For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
It pleased the Father for all fullness to dwell in Christ. That fullness is the fullness of divinity itself, divine majesty, perfection and excellence dwelling in Him bodily. He in whom it dwells is equal with God, the image of the invisible God and the eternal Son one with the Father, who is before all things, created all things visible and invisible, and holds all things together. Through the blood of His cross He makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and heaven to God, bringing near those once alienated and enemies in mind so they may be presented holy and blameless as they continue grounded in the faith. That fullness dwelling in Him for the salvation of lost humanity is meant to fill every follower, so that in Him believers are made full, made complete, and receive grace, pardon and righteousness with nothing withheld from the soul that feels its need.
Wording and Setting
It pleased the Father for all fullness to dwell in Christ, who is before all things, who created all things in heaven and earth visible and invisible including thrones, dominions, principalities and powers and for whom they were made, who holds all things together and by whom all things consist, who has preeminence in all things as head of the church and the beginning and firstborn from the dead, and who through the blood and death of the cross makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and heaven to God and presents people once alienated by sin as holy and blameless. As the image of the invisible God and firstborn of every creature, He is Restorer and Lifegiver in whom that fullness dwells. He is therefore the foundation of both education and redemption, in whom the knowledge of God's glory is seen, in contrast to Adam and Eve receiving instruction through direct communion with God in Eden.
The verse stands in Colossians 1:14-23, which gives God's teaching about the great plan of redemption. It calls for earnest thanksgiving for that plan and for trust in God's promises, which never fail where there is constant watching unto prayer. Having learned this excellent way, it is the privilege of everyone to be grounded and settled in the faith, to be sanctified body, soul and spirit, and to be purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. The faith which works by love and purifies the soul keeps a person from being moved away from the hope of the gospel.
The fullness dwelling in Him is the fullness of divinity, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, with divine majesty, perfection and excellence. He is God's beloved Son given for the fallen race, the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person, equal with God. He is the eternal Son, one with the Father and not merely a heavenly being or angel, who took human form, through whom all things were created and for whom they were created, who sustains them and by whom they continue to exist. Having received all things from the Father as Lord of the living and the dead, believers are complete in Him in whom this fullness dwells.
The verse is an exclamation of admiration over Christ in His power, showing that the Father was pleased to place all fullness in Him who is before all things, created all things in heaven and earth, and holds all things together. Together with the next verse, it presents Christ's sacrifice and mediation as the visible evidence of unseen things and as the means by which peace is made and all things are reconciled to God.
Christ's Divine Identity
The one in whom all fullness dwells is equal with God, possessing divine majesty, perfection, excellence and greatness. He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person, the image of the invisible God. He is the eternal Son, one with the Father, and not merely a heavenly being or an angel.
He is before all things, and by Him all things consist and continue to exist. By Him were created all things in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him, and He holds all things together and sustains them.
Because the Father was pleased for all fullness to dwell in Him, He has the preeminence in all things and is supreme in all things. He is the head of the body, the church, the beginning and firstborn from the dead. He is Lord of the living and the dead, having received all things from the Father, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily and in whom believers are complete.
Reconciliation Through the Cross
Through the blood of His cross and His death, Christ makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and in heaven to God and to Himself. Because the Father was pleased for all fullness to dwell in Him, He has preeminence in all things and stands as head of the church, and through that fullness His shed blood brings reconciliation. In Him God makes peace through the cross and gathers all things back to Himself.
As Restorer and Lifegiver, He came to expose the falsity of Satan's claim to the sovereignty of the world and to reassert God's original and supreme ownership. He placed Himself in the enemy's pathway to dispute his right to the souls and bodies of men and women. He planted His cross midway between heaven and earth to wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness. He gave His life for the life of sinners, so that Satan as prince of the world was cast out.
Those reconciled were once alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works. In the body of His flesh through death He brings them near to God, transforms character, and restores the knowledge of the Father's goodness and love. Thus reconciled, they may be presented holy and blameless and beyond reproach in His sight. This holds if they continue grounded and settled in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel preached to every creature under heaven.
By uniting the human and the divine in Himself, He reconciles God to man and man to God and unites the finite with the Infinite. Through the merits of His blood fallen men may be exalted to partake of the divine nature. Those who receive and believe in Him become children of God and workers together with Him, with the privilege of following His example. He alone could take away the sin of the world, leaving heaven and dying at Calvary. That reconciliation is the work missionary effort is to help accomplish.
