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Fullness in Christ

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The following has been adapted from the devotionals of F.E. Marsh, a new resource coming soon to the Blue Letter Bible!

When Christ gave His disciples a draught of fishes He gave them such a supply that the boats were filled (Luke 5:6-7). Christ never gives with a miserly hand; there is sure to be a surplus when He gives. In fact, when He fed the five thousand people there were baskets full over!

Here are a few ways in which Christ gives in fullness:

Fullness of blessing to enrich us.

I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
(Romans 15:29)

Fullness of Grace to bless us.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
(John 1:16).

Fullness of Joy to gladden us.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
(John 15:11).

Fullness of the Spirit to empower us.

…be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart
(Ephesians 5:18-19

Fullness of God to sanctify us.

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:19)

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding
(Colossians 1:19)

For in him [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
(Colossians 2:10)

Fullness of Faith to assure us.

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(Hebrews 10:22)

Fullness of Himself to satisfy us.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
(Ephesians 4:11-14)

What about you? Can you think of other ways the Bible speaks of our fullness in God through Christ?

Comments

  5. The key is WHEN He gives. Sometimes He waits to give until we have just about lost hope…which is where my wife and I are now. In fact, God has ignored her pleas, and she has lost her faith.

    • God never promised to help us materially, but He always gives to us spiritually.

      Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

      Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

      • 2Cr 9:6 – 12

        “But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

        And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

        Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

        Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

        For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;”

        I think God has absolutely promised to help us materially – otherwise, where in the world would we possibly get our supply from? He owns it all!

        I understand we are to put God first and foremost and knowing that riches are not the goal, we can rest in Him knowing that He can supply.

        @JHart – I can completely feel your pain. My family and I have been through some horribly rough times. I wish I could send hugs to your wife at this moment – but I can send prayers. Look for the lesson in all of this that you are going through – its there. God never takes us through something without a purpose. BE careful for your own thoughts and pay attention to how much of your situation you are creating on your own. Only think on things according to Phillippians 4:8!

      • Eric~

        How can you say that “God never promised to help us materially”? Is He not our Father in heaven about whom Paul wrote, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phl. 4:19)? Joyful gave some excellent verses regarding God’s material provision, and below is one more proof that He has very much “promised to help us materially”:

        “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:25-33).

        May we never lose sight of God’s promises, and may we never ever forget to thank Him for fulfilling them daily.

        Yours in Christ~
        Barbara

    • God does not ignore us that love and trust Him, He has a reason for not responding to your pleas,we should not question Him or His motives, only believe and trust Him.I will pray for you

    • I will pray for you. If you wish i can send my email address and we can talk. Hold on to Him he will see you through

  6. No I can’t think of anymore, BUT the very last one fullness of Himself is an awesome scripture! Thanks for posting today, I truly appreciate it! 🙂

  8. 2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV

    “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”

    This “rich” is from Greek word, meaning abundance of outward possessions. God does want his people outwardly blessed, and in abundance! Our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were ridiculously wealthy. Oh, and king David too. And Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Hallelujah!

    The love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself. It’s not what you have, that lies the snare, but what has you! Jesus, gain us, and bless us indeed!

  9. Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

  10. Proverbs 3:5,6
    Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him,and He shall direct thy paths.

  13. “The LORD [is] the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot” (Ps. 16;5).

    “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified” (Is. 61:3).

    “For your shame [ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them” (Is. 61:7).

    Let us praise God for Who He is and for His mighty promises! Let us daily remember to “Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (I Chron. 16:29).

    Your sister in Christ~
    Barbara

  14. Dear Friends, God is faithful and just, Jesus says: you shall be cut of if you abide in me & dont bear fruit, of cause is it all about Him, who paid the price. However if we dont stay connected to Him, He shall take us away. Gods hand is always there, we have to put our hand in His. There is no scripture in the Bible, that says we dont have to do anything to obtain salvation. We have to seek, we have to ask, we have to knock, we have to obey. We have to wash us, clean us, do the right, turn away from the wrong, we have to put off sin & to put on Christ. Maranatha