Complete In Christ
by Jody L. Apple

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Col 2:9-10)

    The church at Colossae seemed to be having difficulties understanding the true nature of Christ. In addressing this problem, Paul, in Colossians 2:9-10, taught two vital principles concerning Christ that would help the Colossians understand both the nature of Christ and his relationship to them as Christians: (1) Christ is the totality of the Godhead in human form, and (2) Christians are complete in Christ.

    First, concerning the nature of Christ, Paul, throughout the Colossian epistle, consistently refers to both the humanity and deity of Christ. It is done in such a way to demonstrate that both aspects of the nature of Christ are equally important. We are redeemed by the blood of Christ (1:14; because he tasted death as a man, thus indicating his humanity; cf. Heb 2:12ff), but it is through him that all things were created (1:16-17, thus indicating his deity). In him the fullness of God dwells (1:19 - Christ is God), but we are reconciled through his blood (1:20 - Christ is human) in "the body of His flesh through death" (1:22 - Christ is human). Even within 2:9 both aspects of Christ's nature are upheld: the fullness of the Godhead (i.e., deity) dwells in Christ bodily (i.e., in human form). By emphasizing both the deity and humanity of Christ Paul showed the completeness of Christ.

    Second, Paul affirmed that Christians are complete in Christ. If all that is God is in Christ, and if we are in Christ (Col 2:12; cf. Rom 6:1-4; Gal 3:26-27; Eph 1:3-14), then we have all that God would want us to have ... but only in Christ. We are, therefore, complete in Christ because the totality (and essence) of the Godhead is in Christ.

    To be "complete" in Christ means to be filled. The term pleroo (Strong's #4137, a verb) means to make full, to fill up, to fill to the full, to be complete, etc. It occurs 90 times in the new testament and is rendered fulfill (51 times-[all freq re KJV]), fill (19 times ), to be full (7 times), complete (2 times), end (2 times) and other terms (9 times). It is related to the terms pleres (#4134, an adjective) and pleroma (#4138, a noun) which have similar meanings. The first term, pleres appears 17 times in the text and is always rendered full. The second term, pleroma, also appears 17 times in the new testament and is rendered as fullness (13 times), full (1 time), fulfilling (1 time), fill up (1 time) and filled up (1 time). By examining these three terms as they relate specifically to Christ and Christians we see that they are frequently used with reference to qualities and attributes that we have because we are in Christ.

    Such an examination yields at least the following:

    (1) Christians are to be filled with joy in Christ (cf. John 17:13; Acts 2:28; 13;52; Phil 2:2; 2 Tim 1:4; 1 Jn 1:4; 2 Jn 1:12).

    (2) Christians are filled with work (ministry, service, good works, etc.) in Christ (Acts 9:36; 12:25; 13:25; Col 4:17).

    (3) Christians, because they walk after the Spirit rather than the flesh, fulfill the righteousness of the law in Christ (Rom 8:4; 13:8; Gal 5:4).

    (4) Christians are filled with knowledge in Christ (Rom 15:14; Col 1:9).

    (5) Christians are filled with comfort in Christ (2 Cor 7:4).

    (6) Christians are filled with obedience in Christ (2 Cor 10:6; cf. Col 1:25).

    (7) Christians are filled with the Spirit in Christ (Eph 5:18ff; Acts 6:3, 5; 7:55).

    (8) Christians are filled with the fruits of righteousness in Christ (Phil 1:11; cf. Mt 3:15).

    (9) Christians are filled with the service of fellow Christians in Christ (Phil 4:18).

    (10) Christians are filled with all their needs by God in Christ (Phil 4:19).

    (11) Christians are filled with all of God's will in Christ (Col 4:12; cf. 2 Th 1:11).

    (12) Christians are full of faith in Christ (Acts 6:5; 11:24).

    (13) Christians are full of grace in Christ (Jn 1:16).

    (14) Christians are full of blessings in Christ (Rom 15:29)

    All of these elements are said to be within us, and thus we are filled with them, because (1) Christ is in us (Rom 8:10; 2 Cor 13:5; Gal 4:19; Col 1:27; 1 Jn 4:4; cf. Gal 3:26-27), and (2) we are in Christ (Col 2:12; Rom 6:1-4; 1 Cor 12:13; "in Christ," or some equivalent, appears some 77 times in the new testament). When the fullness of God is in Christ (Col 2:9), we are complete in Christ (Col 2:10). Not only is this the message of these two verses, but also that of Eph 1:22-23 and 3:19. Christ "the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (1:22-23) is within us that we "might be filled will all the fullness of God" (3:19).

    How can we be lacking if the fullness of God fills us? How can we be missing something if we are complete in Christ? How can we be yearning for something beyond what we have if we are in his body (the church), which is the "fullness of Him who fills all in all?" If we understand the relationship between God and Christ (Christ is the fullness of God in the flesh), and if we understand our relationship to Christ (we are complete and in Him), then we should understand that because of these first two premises we are "filled with all the fullness of God."

    There is no such completeness like this in the world. It exists only in Christ. If you are in Christ, you are complete in Christ.