8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10. and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ,
As we remind ourselves of the fullness of Christ, Paul pointed out how Christ more than supplied our needs. Not only could Christians find fullness of life in Christ, but Christ also made sacramental rites obsolete and eliminated all legalistic demands and took on all the spiritual forces of the enemy. We don’t need “other things” to complete the work of Jesus.
The Christians of Paul’s day were in danger then and we are in danger now when false doctrine creeps into our thinking. Too many groups will seek salvation from Jesus AND something else. It usually includes some legalist requirement to add to the works or words of Jesus.
Certainly, we want to grow in our understanding of truth revealed in the Bible. We want to experience a closer walk with the Lord, but there is no new truth that we don’t already have. We may seek to have a clearer, better understanding. Some people are looking for an inner experience, but there is nothing that isn’t already revealed in the Scriptures.
A general belief in Paul’s time was ancient astrology, along with the ideas that secret knowledge, enabled man to control the power of the divine. You don't need the stars to lead you when you know the Maker of the stars.
Paul shows us that all fullness dwells in Christ. Christ is complete. When you have Jesus, you have all of God. We have all of the Holy Spirit. He may not have all of you, but what more do you need? You do not need anything more than you already have in Him, but you merely need to understand more of what you have received in Jesus.
We too often have a me-centered faith instead of the Christ-centered faith. We do need to take up our cross daily and follow Him. We need to give to Him our sin and remove those barriers to spiritual intimacy. We may need maturity, but we have been given all things in Christ.
Jesus is complete in truth. The philosophies of this world are false compared to the truth that is found in Jesus. When Jesus said "I am the truth." He could say that because He was God. He was the creator. John 1 says “in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” vs. 14 “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld the glory, glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth.”
Application: Where do you find truth?
Prayer: Lord, I come to You, to Your Word. I want to understand more and more of what I have received in Jesus. And I know that it is Your Grace that “teaches me to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.” (Titus 2:11)
*****************************
If you wish to get the fuller version of this daily devotion, send a request via email to pastordale@outlook.com
