ALL THE FULLNESS

For it pleased the Father that in Him ALL the FULLNESS should dwell – Colossians 1:19

The pleasure of the Father was for ALL the FULLNESS to dwell in His Son, Jesus Christ! The first two chapters of the epistle to the Colossians elucidate on this glorious subject. In the first chapter, after speaking of Christ as the Creator of all things, Paul sets Him forth as the Head of the body, the Church, from whom the whole Body derives all nourishment and strength. The Church is the Ecclesia: the gathered out family of God; those whom He has sealed by His blood-red mark of redeeming grace; those whom He has characterized as His own living children in spiritual regeneration. The Church is formed of all those who are gathered by the power of the Holy Spirit to Him who is the Beginning and the Head of all blessings to His people. Christ “is the Firstborn from the dead” in whom all the members live, “that in all things He may have the pre-eminence” (Col. 1:18).

This passage does not speak of ‘A’ fullness; but ALL fullness. Here in this epistle is a characteristic expression: the word “ALL” or “EVERY” to display the fullness of God's grace in Christ Jesus. There is no limit or scarcity in God's provision of grace. Verse 9 says: “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in ALL wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Not in some, but in ALL wisdom: “In whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col.2:3). The same in Colossians 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly and in ALL wisdom…”  We know that Christ is made to us “the Wisdom of God” (1Cor.1:24). The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph.1:17). There is no ALL wisdom apart from the Holy Spirit, who is “the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge” (Isa.11:2).

Verse 10 says: “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, FULLY pleasing Him, being fruitful in EVERY good work.” It is only in Christ that you can fully please God. Even the father offered a precious testimony from the heights of heaven when Jesus was baptized: “This is My beloved Son, IN whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). It is not WITH whom, but IN whom I am well pleased. The Father was well pleased, and is still fully pleased with all that He sees in Christ. Therefore, as I am led, guided, and instructed by the blessed Spirit into paths of righteousness, it is that the good pleasure of my God shall be seen and the all-sufficiency of His grace manifested. Verse 11 reads: “strengthened with ALL might, according to His glorious power, for ALL patience and longsuffering with joy.” Not some might; but “all might”! Nothing short of all might, nothing but all strength, nothing but all power will do for those who have experienced the reality of human weakness. Paul knew this when he said, “When I am weak, than am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:10).

“For by Him ALL things were created” not some things, “that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. ALL things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (vv.16-17). Christ, the glorious Head of the Church created all things for His own glory to be revealed in the Church throughout all ages. All fullness dwells in Him, that all the Church, all the saints, all the redeemed, might be brought by Him to experience the blessings and the blessedness treasured up for them in Himself. What a mystery this Gospel is! In conclusion, Fullness is about ALL and EVERY: all wisdom and knowledge; all might; all patience; and dominion of all saints over all things!