instead, look to the beautiful gospel of Christ.

Do you find yourself being overawed at the world? Are you looking to Christ daily?

Joel Engstrom, 2020, Baseball, pitcher, Belle Vernon PA

Image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay