Complete in Him

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea , and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Colossians 2:1-3 and 6-10 (NKJV)

In this letter by Paul to the church at Colosse, his great desire for them is described in verses 2 and 3: Attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Two contrasts are presented in verses 6 - 10, a positive and a negative. First we are encouraged to walk in Christ; to be complete in Him. Second we are warned against getting caught up in the deceit of this world.

In a conversation I had with a psychologist a few years ago, I was encouraged to do something just for me. At first blush, this sounds pretty selfish, but then I realized that as a Christian we must do one important thing just for ourselves. We must be rooted and grounded in Christ. Sometimes we just take that for granted; we depend upon our pastor to take care of that in his sermons. That is certainly not fair to him or to yourself. It is imperative that you set some time aside and make a plan as to how you will become complete in Christ.

Read the Bible each day, spend time in prayer, attend a Bible study, and check out devotional web sites. Do this for yourself, and everyone around you is blessed and affected by it.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ . Christianity our day has become so watered down that it seems as though everyone is a Christian. Satan is so clever in his deceit that he has wound the philosophy and principles of this world right around Biblical doctrine.

We as Christians are called to be wise; pray for grace that you will not succumb to the vain philosophies of this world and intertwine them around your faith in Christ. Nothing in this world compares to the riches of God's kingdom; there is nothing that a Christian needs from the world because we are complete in Him!

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power .