Truth for Life - Jan. 27, 2013

January 27

A Fullness in Christ

John 1:16

These words tell us that there is a fullness in Christ. There is a fullness of essential Deity, for "in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."¹ There is a fullness of perfect manhood, for in Him, bodily, that Godhead was revealed. There is a fullness of atoning efficacy in His blood, for "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."² There is a fullness of justifying righteousness in His life, for "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."³ There is a fullness of divine prevalence in His plea, for "He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."⁴ There is a fullness of victory in His death, for through death He destroyed him that had the power of death--that is, the devil. There is a fullness of efficacy in His resurrection from the dead, for by it "he has caused us to be born again to a living hope."⁵ There is a fullness of triumph in His ascension, for "when he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men."⁶ There is a fullness of blessings of every sort and shape; a fullness of grace to pardon, of grace to regenerate, of grace to sanctify, of grace to preserve, and of grace to perfect. There is a fullness at all times; a fullness of comfort in affliction, a fullness of guidance in prosperity. A fullness of every divine attribute--of wisdom, of power, of love; a fullness that it is impossible to survey, much less to explore. "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell."⁷ Oh, what a fullness must this be of which all receive! Fullness, indeed, must there be when the stream is always flowing, and yet the well springs up as free, as rich, as full as ever. Come, believer, and get all your need supplied; ask largely, and you will receive largely, for this "fullness" is inexhaustible and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel--God with us.

¹Colossians 2:9 ²1 John 1:7 ³Romans 8:1 ⁴Hebrews 7:25 ⁵1 Peter 1:3 ⁶Ephesians 4:8 ⁷Colossians 1:19

Family Bible reading plan

verse 1 Genesis 28

verse 2 Matthew 27

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From Morning & Evening revised and edited by Alistair Begg copyright © 2003. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org.