Incarnation Revealing the Father
Though fully divine, possessing divine excellence and greatness and being equal with God, Christ humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in human likeness, and became obedient unto death on the cross. His becoming a servant and humbling Himself to death did not lessen His divine standing. Before coming to earth He was the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person, with all fullness dwelling in Him by the Father's pleasure. In humbling Himself He united the human and the divine in Himself to reconcile God to man and man to God and to unite the finite with the Infinite, so that fallen men through the merits of His blood might be exalted to be partakers of the divine nature.
The Father placed all divine fullness in Christ, and that fullness was seen in His life on earth. His words and acts while on earth revealed divine truth and gave evidence that He had come directly from the most excellent glory, though that glory itself remained concealed. His actions spoke louder than words, awakening faith in hearts dead in trespasses and sins. His work was to reveal the Father and to carry out God's will and purposes, expressing God's love for humanity, and He moved steadily forward in that work with constant deeds of mercy and compassion and with energy that never lessened or failed.
At the first advent people were given a new and fuller manifestation of the Divine Presence than ever before. The knowledge of God and the infinite love and benevolence of His character were revealed more perfectly because all fullness dwelt in His well-beloved Son. Through that fullness the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile was broken down, and both were made partakers not only of the blessings promised under the old covenant but also of the spiritual and heavenly truths revealed through Christ. It pleased the Father for all fullness to dwell in Christ, making Him the foundation of both education and redemption and the one through whom people behold the knowledge of God's glory. This contrasts with Adam and Eve receiving instruction through direct communion with God in Eden.
In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, veiled under humanity and deep humiliation, and He is the glory of infinite wisdom. That wisdom of Christ molds and elevates human character, and those who appreciate what it can do for them exalt Christ as the wisdom of God. Knowing Christ is the highest science and the highest knowledge, the sum of all true science, and this knowledge is eternal life, beside which all science not in harmony with Him is of no value. Proud human wisdom and ways, human reasoning and knowledge, human self-righteousness and human glory must be surrendered and laid beneath the cross, counted as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, becoming a fool in order to be wise, as when human comeliness turns to corruption before heavenly glory. Repentance for sin as the first fruit of the Holy Spirit is the only process by which infinite purity reflects the image of Christ in redeemed people. Beholding the love of Christ gives His followers daily divine illumination and clear conceptions of the great mercy and love of God toward poor sinners, giving the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and causes them to begin to reflect that love.
Fullness Received by Believers
The fullness that by the Father's good pleasure dwells in Christ for the salvation of lost humanity is meant to fill every follower, for in Him believers are made full and every divinely implanted desire rightly pursued is fulfilled. Jesus emptied Himself to save and received the Holy Spirit without measure, and the same gift is given when the whole heart is surrendered for His indwelling. The command to be filled with the Spirit is also a promise of its fulfillment, so the heart that has tasted His love cries for a deeper draft and receives richer measure as it imparts, every revelation of God enlarges capacity to know and to love, and God delights to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought.
That fullness is grace and pardon for every soul, and His righteousness bringing life and healing. By faith people look to Him and rejoice in the atonement made for them, and are clothed with His righteousness. Sin is death and darkness and cannot be changed into righteousness, but it can be taken away and replaced by the righteousness of Christ, which is life, for He was manifested to take away sin and give eternal life as the light and life of the world. This is entered by receiving Christ Jesus the Lord and walking in Him rather than trusting in human righteousness.
His glory can be seen only by the enlightenment of the Spirit of God. Turning from the picture of their own shortcomings to behold the atonement, believers by faith look to Jesus, faith pierces the shadow, they are changed from character to character in and through faith, they rejoice, and they adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter. He reveals Himself in that fullness with no darkness at all, giving help and strength, only to the soul that feels its need of help and hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and that soul is filled. Receiving Him requires opening the door of the heart wide and bringing every perplexity, grief and burden to Him in prayer, with the heart set in order, rather than resting in mere outward form.
