Paul was not asking the Colossians if they would like to be complete in Christ, nor was Paul asking the Colossians if they would like to become complete in Christ. No, Paul is telling them that they are ALREADY complete in Christ.
Isn't this what we would all like to be "Complete in Christ"? Isn't that the goal of every Christian to be like Christ or to be "complete in Christ"? The good news of the Gospel is that God sees us as "complete in Christ". Isaiah said, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" Isaiah 1:18. When we come to Christ as repentant sinners to be saved by him, God seals us with the Holy Spirit and places us "In Christ" Ephesians 1:13.
The word "MADE" is a very important word in the Bible. Paul said, "And has raised us up together and MADE us to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6.
Here is another scripture that contains the word "MADE". "For as by one man's disobedience (Adam) many were MADE sinners, so by the obedience of one (Christ) shall many be MADE righteous" Romans 5:19. Religion teaches that we become righteous by what we do. The Bible says that we are MADE righteous by Christ.
What does all of this mean? It means that because of the doing and the dying of Jesus God sees us as perfect and complete "In Christ". It also means that all religions are worthless. If we are "complete in Christ" then how is religion going to make you any better than you ALREADY are in Christ?
Because we are "complete in Christ" we can renounce every means by which we try to make ourselves "complete in Christ". It is very apparent that we can do nothing to make ourselves any better than what God has ALREADY made us in Jesus Christ. This is what Paul meant when he said, "For he that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works (religion) as God did from his" Hebrews 4:10.
This should be the end of Calvinism, Catholicism, all religions. Spiritually, we are in Christ and Christ is in heaven. In Jesus Christ we have been MADE righteous, because we are complete in him.
Isn't this what we would all like to be "Complete in Christ"? Isn't that the goal of every Christian to be like Christ or to be "complete in Christ"? The good news of the Gospel is that God sees us as "complete in Christ". Isaiah said, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" Isaiah 1:18. When we come to Christ as repentant sinners to be saved by him, God seals us with the Holy Spirit and places us "In Christ" Ephesians 1:13.
The word "MADE" is a very important word in the Bible. Paul said, "And has raised us up together and MADE us to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" Ephesians 2:6.
Here is another scripture that contains the word "MADE". "For as by one man's disobedience (Adam) many were MADE sinners, so by the obedience of one (Christ) shall many be MADE righteous" Romans 5:19. Religion teaches that we become righteous by what we do. The Bible says that we are MADE righteous by Christ.
What does all of this mean? It means that because of the doing and the dying of Jesus God sees us as perfect and complete "In Christ". It also means that all religions are worthless. If we are "complete in Christ" then how is religion going to make you any better than you ALREADY are in Christ?
Because we are "complete in Christ" we can renounce every means by which we try to make ourselves "complete in Christ". It is very apparent that we can do nothing to make ourselves any better than what God has ALREADY made us in Jesus Christ. This is what Paul meant when he said, "For he that has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works (religion) as God did from his" Hebrews 4:10.
This should be the end of Calvinism, Catholicism, all religions. Spiritually, we are in Christ and Christ is in heaven. In Jesus Christ we have been MADE righteous, because we are complete in him.