Fullness

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell, and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven." Colossians 1:19-20 KJV

"For it pleased the Father...," such sweet, sweet words. I love the way this sentence begins...it pleased the Father. It pleased him that the entirety of the fullness of deity was invested. This verse does not have the word "deity" in it, but if we go to the next chapter and verse 9 we find this statement: "For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." The Greek word here is actually "deity." So the Holy Spirit uses two verses to give us the same information. In Jesus Christ, all of God is seen and known. Nothing about Him is reserved for Him - it is all in Christ. It is impossible to know God and not know Jesus Christ. John 5:22-23 "For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgement unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him." So if we do not honor Jesus Christ, then God is not honored. It is impossible to separate them.

Many times in our efforts to understand the differences between Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we separate the three (or try) and our understanding of our God actually suffers in the attempt. They are He. They are One, yes, three in One, but One none the less. When Jesus walked on earth the very breath of God and man breathed in His person. He walked in our skin, yet breathed and worked with and through the agency of the Holy Spirit, just like we do. The God-Head indwelled Him, just like He does His people today.

If we go to the next verse in 2:9-10, we find that Paul uses this truth the second time to tell us that we have been brought through Christ into this same fullness. "For in him dwells all the fullness of deity bodily. And you are brought into fullness...." That is a literal translation of the text. So in Him, we share this fullness, this very breath of God within - "complete" is how many versions translations render it. All He is through the Father's investment, we are also through that same investment.

We are not left out of anything, because of anything. Our Lord Jesus has become and has enabled and empowered all who come to Him to be as He is (1 John 4:17). So as we think on these truths, may we allow the truth of them to overtake us and explode within for our good and His glory.