Unrestricted access with nothing withheld is given to the soul that recognizes its spiritual poverty and feels its need of redemption, when convinced of weakness and stripped of self-sufficiency it yields to God's control in humble contrition. Both title to heaven and fitness for it are found in Christ's righteousness, not earned by the proud heart that claims to be rich and in need of nothing, and self-righteousness like that of the scribes and Pharisees cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. There is a fullness in Jesus for believers to draw upon even when feeling unworthy and undeserving of mercy and blessings, including in severe trial. Living too far from God leaves them beneath their privilege, but taking hold upon His strength brings His blessing, and through the Redeemer's sacrifice they may claim much because they need much and He possesses all fullness.
In His fullness Christ contains every excellence needed for perfect character and is the all-sufficient source of grace and truth, a present and all-sufficient Savior and never-failing source of strength and help in trouble, through whose blood peace is made and all things are reconciled to God. Christians may know that Christ truly dwells and lives in them, and abiding in Him means trusting His wisdom and care rather than relying on human strength or trying to secure their own standing. Through faith in Him they overcome the world, find hope and peace even in distress and trouble, and in despair look to Him to draw strength, entrust the helpless soul to Him, and rely on His continuing intercession. He holds everything needed for body and soul as the spring of hope, joy and courage, the great physician, restorer and remedy for all sickness, who brings heaven near, turns darkness to light and changes sharp pain into peace and rest. To the sufferer His fullness is sweetness, light, love and music, water of life quenching thirst even while drinking the cup of suffering, given through the cross bearing sins as imputed righteousness, together with sanctification and redemption.
He is the head under whom the varied gifts and work of God's people are united, the heavenly Leader who redeemed them by His own blood, so their service is carried out under His authority with its success and glory belonging to Him. God helps believers contemplate Christ in His divine fullness, in whom dwells the abundance of knowledge covering all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid under the veil of humanity and deep humiliation. Beholding His love gives daily divine illumination and clear conceptions of God's great mercy and love toward poor sinners, giving the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and causes followers to begin to reflect that love.
Living From His Fullness
The verse belongs to the privileges and responsibilities of the Christian life, showing that believers may constantly grow in spirituality through Christ the Lord. God sets no limit to the advancement of those who yield the will to be led and taught by Him, but promises ever-increasing development in spiritual things. Those so yielded are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, walk worthy of the Lord, are fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God. God's plan is broad and full and complete, and Christ's sacrifice atones for every sinner, so complete surrender to be used as He directs is all that is required, and whoever returns with full purpose of heart is assured of pardon and peace.
Having learned this excellent way, it is everyone's privilege to be grounded and settled in faith, sanctified body, soul and spirit, and purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. The faith which works by love and purifies the soul keeps a person from being moved away from the hope of the gospel preached to every creature. Repentance for sin is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, and it is the only process by which infinite purity reflects the image of Christ in redeemed people. God's promises in this setting of the great plan of redemption never fail for those who constantly watch unto prayer and receive it with earnest thanksgiving.
The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent, bearing fruit in good works that have the endorsement of heaven. It countenances no littleness and no mean transactions, and it gives true Christians a nobility that allows none of the cheap, covetous actions that are a disgrace to the doer. Those in responsible positions are called to make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.
Because all fullness dwells in Christ, giving Him preeminence in all things as head of the body, the church, He alone is guide, and no human being is ever to be set up as a god or taken as pattern and guide for what to do. Ministers are not to be treated as divine, and weak, erring fellow mortals are not to be gone to for guidance. Instead the weary and heavy-laden are to come to Christ for rest, using the reasoning powers He has given to the very best use, performing the duties He points out and practicing the self-denial He calls for rather than remaining restless and dissatisfied in unwillingness, trusting His wisdom and care rather than relying on human strength or trying to secure their own standing.
Receiving Christ's complete fullness, in which there is no darkness at all, requires opening the door of the heart wide, with the heart set in order. Every perplexity, grief and burden is to be brought to Him in prayer rather than resting in mere outward form, and He reveals Himself in that fullness only to the soul that feels its need and hungers and thirsts for righteousness. Proud human wisdom and ways, human reasoning and knowledge, human self-righteousness and all human glory must be surrendered and laid beneath the cross of Calvary and counted as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ the Lord, becoming a fool in order to be wise. Those who appreciate what His wisdom can do for them exalt Christ as the wisdom of God, whose wisdom molds and elevates human character, as when human comeliness turns to corruption before heavenly glory.
