Sermon: Fullness
by Chris Cumming
For years I have been preaching the Salvation Process with much focus
and biblically-stated admonition to, “be like Christ” or “to put on
Christ” and much about Christ being our example. What we may not have
discussed, thus far, at least in my ministry, can be summarized in the
following questions:
1] How does the “putting on of Christ” work?
2] What is Jesus Christ doing to help me in my salvation?
3] What specific elements in Him are being manifested in me?
4] How are these specific elements of Jesus being manifested in me?
5] What does the relationship between God the Father and Christ have to
do with all this?
The purpose of my sermon today is to answer all of these questions as I
encourage all of us to know and appreciate the fullness of Jesus Christ.
Appreciate the Fullness.
Notice our key scripture for this sermon. Turn to Colossians 2.
Colossians 2:9 …clearly speaking of Jesus
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
The purpose of this sermon is to have you appreciate this fullness that
dwells in Jesus Christ.
What do I mean by, “Appreciate”? Notice the definitions:
1] To recognize the quality, significance, or magnitude of.
2] To be fully aware of or sensitive to; realize.
3] To be thankful or show gratitude for:
4] To admire greatly; value.
5] To raise in value or price, especially over time.
Let us state these definitions again but within the purpose of this
sermon. When I share with you the admonition to, “Appreciate the
Fullness” I mean:
1] I want you to recognize the quality, significance and magnitude of
the “fullness of Christ.”
2] I want you to be fully aware of and sensitive to the linkage between
His fullness of the Godhead and your ultimate salvation.
3] I want you to be thankful to God the Father for the fullness that
dwelleth in Jesus Christ.
4] I want you to admire and value this fullness.
5] I want you to understand that your appreciation of this fullness will
rise within you over time in the Salvation Process.
Let me state our key verse once more.
Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
What is this fullness we see here? What does His fullness have to do
with my Salvation? To answer these questions, we are going to explore
this scripture, as well as, a number of scriptures that are linked to
it. In the process we will have an interesting, if not new, perspective
into the personality, mission and character of Jesus Christ.
For in him dwelleth - That is, this was the great and central doctrine
that was to be maintained about Christ, that all the fulness of the
Godhead dwelt in him. Every system which denied this was a denial of the
doctrine which they had been taught; and against everything that would
go to undermine this; they were especially to be on their guard. Almost
all heresy has been begun by some form of the denial of the great
central truth of the incarnation of the Son of God. ~Barnes Notes
All the fulness - Notes, Colossians 1:19. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Colossians 1:19
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Notice the commentary:
For it pleased the Father - The words “the Father” are not in the
original, but they are not improperly supplied. Some word must be
understood, and as the apostle in Colossians 1:12 referred to “the
Father” as having a claim to the thanks of his people for what he had
done, and as the great favor for which they ought to be thankful is that
which he immediately specifies - the exaltation of Christ, it is not
improper to suppose that this is the word to be understood here. The
meaning is, that he chose to confer on his Son such a rank, that in all
things he might have the pre-eminence, and that there might be in him
“all fulness.” Hence, by his appointment, he was the agent in creation,
and hence he is placed over all things as the head of the church.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Colossians 1:12
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Continuing in the commentary on Colossians 1:19. What I am about to
read is paramount to everything you hear this day.
That in him should all fulness dwell - That in Him there should be such
dignity, authority, power, and moral excellence as to be fitted to the
work of creating the world, redeeming His people, and supplying
everything needful for their salvation. On the word “fullness,” see John
1:14, John 1:16; compare Romans11:12, Romans 11:25; Galatians 4:4;
Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 3:19; Colossians 2:9 [our primary verse for
today]. This is to us a most precious truth. We have a Saviour who
is in no respect deficient in wisdom, power, and grace to redeem and
save us. There is nothing necessary to be done in our salvation which He
is not qualified to do; there is nothing which we need to enable us to
perform our duties, to meet temptation, and to bear trial, which He is
not able to impart. In no situation of trouble and danger will the
church find that there is a deficiency in Him; in no enterprise to which
she [the church] can put her hands will there be a lack of power
in her great Head to enable her to accomplish what He calls her to. We
may go to him in all our troubles, weaknesses, temptations, and needs,
and may be supplied from His fullness - just as, if we were thirsty, we
might go to an ocean of pure water and drink. ~Barnes Notes
Let us read that again.
