Sermon: Fullness
by Chris Cumming                                                        printer-friendly     MP3

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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