It pleased the Father for all fullness to dwell in Christ. That fullness is the fullness of divinity itself, divine majesty, perfection and excellence dwelling in Him bodily. He in whom it dwells is equal with God, the image of the invisible God and the eternal Son one with the Father, who is before all things, created all things visible and invisible, and holds all things together. Through the blood of His cross He makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and heaven to God, bringing near those once alienated and enemies in mind so they may be presented holy and blameless as they continue grounded in the faith. That fullness dwelling in Him for the salvation of lost humanity is meant to fill every follower, so that in Him believers are made full, made complete, and receive grace, pardon and righteousness with nothing withheld from the soul that feels its need.
Wording and Setting
It pleased the Father for all fullness to dwell in Christ, who is before all things, who created all things in heaven and earth visible and invisible including thrones, dominions, principalities and powers and for whom they were made, who holds all things together and by whom all things consist, who has preeminence in all things as head of the church and the beginning and firstborn from the dead, and who through the blood and death of the cross makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and heaven to God and presents people once alienated by sin as holy and blameless. As the image of the invisible God and firstborn of every creature, He is Restorer and Lifegiver in whom that fullness dwells. He is therefore the foundation of both education and redemption, in whom the knowledge of God's glory is seen, in contrast to Adam and Eve receiving instruction through direct communion with God in Eden.
The verse stands in Colossians 1:14-23, which gives God's teaching about the great plan of redemption. It calls for earnest thanksgiving for that plan and for trust in God's promises, which never fail where there is constant watching unto prayer. Having learned this excellent way, it is the privilege of everyone to be grounded and settled in the faith, to be sanctified body, soul and spirit, and to be purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. The faith which works by love and purifies the soul keeps a person from being moved away from the hope of the gospel.
The fullness dwelling in Him is the fullness of divinity, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, with divine majesty, perfection and excellence. He is God's beloved Son given for the fallen race, the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person, equal with God. He is the eternal Son, one with the Father and not merely a heavenly being or angel, who took human form, through whom all things were created and for whom they were created, who sustains them and by whom they continue to exist. Having received all things from the Father as Lord of the living and the dead, believers are complete in Him in whom this fullness dwells.
The verse is an exclamation of admiration over Christ in His power, showing that the Father was pleased to place all fullness in Him who is before all things, created all things in heaven and earth, and holds all things together. Together with the next verse, it presents Christ's sacrifice and mediation as the visible evidence of unseen things and as the means by which peace is made and all things are reconciled to God.
Christ's Divine Identity
The one in whom all fullness dwells is equal with God, possessing divine majesty, perfection, excellence and greatness. He is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person, the image of the invisible God. He is the eternal Son, one with the Father, and not merely a heavenly being or an angel.
He is before all things, and by Him all things consist and continue to exist. By Him were created all things in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him, and He holds all things together and sustains them.
Because the Father was pleased for all fullness to dwell in Him, He has the preeminence in all things and is supreme in all things. He is the head of the body, the church, the beginning and firstborn from the dead. He is Lord of the living and the dead, having received all things from the Father, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily and in whom believers are complete.
Reconciliation Through the Cross
Through the blood of His cross and His death, Christ makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and in heaven to God and to Himself. Because the Father was pleased for all fullness to dwell in Him, He has preeminence in all things and stands as head of the church, and through that fullness His shed blood brings reconciliation. In Him God makes peace through the cross and gathers all things back to Himself.
As Restorer and Lifegiver, He came to expose the falsity of Satan's claim to the sovereignty of the world and to reassert God's original and supreme ownership. He placed Himself in the enemy's pathway to dispute his right to the souls and bodies of men and women. He planted His cross midway between heaven and earth to wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness. He gave His life for the life of sinners, so that Satan as prince of the world was cast out.
Those reconciled were once alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works. In the body of His flesh through death He brings them near to God, transforms character, and restores the knowledge of the Father's goodness and love. Thus reconciled, they may be presented holy and blameless and beyond reproach in His sight. This holds if they continue grounded and settled in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel preached to every creature under heaven.
By uniting the human and the divine in Himself, He reconciles God to man and man to God and unites the finite with the Infinite. Through the merits of His blood fallen men may be exalted to partake of the divine nature. Those who receive and believe in Him become children of God and workers together with Him, with the privilege of following His example. He alone could take away the sin of the world, leaving heaven and dying at Calvary. That reconciliation is the work missionary effort is to help accomplish.
