Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Fill ups

Col 2:9-12
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
  • What lives in Jesus body?
  • According to this passage, what happens to you when you are in Christ?
  • If Christ is the head over all rule and authorities and you are in Christ, what do you have to fear?
  • What is the body of flesh that baptism removes?
  • What is the significance of being buried with Christ in baptism?
  • What is the significance of being raised with Christ?
  • What is the means through which you were raised?
Harold's Musings:
The phrase "in Christ" and its variants, e.g. in Him, is frequently overlooked in passages. We recognize the "Christ" part but read over the "in" part. This passage tells us that the fullness of deity lives in Christ and then states that as Christians you and I are filled in Him. The various translations use phrases like "made full", "made complete", etc. It is interesting to muse over why the Holy Spirit put the fact that Christ was filled with Deity in Him and that we are filled in Him next to each other in the passage. If Christ is filled with Deity and we are in Christ, then we are at least sharing space with Deity. Perhaps this is related to our receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps this speaks to our being a temple. Perhaps it is about our being partakers of the devine nature. The bigger questions are "what does it mean to me" and "what will I do with it".

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