Quoted verses:
Understand that in this Barnes Notes
commentary a number of scriptures are given. Some just speak to the
word, “fullness.” I will focus on those more directly linked to our key
verse of Colossians 2:9.
John 1:16 …below in detail
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Galatians 4:4
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made
of a woman, made under the law.
Notice the commentary:
When the fulness of the time came - i.e., when the period appointed by
the Father (Galatians 4:2) till the coming of Christ and the age of
manhood was filled up or completed. This period was fixed in the eternal
counsel of God with reference to the development of the race. The words
‘fulness of the time’ express, as in a nutshell, the whole philosophy of
history before Christ, and the central position of the incarnation. The
ancient history of Jews and Gentiles was a preparation either direct or
indirect, positive or negative, divine or human, for the coming of
Christ, and Christ is the turning point of history, the end of the old,
and the beginning of a new world. ~Popular Commentary
Quoted
verse:
Galatians 4:2
But is under tutors and
governors until the time appointed of the father.
Note:
This verse, coupled with what we have shown so far is central to the entire plan
of God. Long before creation, God the Father and Jesus Christ created a plan.
It is the most detailed plan ever devised in the Universe. It is full of
events. This is why the Bible is one-third prophecy. That prophecy is
essentially a list, as well as a timeline of all these events that must come to
a “fullness” or fulfillment. We see this fullness all through the Bible. I
will give you just two.
John 19:36
For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Acts 3:18
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all
his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
All of the events must come to fullness. God the Father and Christ have the
fullness of the Godhead to make them happen.
In addition to events there are elements. Elements in the world and all the
elements and events of your specific and unique Salvation Process. They must
all come to fullness. You must come to a fullness of Spiritual maturity. Let
us see how God speaks to these elements coming to fullness.
Romans 13:10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the
law.
Romans 8:4
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after
the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Just how is this righteousness of the law fulfilled in us? Notice:
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Who is performing this work? God the Father through Jesus Christ. What is
being performed [brought to fullness]? All the events and elements of
your Salvation Process. Every event and element was thought about long before
this planet was even made.
Do you not see how all this adds great weight to our discussion in the sermon, “Assiduity”
or putting all things into the hands of God?
What is Jesus doing with all this fullness of the Godhead that dwelleth in Him
[Colossians 2:9]?
Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
He is manifesting His fullness as He brings the church and you to fullness.
Now back to those scriptures referenced in Colossians 1:19 back on page 2 of
this sermon text.
Ephesians 1:23
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Note: To understand this verse you need to read in context:
Ephesians 1:17-23
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is
the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in
the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at
his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every
name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Note: This is directly on point to what the fullness of Christ is all
about. God the Father has set Jesus Christ over all things. This is His
fullness. That fullness has one primary mission: To bring the church into the
Kingdom of God. Thus verse 23… “the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
One commentary puts it this way: “and from him, as the head, the Church receives
light, life, and intelligence.” His fullness is becoming our fullness. Our
salvation is a result of His fullness and His mission to bring the church into
the Kingdom of God…the Family of God.
Another commentary explains verse 23 this way:
Besides the personal fulness which Christ has as God, and His fulness of ability
and fitness for His work as Mediator, and His dispensatory fulness, which dwells
in Him for the use of His people, the church is His relative fulness, which
fills Him, and which is filled by Him, and is complete in Him: and then will
the church appear to be Christ's fulness, when all the elect, both Jews and
Gentiles, shall be gathered in; and when these are all filled with the grace
designed for them; and when they are all grown up to their full proportion, or
are arrived to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; which
will be a glorious sight to see, and very desirable: and this shows the
certainty of the saints' perseverance and salvation. ~John Gill [emphasis
mine]
Did you just see that; those last words of that
commentary [“this shows the certainty of the saint’s perseverance and
salvation.”]? With this deepening knowledge and
understanding of this fullness of Christ, you naturally, or should I say,
“spiritually” pour on the perseverance, fervency, diligence and zeal. This just
may be among the most exciting concepts ever uttered by God the Father in His
Word.
Appreciate
the Fullness.