Filled to the Fullness of God

"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross" (Colossians 1:10-12, ESV).

God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Christ so that all things are filled in him. It is an amazing thing that Paul writes, that in we are to be filled through Christ into the fullness of God.

In Ephesians 1:20-23, Paul writes Christ was made head of the church to fill all in all. This was according to God's plan that Christ would be exalted above all, to fill all. And Paul writes in Ephesians 3:14-21 that through the Spirit and Christ being established in our hearts through faith and being rooted and grounded in love we may have the strength to lay hold of the love of Christ and be filled to the fullness of Him. 

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him, all things hold together" (Ephesians 15-17, ESV).

In Ephesians 4:8-14 Paul writes that Christ ascended on high so to fill all things giving gifts from on high, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the church so that we grow truth in love, in faith and the knowledge of Christ, into the full measure of the stature of his image, into mature adulthood. We are to grow up to be filled to the measure of the fullness of Christ.

"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, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience. With joy giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:10-12).

The gospel was growing and bearing fruit throughout all the world (Colossians 1:5-6). Paul writes he could rejoice in the suffering, on behalf of the church. He was being given over to death every day so that others may experience life (2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Philippians 1:21-26; 1 Corinthians 15:31). "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church," (Colossians 1:24). Paul was being filled up in afflictions for the sake of the church, so it might be filled up in Christ.

Paul saw the big picture, this is God's purpose being revealed, his manifold wisdom, in which God was pleased that all His fullness dwells in Jesus, so we may be filled to the fullness of God through Christ. 

"which God willed to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of his mystery, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, the one we proclaim, putting to mind in all men, and teaching all men in all wisdom so that presenting all men mature in Christ. To this end, I labor striving according to His power that works in me" (Colossians 1:27-29).

We pray Lord to fill us, the church, with all your fullness, so we are mature in Christ and bear much fruit for your glory.