Completeness In Jesus Christ

And ye are complete in him,

which is the head of all

principality and power:

in whom also ye are circumcised

with the circumcision made 

without hands, in putting off

the body of the sins of the flesh

by the circumcision of Christ:

buried with him in baptism, 

wherein also ye are risen

with him through the faith

of the operation of God,

who hath raised him from 

the dead in your sins and the

uncircumcision of your flesh 

hath he quickened together with him, 

having forgiven us all the offences

Colossians 2:10-13

 

     The Jews believed that by the law of Moses and keeping of the festivals and other temple requirements that they were complete, as long as they kept the ceremonial law. Paul here makes it clear that Christians are complete and that completeness has nothing to do with the old dispensation and the keeping of the ceremonial laws previously had need to be kept. Why? If the first covenant was perfect, complete, then there would be no need to replace it but this is not what Paul here states. The writer of Hebrews also makes this fact that the old ceremonial law was imperfect: "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought fo he second (Hebrews 8:7). The Law was the shadow of good things, and could never, by those sacrifices make the comer thereunto perfect: "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect" (Hebrews 10:1). The Gospel makes for those defects of the old sacrificial law of the Jews complete and perfect, and by Jesus Christ then there is completeness in His sacrifice for sin and for the revelation of God. 

     This completeness furnished by the death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven by Jesus Christ is to be complete for salvation. In Jesus Christ we can obtain perfect wisdom, not perfection as some preached and taught in the past, and by some even today, no, this perfect wisdom is available when it is according to the Gospel and that is for our sanctification, a maturing of our Christian faith, to become Authentic Christian Faith, a place where the satisfaction of our faith enables the Holy Spirit to reside, dwell, and to lead. We have all that is required in Jesus Christ. This is not due ourselves for we are in this world still fallen in our nature, our soul and God can only see us in completeness by seeing us through Jesus Christ. The wicked are in their imperfection and their hearts are not circumcised for they do not have the faith that God has come to save them and they live in their sinfulness, they are not in the covenant of God through Jesus Christ. The wicked are separated from God and will remain separated, incomplete as long as they do not exercise the faith that God has given to them through His word (Romans 10:17). 

     Through Jesus Christ can there be remission of sin, to become complete in Him not complete in ourselves, but in Him, our works are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Through Jesus Christ all our trespasses, our sins are forgiven, past, present, and future. Do not allow this fact to make cause to continue to sin for if you continue in sin after coming to the knowledge of the truth there is no longer any sacrifice for sins and only a fearful expectation of judgment as an enemy of God (Hebrews 10:26). 

     Do not misuse this completeness that Jesus Christ has made possible and live for Him in all you do and say, this is your responsibility and that responsibility must be taken serious for you are an ambassador for God, His witness on this earth. God gives to you this privilege and with it comes much blessing to know that you have eternal life and the words from Scripture to bring this fact to others so they too can exercise faith in Jesus Christ and live for Him. Only Christianity has this truth that can transform lives for the better, not Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, or any other religious teaching brings peace and hope and truth, only Authentic Christianity. 

 

Behold, the days are coming,

     says the Lord, when I will

make a new covenant with 

     the house of Israel and with

the house of Judah.

                  Jeremiah 31:31

.....Jesus the Mediatoer of the 

     new convenant.

             Hebrews 12:24

 

Circumcise your heart to God

 

Richard L. Crumb