Identity in Christ Series: Week Five I am Complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10 (NLT) So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Many Christians struggle in their walk with Christ and in their everyday life for one of two reasons: lack of knowledge (understanding), or failure to apply the knowledge they have.

Too many Christians accept the amazing gift of salvation but then never grow and mature in their faith and walk with Christ.  They don’t read the Word for themselves and they rely on the prayers and faith of others to see them through.  Hosea tells us that it is lack of knowledge that causes us to be destroyed by our enemy, the devil.  Hosea 4:6a (NIV) My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.  

 

God never intended for us to receive His gift of salvation and remain baby Christians.  Paul tells us in Hebrews 5:12 (NLT) You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

 

We need to be hearing and applying the Word so we can grow and be used by God to teach others.  James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

2 Peter 1:2-3 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

Do we really believe it when the Word says, “God has given (past tense- at salvation) us everything (all encompassing) we need for living a godly life.” How do we receive the things he has to give us?  By coming to know him.  How can we know him?  Through his word and fellowship with him. 

 

God has already given us everything we need, however, it is faith that allows us to access all those blessings. 

It all comes down to understanding and believing in the sufficiency of Christ and the sufficiency of the Word.  Christ’s sufficiency proven on the Cross.  The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him— something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came.… The greatest note of triumph ever sounded in the ears of a startled universe was that sounded on the Cross of Christ— “It is finished!” (John 19:30). (Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest)

 

The Word is sufficient and we need to let it dwell in us.  Colossians 3:16a (NIV) Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.

We must be people of the Word.  As we weren’t alive to physically hear Jesus speak like the disciples did, we “hear” His teachings through reading the Word. Being in the Word daily will allow the Holy Spirit to speak into our lives through the Word.  It will also give Him something to remind us of when we are in trouble or struggling.  

John 14:26 (NLT) But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

We must not only read the Word but we need to meditate on the Word. Webster’s Dictionary defines meditate as: to focus one's thoughts on.  When the Holy Spirit brings a scripture to mind, we read the Word and something “jumps” out at us, or we are facing a difficulty we need to meditate on the Word. 

The Word is full of promises and declarations about our walk/life. (We will look at three of these a little later.) We need to meditate on these until they become part of our spiritual DNA.  They need to be so ingrained in our hearts and minds that they are on “speed dial” when needed.   

Joshua 1:8 (NLT) Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

 

Additionally, we must study the Word.  Webster’s Dictionary defines study as: the activity or process of learning about something by reading, memorizing facts, attending school, etc. We must be not only people of the Word, but students of the Word as well.  We must be committed to studying the Word.  Not just reading through it quickly, but digging in and discovering the meaning and application for our lives.  

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Finally, we must apply the Word.  We must be doers of the Word not just hearers.  Applying the Word to our lives will give us the strength, courage, power, peace, etc. we need to face and defeat the enemy.  When we know and apply the Word we are a force to be reckoned with.  

 

James 1:22-25 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Let’s look at three promises and statements from the Word we can meditate on.  Our first word is Provision.

 

Blessed be the Lord who daily loads me with benefits - Psalm 68:19. 

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. - Matthew 6:33. 

No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly - Psalm 84:11. 

My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19. 

 

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”- Luke 6:38. 

 

Our second word is Wisdom.

 

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. - Colossians 1:19 

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.  - Psalm 37:23  

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  - 2 Corinthians 9:8 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.  - Proverbs 3:5-6 

Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. - Proverbs 16:3 

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. - James 1:5-8 

Our final word is Protection. 

 

No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.  - Psalm 91:10,11 

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  - Psalm 27:1 

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. - Psalm 118:17 

 

There are many more promises in the Word.  We need to find them and meditate on them.  Study them and make them part of our spiritual DNA.  

We are complete in Christ because Christ and the Word are sufficient.  We can depend on the Lord and rely on His Word to guide and direct our lives.