Complete in Him (Colossians 2:8-23)
In this sermon we are going to look at one of the great passages for the saved person living in the Church Age to show both the results and the solution for the incompleteness of mankind. Complete is defined as follows in the American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster 1828:
Complete – Having no deficiency. Finished, ended, or concluded.
It do not take long for a man to realize that there is something missing or incomplete inside of him. This is manifested in many different ways such as; drinking, drugs, sex, money, stealing, killing, violence, etc. But the problem is no matter how much man tries fill that emptiness he can never accomplish that feat.
Man’s Problem:
In the passage we see that the problem is connected with man’s sin, it is his flesh (verses 11, 13). Man is born in sin (Romans 5:12 ; Romans 3:23) and comes by it naturally. The end result is death (Romans 6:23 ; James 1:13-15). Because of this man turns to:
1) Philosophy (verse 8)
- Philosophy is defined by many as the love of wisdom. But what most philosphers have done is to invent a way around the problem of sin so that man is not really as bad as the bible says.
- Described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:7, “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”
2) Religion (verse 14)
- Paul is showing in the verse how that Jesus has solved the problem of the law. The problem was that no man could live it. It was given to show man this and show him his sin (Romans 7:7 ; Galatians 3:24)
- Religion is one of man’s favorite ways to justify himself note the end of our passage (verses 20-23)
3) Spiritualism (verse 18)
- This has many different forms today but the problem is still the same. There is more than one spirit.
- Satan appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
- This is why we must try the spirits (1 John 4:1)
Man’s Solution:
The solution for man is simple. The only way to be complete in him is through a relationship with Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9-13)
1) In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (verse 9)
- Completeness can only be found in Jesus Christ. He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16)
- Note his role in creation (Colossians 1:12-22)
2) The only way to be complete is to be in him (verse 10)
- This is accomplished by three things;
1) Spiritual Circumcision (verse 11) which put off the body of the sins of the flesh
2) Spiritual Baptism (verse 12) which puts you into the body of Christ (2 Cor. 12:12-13 ; Galatians 3:26-29)
3) Spiritual Resurrection (verse 12-13) this solves our problem of being dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).
The simple truth is it really doesn’t matter what your philosophy is, what you worship, or what name your religion goes by. Without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is accomplished by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, you will always be incomplete.