Welcome to Hank’s Place
In the first chapter of John’s gospel, he writes that Jesus came into the world but the world did not recognize Him; came to His own, but His own did not receive Him. His own people couldn’t see Him for who He really was, and neither did the world whom He created. Amazing.
Jesus, 2nd person of the Trinity; born to Mary. Theologians agree He was fully man but some have issues with His being fully God. Only human? Partly God? Fully God as well? Did He lay aside some/all/none of His divinity? Philippians 2:7 says Jesus ‘emptied Himself’ taking the form of a man. What’s that mean? Was Jesus less than fully God?
Thankfully other Scriptures provide clarification. In Colossians 1:19, Paul writes that “it was the Father’s good pleasure for ALL the FULLNESS to dwell in Him (Christ).” And in Colossians 2:9, Paul writes, “in Christ ALL the FULLNESS of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
So Jesus in the flesh was something like the king or prince in those movies where they off their royal robes and rings and dress like a commoner and they are not recognized for WHO THEY TRULY ARE — until later in the story. They remained fully the king or prince; it was the people who did not recognize them.
These passages powerfully affirm the fact that Jesus IS God. The fullness, or totality, of God is found in Christ. Everything that can be said of God can be said of Jesus Christ.
So what is this FULLNESS? The fullness of God is the totality of everything God is—His attributes, His character, His perfection, His holiness, His power, His love, and so forth. The fullness of God is His complete nature; it is who He is.
Now for the point of today’s message – and it is incredible..…
In Colossians 2:10, Paul says that in Christ, we OURSELVES have been “brought to fullness.” As Christians we find our completeness in Christ and no one else. Jesus, who is the fullness of God in bodily form, makes us WHOLE by His grace. The nature, the fullness, of GOD HIMSELF, has been given us.
Allow yourself to grow into Him. Paul in Ephesians 3:19 at the end of a lengthy prayer, Paul asks God, by His power, to grace the Ephesians. “…May (they) be filled to all the fullness of God,” he prays. Filled to ALL the fullness of God? Paul is praying we experience the FULL indwelling of God! Whoa!!!
As God indwells believers, we become “partakers of the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4. The rich treasures of God are available to us, enabling us to live more like Christ.
That fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…. We have the fruit within, so let’s let it out!
Dear friend, may you be filled completely with His fullness, so that His character, His attributes, and His love define your existence. Believe it is possible; Paul prayed for it. Receive it — others will remark, “My, how you have…” – COME ALIVE!
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