COMPLETE IN CHRIST

Colossians 2:9–10 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

The church at Colossae was under attack from dangerous teachings—false philosophies, legalism, mysticism, and a blend of Jewish tradition with Greek speculation. Paul writes to remind believers that everything they need is found in Christ alone. These verses stand as the heart of his message: Christ is fully God, and we are fully complete in Him.

A.W. Tozer once said, “Jesus Christ is Himself the final and complete revelation of God to men.” This is exactly Paul’s point—when we have Christ, we have all we need.

1. The Fullness of Christ – “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”

Paul makes a staggering claim: Jesus Christ is not partially divine; He is wholly God. The word “fulness” (pleroma in Greek) means the totality, the entire content. There is nothing lacking in Christ—He embodies the entirety of the divine nature.

• John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

• Hebrews 1:3 —Christ is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.”

The false teachers suggested that Christ was merely one emanation among many spiritual beings. Paul demolishes that idea—Christ is the fullness of the Godhead, and He is bodily present. He is not a shadow, not a vision, not a fragment—He is God in flesh.

As Spurgeon preached, “The fulness of the Godhead is in Jesus Christ. It is not upon Him, but in Him. It is not partly in Him, but all in Him.”

This means when we look at Jesus, we see God’s nature, God’s love, and God’s plan. We don’t need to search outside Him for spiritual meaning. Everything God is, is found in Christ.

2. The Completeness of the Believer – “Ye are complete in him”

If Christ is full, then those who are in Christ are filled. The phrase “complete in him” means filled to the brim, fully supplied, lacking nothing.

Think of a glass under a waterfall: the water gushes in and overflows—it is never empty. Likewise, our union with Christ means we are filled with His life, His righteousness, His Spirit.

• 2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…”

• John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

The world says you’re incomplete unless you chase success, relationships, or self-fulfilment. But Scripture says you are complete in Christ. You don’t need to add rituals, works, or mystical experiences to your salvation.

To borrow from D.L. Moody, “Christ is not a half Saviour. He is a whole Saviour, and we are whole in Him.”

Data Point: A 2023 study from The Journal of Positive Psychology showed that people who ground their identity in transcendent faith report higher life satisfaction and lower anxiety. Why? Because identity rooted in Christ provides stability that circumstances cannot shake.

3. The Supremacy of Christ – “Which is the head of all principality and power”

Paul finishes this statement by reminding us that Christ is supreme. Not only is He full, not only are we complete, but He is also over all. He rules over angels, demons, authorities, and every form of power.

• Ephesians 1:21–22 “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion… And hath put all things under his feet…”

• Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 

This assurance means no spiritual power, no demonic force, and no earthly ruler can override the completeness we have in Christ. Our sufficiency rests in the One who reigns over all.

During WWII, Winston Churchill reminded the British people, “We shall never surrender.” He was urging courage against an overwhelming foe. Paul is reminding Christians that, in Christ, we never need to surrender to false teaching or fear—because our Lord has already conquered.

Our Challenge 

Colossians 2:9–10 reminds us of three vital truths:

1. The Fullness of Christ – He is fully God.

2. The Completeness of the Believer – In Him, we lack nothing.

3. The Supremacy of Christ – He reigns over all powers.

The practical takeaway: You don’t need to look anywhere else for spiritual wholeness. You don’t need to strive for completion through religion, reputation, or riches. Christ is enough—and because He is enough, you are enough in Him.

As Hudson Taylor said, “Christ is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.” If we live daily out of the truth that we are complete in Him, we will walk with confidence, joy, and victory.

Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life are you tempted to feel “incomplete”?

2. How does the truth that Christ is fully God change the way you trust Him?

3. What practical step can you take this week to live as someone already “complete in Him”?