Incarnation Revealing the Father
Though fully divine, possessing divine excellence and greatness and being equal with God, Christ humbled Himself, made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant in human likeness, and became obedient unto death on the cross. His becoming a servant and humbling Himself to death did not lessen His divine standing. Before coming to earth He was the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of His person, with all fullness dwelling in Him by the Father's pleasure. In humbling Himself He united the human and the divine in Himself to reconcile God to man and man to God and to unite the finite with the Infinite, so that fallen men through the merits of His blood might be exalted to be partakers of the divine nature.
The Father placed all divine fullness in Christ, and that fullness was seen in His life on earth. His words and acts while on earth revealed divine truth and gave evidence that He had come directly from the most excellent glory, though that glory itself remained concealed. His actions spoke louder than words, awakening faith in hearts dead in trespasses and sins. His work was to reveal the Father and to carry out God's will and purposes, expressing God's love for humanity, and He moved steadily forward in that work with constant deeds of mercy and compassion and with energy that never lessened or failed.
At the first advent people were given a new and fuller manifestation of the Divine Presence than ever before. The knowledge of God and the infinite love and benevolence of His character were revealed more perfectly because all fullness dwelt in His well-beloved Son. Through that fullness the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile was broken down, and both were made partakers not only of the blessings promised under the old covenant but also of the spiritual and heavenly truths revealed through Christ. It pleased the Father for all fullness to dwell in Christ, making Him the foundation of both education and redemption and the one through whom people behold the knowledge of God's glory. This contrasts with Adam and Eve receiving instruction through direct communion with God in Eden.
In Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, veiled under humanity and deep humiliation, and He is the glory of infinite wisdom. That wisdom of Christ molds and elevates human character, and those who appreciate what it can do for them exalt Christ as the wisdom of God. Knowing Christ is the highest science and the highest knowledge, the sum of all true science, and this knowledge is eternal life, beside which all science not in harmony with Him is of no value. Proud human wisdom and ways, human reasoning and knowledge, human self-righteousness and human glory must be surrendered and laid beneath the cross, counted as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, becoming a fool in order to be wise, as when human comeliness turns to corruption before heavenly glory. Repentance for sin as the first fruit of the Holy Spirit is the only process by which infinite purity reflects the image of Christ in redeemed people. Beholding the love of Christ gives His followers daily divine illumination and clear conceptions of the great mercy and love of God toward poor sinners, giving the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and causes them to begin to reflect that love.
Fullness Received by Believers
The fullness that by the Father's good pleasure dwells in Christ for the salvation of lost humanity is meant to fill every follower, for in Him believers are made full and every divinely implanted desire rightly pursued is fulfilled. Jesus emptied Himself to save and received the Holy Spirit without measure, and the same gift is given when the whole heart is surrendered for His indwelling. The command to be filled with the Spirit is also a promise of its fulfillment, so the heart that has tasted His love cries for a deeper draft and receives richer measure as it imparts, every revelation of God enlarges capacity to know and to love, and God delights to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought.
That fullness is grace and pardon for every soul, and His righteousness bringing life and healing. By faith people look to Him and rejoice in the atonement made for them, and are clothed with His righteousness. Sin is death and darkness and cannot be changed into righteousness, but it can be taken away and replaced by the righteousness of Christ, which is life, for He was manifested to take away sin and give eternal life as the light and life of the world. This is entered by receiving Christ Jesus the Lord and walking in Him rather than trusting in human righteousness.
His glory can be seen only by the enlightenment of the Spirit of God. Turning from the picture of their own shortcomings to behold the atonement, believers by faith look to Jesus, faith pierces the shadow, they are changed from character to character in and through faith, they rejoice, and they adore God for His wondrous love in giving Jesus the Comforter. He reveals Himself in that fullness with no darkness at all, giving help and strength, only to the soul that feels its need of help and hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and that soul is filled. Receiving Him requires opening the door of the heart wide and bringing every perplexity, grief and burden to Him in prayer, with the heart set in order, rather than resting in mere outward form.
