In Jesus Christ, we are made complete! In Him, we have hope, joy, and power to overcome the evils of this world. Without Him we have nothing! Because of sin’s dominion in this world, our hearts are encased with an outer skin of hardness toward God. Because of that, we have missing pieces in our spirit and heart preventing us from knowing true love or joy.
GOOD NEWS!
Breaking through that hardness: God, through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, removes that hard shell from our hearts so that we might in Christ be made complete. This is the mystery and the Glorious beauty of the Salvation we are given through faith! Complete, whole, and filled with everything that we could ever need or hope for! This is a gift of God given freely to all who believe. I cannot add anything to that Salvation. I come, just as I am to be washed and made whole. Let’s look at what Paul wrote to the church of Colossae and break it down into 4 major amazing Truths.
COLOSSIANS 2:9-15
For in him (Jesus Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 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.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
UNIMAGINABLE POWER
Jesus Christ is the head of all principality and power. That means there is no authority within the spiritual realm that is higher than Jesus Christ. No evil force but which must fall beneath His ultimate rule. We see that when He cast out demons! (Mark 5) Beyond that, we see this fully displayed in His remaining perfectly righteous despite Satan’s bombardment of temptations! Furthermore, when He rose from the grave after having conquered death; He displayed the ultimate power over Satan’s curse of death. Because of all He did, Jesus Christ gave power over sin’s curse in our own lives to all who believe by faith.
All too often as believers, we believe we are too weak to overcome the temptations in our own lives; but that is just not true. In Christ, we are given the power to slay sin in our lives! Unless we recognize that; then, we remain victims to our own flesh. The first step to overcoming our own sinful desires is to recognize that when in Christ we are given power over sin.
TENDER HEART OF LOVE
Our hearts are by nature covered with a thick, hard covering that is more concerned with self-fulfillment than it is with loving others or God. Part of our sin nature is that! We are always concerned with “what makes me happy!” We want what we want! Selfish and self-exalting by nature; it takes a surgical intervention to transform our hearts into those that are tender and loving toward God. Only when filled with God’s Love can we truly be loving toward others. In Christ, our hearts are made complete as well.
And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deuteronomy 30:6
Circumcision of the flesh throughout the old testament was a symbol of the covenant between God and Man-an act performed to display faith. It’s deeper symbolic meaning came to fruition in God circumcising the heart of mankind so that man might love god fully and in Him be made complete in love.
RAISED TO NEW LIFE
Circumcision of the flesh was symbolic to the circumcision of the heart. Furthermore, baptism a symbol of being raised to new life. Baptism is an outward symbol that our sinful flesh is buried, washed clean by the blood of Christ, and then raised again into newness of life. Because Jesus Christ rose from the grave we, who were spiritually dead to God, are made alive to Him. We are made complete in Jesus Christ. Because of this salvation, we have a vibrant spiritual communion and life with God. This life is a source of joy, hope, peace, and love.
FORGIVEN, REDEEMED
Never forget that the power over sin, the tender heart of love, and this vibrant life given to us is because of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Our hearts, spirits and souls are made complete in Jesus Christ through our faith in Him and Him alone. He made it possible for us to be forgiven and redeemed. We cannot do that of our own works. We are made complete in Jesus Christ. Complete with nothing missing! Stop for a moment and imagine that. No more missing pieces in my heart or spirit.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]No more missing pieces in my heart because in Christ I am made complete![/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”God can cut away the hard shell around my heart; that I might love fully and completely.” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]Redeemed, forgiven: what a wonderful gift of Grace that I might share.[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]In Christ, I am given the power to overcome sin in my life through faith.[/tweetthis]
Photo courtesy of https://unsplash.com/@majapetric
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.