Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105) Mount
Baker
Beacon Volume 02, Number 10
03/05/2023 Published by
Mt. Baker
church of Christ Location:
1860 Mt. Baker HWY
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 30821
Bellingham, WA 98228
(360) 752-2692 Sunday:
Bible Classes..........9:30 AM
Worship..10:30AM; 6:00PM
Wednesday:
Bible Classes.........7:00 PM
Web site:
Mt. Baker church
Editor......John Bass
| In this issue:
FULLNESS IN CHRIST JESUS
Jordan Lawson "For in Him all the fullness of Deity (Godhood) dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority" (Col. 2:9-10).
This is a powerful, pungent statement by the apostle Paul. This Scripture refers to Christ's nature and our standing in Christ. I would like to examine this Scripture further and look its implications. Let us remember that all Scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16).
We learn that all fullness of God's Nature dwells in Christ. In fact, In Colossians 1:19 we learn that it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Christ. This word fullness comes from the Greek word pleroma which means "filled up, complete, not lacking, whole" (Thayer's Greek Lexicon). This is the word that is also used when prophecy is spoken of being fulfilled. It is complete. It is not lacking. If God is the one that made the prophecy through His inspired servants, it is God who will make sure it's fulfilled in its entirety.
This is similarly how all of God's fullness dwells in Christ. Christ does not have some of God dwelling in Him. He is not a piece of God. He is not a theophany of God such as the burning bush or the cloud that followed the Israelites. He is God.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (Jn. 1:1).
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn. 1:14).
The Word becoming flesh may be the most emphatic, amazing statement uttered in Scripture. The One in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form humbled Himself and became a man He put on flesh. He came in the form of a bondservant and was found in appearance as a man (Phil. 2:5-8). How great Thou art!
Therefore, we learn in Scripture that Christ is complete because of His nature. But, He is also full and complete because of the nature of His mission and work that He completed.
Colossians 1:19-20 reads "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him I say, whether things on earth or in Heaven."
This is a very lofty and rich statement uttered by the inspired apostle Paul. All of God's fullness dwelt in Christ. God was manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). This One (Christ) who is God, is also the One that made peace through the blood of His cross.
Christ made peace between man and man and between man and God. "While we were helpless at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:8). He broke down the dividing wall of hostility created by sin (Eph. 2:14-16). Through Christ all things are being reconciled to God. Not just earthly things, but also heavenly things. Christ literally moved Heaven and earth on the cross of Calvary!
This is Someone whose greatness cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. Certainly, completeness or wholeness is only found in Him.
Complete In Him
"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Colossians 2:10 says we are made complete in Him. Some versions say we are filled up in Him. The great mystery of God is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).
We can be complete or filled up spiritually when we are in Him and we are walking in Him (Rom. 6:3-7; Col. 2:6-7). If completeness is only found in Him, then it would stand to reason that there is only incompleteness and unfulfillment outside of Him.
If He Himself is our peace, then it would stand to reason that apart from Him there is only turmoil and hostility and lack of peace.
We learn that in Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of our trespasses (Eph. 1:7). In Him we also have all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:4). In Him we have fellowship with the entire Godhead (2 Cor. 13:14). In Him we have the blessed hope of salvation from sin on the last day (1 Thess. 4:13-18).
God desires for Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17). Let us all be striving to be like our Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus.
His eyes are like a flame of fire and He is watching, let us be pleasing to Him (Rev. 2:18). Let us remember that only in Christ are we complete.
Let us keep the faith! Stand firm and be rooted and grounded in love! In doing so we can have the hope that when He comes again in the clouds, we will meet Him in the air, and thus always be with Him. Top
BE A JOSHUA
John Edwards Joshua exhibited many outstanding qualities in his life. Each of us is encouraged to BE A JOSHUA.
SERVE OTHERS. Joshua is introduced to us as "Moses' minister" (Ex. 24:13; Josh. 1:1). A minister is one who serves. We need the heart of a servant. "…by love serve one another" (Gal. 5:13).
ENCOURAGE THOSE AROUND YOU. Moses said, "…your fathers…discouraged the heart of the children of Israel…" (Num. 32:8-9). How did this happen? Deuteronomy 1:28, "Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there." They were discouraged by what was said. The fact that Caleb and Joshua would see the land shows that Joshua was not a party to discouragement. Joshua was an encourager! He said, "Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage…" (Josh. 10:25). He encouraged others with the very words God used to encourage him (Josh. 1:9). We need to be careful to encourage and not discourage the heart of our brethren by what we say and do!
WHOLLY FOLLOW THE LORD. It was said, "…none…from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land…" Why? The Lord said, "…because they have not wholly followed me" (Num. 32:11). The only exception to this: "Save Caleb…and Joshua…for they have wholly followed the Lord" (Num. 32:12). I don't know how many men were twenty years old and upward, but only two followed the Lord - wholly! Are we wholly following the Lord? He knows!
BE HONORABLE. Joshua was a venerable man. All Israel "…feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life" (Josh. 4:14). When they "feared" Joshua, it's not that they were afraid of him, but they honored him. We need to conduct ourselves so as to command respect of others, like Joshua.
READ THE WORD OF GOD. Joshua "…read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law" (Josh. 8:34). Have you read all that God has said?
LEAVE NOTHING UNDONE. Do you know how much Joshua left undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses? "…nothing…" (Josh. 11:15). The key to this is: "…so did Joshua…" Doers leave nothing undone!
DARE TO STAND. Joshua took a stand when he said, "…choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15). We are taught "to stand" (Eph. 6:11, 13). It takes courage to stand for the Lord and against the devil!
BE A GOOD INFLUENCE. Joshua was a man of considerable influence for good. Joshua 24:31, "And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua…." May our good influence help others serve the Lord.
BE A JOSHUA, will you? Top
Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated. 03/05/2023 The Mount Baker Beacon is a weekly publication of the Mt. Baker church of Christ, Bellingham, WA.
Send all questions, comments to the editor, John Bass at (360) 325-5149 or johnbass2468@gmail.com |
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