Unrestricted access with nothing withheld is given to the soul that recognizes its spiritual poverty and feels its need of redemption, when convinced of weakness and stripped of self-sufficiency it yields to God's control in humble contrition. Both title to heaven and fitness for it are found in Christ's righteousness, not earned by the proud heart that claims to be rich and in need of nothing, and self-righteousness like that of the scribes and Pharisees cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. There is a fullness in Jesus for believers to draw upon even when feeling unworthy and undeserving of mercy and blessings, including in severe trial. Living too far from God leaves them beneath their privilege, but taking hold upon His strength brings His blessing, and through the Redeemer's sacrifice they may claim much because they need much and He possesses all fullness.
In His fullness Christ contains every excellence needed for perfect character and is the all-sufficient source of grace and truth, a present and all-sufficient Savior and never-failing source of strength and help in trouble, through whose blood peace is made and all things are reconciled to God. Christians may know that Christ truly dwells and lives in them, and abiding in Him means trusting His wisdom and care rather than relying on human strength or trying to secure their own standing. Through faith in Him they overcome the world, find hope and peace even in distress and trouble, and in despair look to Him to draw strength, entrust the helpless soul to Him, and rely on His continuing intercession. He holds everything needed for body and soul as the spring of hope, joy and courage, the great physician, restorer and remedy for all sickness, who brings heaven near, turns darkness to light and changes sharp pain into peace and rest. To the sufferer His fullness is sweetness, light, love and music, water of life quenching thirst even while drinking the cup of suffering, given through the cross bearing sins as imputed righteousness, together with sanctification and redemption.
He is the head under whom the varied gifts and work of God's people are united, the heavenly Leader who redeemed them by His own blood, so their service is carried out under His authority with its success and glory belonging to Him. God helps believers contemplate Christ in His divine fullness, in whom dwells the abundance of knowledge covering all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hid under the veil of humanity and deep humiliation. Beholding His love gives daily divine illumination and clear conceptions of God's great mercy and love toward poor sinners, giving the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, and causes followers to begin to reflect that love.
Living From His Fullness
The verse belongs to the privileges and responsibilities of the Christian life, showing that believers may constantly grow in spirituality through Christ the Lord. God sets no limit to the advancement of those who yield the will to be led and taught by Him, but promises ever-increasing development in spiritual things. Those so yielded are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, walk worthy of the Lord, are fruitful in every good work, and increase in the knowledge of God. God's plan is broad and full and complete, and Christ's sacrifice atones for every sinner, so complete surrender to be used as He directs is all that is required, and whoever returns with full purpose of heart is assured of pardon and peace.
Having learned this excellent way, it is everyone's privilege to be grounded and settled in faith, sanctified body, soul and spirit, and purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. The faith which works by love and purifies the soul keeps a person from being moved away from the hope of the gospel preached to every creature. Repentance for sin is the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, and it is the only process by which infinite purity reflects the image of Christ in redeemed people. God's promises in this setting of the great plan of redemption never fail for those who constantly watch unto prayer and receive it with earnest thanksgiving.
The religion of Christ makes all who possess it truly benevolent, bearing fruit in good works that have the endorsement of heaven. It countenances no littleness and no mean transactions, and it gives true Christians a nobility that allows none of the cheap, covetous actions that are a disgrace to the doer. Those in responsible positions are called to make straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way.
Because all fullness dwells in Christ, giving Him preeminence in all things as head of the body, the church, He alone is guide, and no human being is ever to be set up as a god or taken as pattern and guide for what to do. Ministers are not to be treated as divine, and weak, erring fellow mortals are not to be gone to for guidance. Instead the weary and heavy-laden are to come to Christ for rest, using the reasoning powers He has given to the very best use, performing the duties He points out and practicing the self-denial He calls for rather than remaining restless and dissatisfied in unwillingness, trusting His wisdom and care rather than relying on human strength or trying to secure their own standing.
Receiving Christ's complete fullness, in which there is no darkness at all, requires opening the door of the heart wide, with the heart set in order. Every perplexity, grief and burden is to be brought to Him in prayer rather than resting in mere outward form, and He reveals Himself in that fullness only to the soul that feels its need and hungers and thirsts for righteousness. Proud human wisdom and ways, human reasoning and knowledge, human self-righteousness and all human glory must be surrendered and laid beneath the cross of Calvary and counted as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ the Lord, becoming a fool in order to be wise. Those who appreciate what His wisdom can do for them exalt Christ as the wisdom of God, whose wisdom molds and elevates human character, as when human comeliness turns to corruption before heavenly glory.