I wrote this sermon for a summer extension course (Extension #023) at Bob Jones University in the summer of 2001.
Theme: Believers are complete in Christ.
Introduction: Paul opens this paragraph with an appeal to continue in the teaching of Christ that had been delivered to them. Paul continually emphasizes the teaching about Christ in this letter to the Colossian church, because he is fighting against the wrong philosophy that was challenging the integrity of the gospel. By an examination of the exhortations of Paul, the problems present in the church become more evident. Paul said in 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” It was clearly a battle between the wrong philosophies of men and the gospel of Christ. Paul combats the wrong philosophy with a proper understanding of the believer’s position in Christ. Paul asserts that the believer has fullness in Christ, fellowship with Christ, and freedom through Christ. And these all being true, the believer is complete in Christ. There is no lack to the believer. All he needs he finds in Christ.
Although the wrong philosophy that was plaguing the Colossian church may not appear in the same form today, a similar problem exists. Believers do not realize the sufficiency of the gospel of Christ, and therefore they do not live in the full enjoyment and experience of all the benefits that belong to them. We must proclaim with confidence that believers are complete in Christ, so that they will come to experience all the rich blessings of the gospel.
I. Believers Have Fullness in Christ (v. 9–10)
In verses 9–10, Paul gives the reason why believers should not follow after the wrong philosophies of men that lead away from Christ. His answer in essence is twofold: the fullness of God dwells in Christ, and the Christian experiences that same fullness when he is united to Christ. In essence, the believer has a perfect Christ and a perfect salvation both of which have no lack.
(Illustration: When a poor woman married into a rich family, because of the riches of her husband, she herself becomes rich.)
A. Christ is the embodiment of the fullness of God. (v. 9)
After having emphasized this great truth in chapter 1, Paul again states in one of the most lucid fashion possible the full deity of Jesus Christ. He says here in verse 9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” There is absolutely nothing true of God that is not true of Christ. God dwells in the man Christ Jesus in the fullest sense possible. There is no lack to this Christ or His gospel. They are without imperfection. Any gospel that does not affirm dogmatically the full deity and humanity of Christ is not a gospel at all, but a counterfeit. This very truth is why the believer can be said to be complete in Christ. And as is always true with the doctrines of the Bible, there is great relevance and practicality for the Christian experience.
Calvin says it well when discussing this verse and its meaning, “God is wholly found in him, so that he who is not contented with Christ alone, desires something better and more excellent than God. The sum is this, that God has manifested himself to us fully and perfectly in Christ” (Commentary, 46).
B. Believers have been brought to fullness in Christ. (v. 10)
The link between the theology of the person of Christ is here excellently displayed. In answer to why believers should not go after the traditions of men and their wrong philosophies, Paul gives this reply: Christ is perfect and complete so that those in Christ can experience this same fullness and the same infinite resources.
Calvin again comments with profound precision in his application of this great teaching, “Those, therefore, who do not rest satisfied with Christ alone, do injury to God in two ways, for besides detracting from the glory of God, by desiring something above his perfection, they are also ungrateful, inasmuch as they seek elsewhere what they already have in Christ” (Commentary, 47).
II. Believers Have Fellowship with Christ (v. 11–12)
The second blessing that Paul points out is the fact that believers share with Christ in all that he has done and will do. One of Paul’s favorite teachings is the believers union with Christ. Here he shows that the believer is united to Christ in the following three events of Christ’s life.
(Illustration: The closeness of this union between Christ and His people cannot adequately be illustrated. The closest thing to it is the familial bond. When a husband suffers, his wife suffers with him because of the closeness of their union.)
A. Fellowship in His death (v. 11)
Paul begins by mentioning our circumcision in Christ. Here I believe the circumcision has reference to our death to sin and self in the cutting away of the flesh of the old man. The sign of circumcision had passed, and the only circumcision necessary was the circumcision of the heart. Here the believer is said to share in the benefits of Christ’s death, so that when he died, the believer died, the old man being crucified with Christ.
B. Fellowship in His burial (v. 12a)
Believers also are united to Christ is His burial. The burial of Christ was the confirmation of the real and total death of Christ. He was really dead, so the believer has really died, his bondage to sin and Satan has really been broken, and the old man has really been put to death. This was said to take place in baptism, which is probably a reference to Spirit baptism, for no salvific blessings take place at water baptism. The reality of what Christ did on the cross comes to be experienced by the believer when he believes and is baptized into Christ.
C. Fellowship in His resurrection (v. 12b)
Thirdly, Paul mentions here that believers are united to Christ in His resurrection. He begins chapter 3 with this very theme by saying, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above.” Not only was our old man put to death by the death of Christ, but also we took part in the resurrection life by the raising of Christ from the dead. When He was raised, in all reality, we were raised with Him, being united to Him. But Paul here points at that it is at the point of faith that we come to experience the reality of what we are being united to Christ.
III. Believers Have Freedom Through Christ (v. 13–15)
(Illustration: Sadly to say, the believer is often like a prisoner who has had his chains removed and the prison door opened, yet who remains in the prison cell.)
Finally, Paul shows us the victory that is ours through Christ. We have been given freedom by his all-conquering death from the penalty of our sin, from the power of sin, and from the bondage to Satan and his demons. The Christian life is one of freedom through Christ.
A. Freedom from Death (v. 13a)
Paul reminds the believers of their previous state of spiritual deadness and how they have been given spiritual life in Christ. This is the glorious, irreversible work of regeneration.
B. Freedom from Sin (vv. 13b-14)
Forgiveness is one of the most glorious words in all of Scripture for the sinner, and here Paul pictures for us what is was that Christ accomplished for us. He took our certificate of debt, containing a list of all of our sin, and nailed it to the cross, paying the debt of Hid people in full. We are forgiven in the death of Christ.
C. Freedom from Satanic Enslavement (v. 15)
Finally, Christ proved His greatness by destroying the one who had power of death, that is, the Devil. Christ conquered the power that Satan and his demons had over His people. He showed His greatness in triumph over them. Christ has one the victory for us.
Conclusion: Believers are complete in Christ. There is no lack to the one who has been united to Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The gospel gives believers fullness in Christ, fellowship with Christ, and freedom through Christ. Let us strive to know this Christ and His gospel more fully so that we can experience and enjoy all that God has predestined for us, that Christ has purchased for us, and that the Holy Spirit performs for us. What a great gospel we have. Let us know it, and believe it, and enjoy it, and proclaim it.