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Sermon:
Fullness
by Chris Cumming
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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.
Ephesians 3:19
…this verse easily speaks for itself
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fulness of God.
Colossians 2:9
...today's primary verse
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
More now from the commentary on our primary or key verse today
[Colossians 2:9]:
Of the Godhead - Of the Divinity, the
divine nature - theote¯s. The word is one that properly denotes the
divine nature and perfections. Robinson, Lexicon. It occurs nowhere else
in the New Testament. ~Barnes Notes
Bodily — not merely as before His
incarnation, but now “bodily in Him” as the incarnate word. Believers,
by union with Him, partake of His fullness of the divine nature (John
1:16; 2 Peter 1:4; Ephesians 3:19).
~Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
John 1:16
…we will discuss this one in a moment
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by
these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust.
Ephesians 3:19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might
be filled with all the fulness of God.
~end of the commentary on Colossians 2:9~
I now want to explore some of the scriptures given in the commentary we
just read. Each one will help us to know Fulness and what that means to
our salvation.
John 1:16
I will read verses 14-17
John 1:14-17
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I
spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before
me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus
Christ.
Notice the commentary:
Verse 14: Full of grace and truth.
…all part of His fullness
Full of grace and truth - The word “full”
here refers to the “Word made flesh,” which is declared to be full of
grace and truth. The word “grace” means “favors,” gifts, acts of
beneficence [buh-nef-uh-suhns].
He was kind, merciful, gracious, doing good to all, and seeking man’s
welfare by great sacrifices and love; so much so, that it might be said
to be characteristic of him, or he “abounded” in favors to mankind. He
was also “full of truth.” He declared the truth. In him was no
falsehood. He was not like the false prophets and false Messiahs, who
were wholly impostors; nor was he like the emblems and shadows of the
old dispensation, which were only types of the true; but he was truth
itself. He represented things as they are, and thus became the “truth”
as well as “the way and the life.”
~Barnes Notes
Verse 16:
And of his fulness have all we received -
These are the words not of John the Baptist; but of the evangelist
carrying on his account of Christ, after he had inserted the testimony
of the Baptist, in connection with John1:14 where he is said to be full
of grace and truth; and which fulness is here intended; for the fulness
of the Godhead in trim is incommunicable; and the fulness of his
fitness, and ability for his office, as Mediator, was for himself; but
his fulness of grace and truth is dispensatory [dih-spen-suh-tawr-ee]...
Note: A dispensary is a
charitable or public facility where medicines are furnished and free or
inexpensive medical advice is available. In this case grace [pardon
given for and free gift of salvation] and truth is
distributed free to all humans called to the Salvation Process.
Continuing with the commentary now...
...and is in him, on purpose to be communicated unto others: and "of
it", the evangelist says, "have all we received"; not all mankind,
though they all receive natural light and life from trim [the
trimming away of everything not of Christ] nor merely all the
prophets of the Old Testament, though they had their gifts and grace
from him, who then was, as now, the head of the church; nor only all the
apostles of Christ, though these may be principally intended; but all
believers, who, though they have not all the same measure of grace, nor
the same gifts, yet all have received something: nor is there any reason
for discouragement, envy, or reproach. Faith is the hand which receives
Christ, and grace from him; and the act of receiving, being expressed in
the past tense, seems to regard first conversion, when faith is first
wrought, and along with it abundance of grace is received; for a
believer has nothing but what is given him, and what he has, is in a way
of receiving; so that there is no room for boasting, but great reason
for thankfulness, and much encouragement to apply to Christ for more
grace, which is the thing received, as follows:
~John Gill
And grace for grace - Grace (favor)
has been added to grace; one blessing piled upon another.
~People's New Testament
And grace for grace - One blessing upon
another, immeasurable grace and love.
~John Wesley Explanatory Notes
And grace for grace - Here the picture is
“grace” taking the place of “grace” like the manna fresh each morning,
new grace for the new day and the new service.
~Robertson's Word Pictures
And grace for grace - Literally, grace in
the place of grace, one grace succeeding another, and as it were taking
its place. There is no reference to the Christian dispensation [system
by which something is dispensed] displacing the Jewish. The
Jewish dispensation would have been called ‘the Law,’ not ‘grace;’ see
next verse [Verse 17], and compare John 17:22.
~the Cambridge Bible
Quoted verses:
John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth [elements
of fullness] came by Jesus Christ.
John 17:22
And the glory [fullness] which
thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are
one:
Jesus Christ has the fullness of the Godhead. In that fullness is the
entire plan of God and the entire plan of Salvation for us. Every event
that must happen and every element that must be fulfilled in us was
ordained long, long ago in eternity. When all is fulfilled in the
events, the end for man’s era will end and that of Christ will begin.
When Christ is finished bringing His fullness into us, we will be ready
for the Kingdom of God.
As I have stated twice already:
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.
Appreciate the Fullness.
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