Tim Smith
To the believer, Christ is all in all. He is in every respect the light of the world, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Christ is the Savior of the world, “And thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour And thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob” (Isa. 60:16). “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36). In Christ, we have all that we need, we are made complete.
Our Redemption is Complete in Christ
Sin is that which stands between us and eternal life. The price for sin must be paid, thereby removing it from us. Christ did this: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). The Law of Moses could not pay the price for sin. Satan was not only unwilling to pay it, but also unable to also, and you and I could not pay it, but Christ could and did. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7).
Our Justification is Complete in Christ
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39). To be pardoned is to stand guilty yet forgiven, thus to have the just and due penalty for guilt removed. To be justified is to stand as though no sin was ever committed. We stand before the eyes of God not as guilty sinners, but as ones who are without sin. We are able to do this because our Lord and His sacrifice is what the eyes of Jehovah behold, and not the short-comings in our lives. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor. 6:11).
Our Holiness is Complete in Christ
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).
That we are, of ourselves, unholy and wretched there is no doubt. That we are destitute and without hope on our own, there is no doubt. That with Jesus, and by His sacrifice, we are made Holy, we joyfully declare there is absolutely no doubt. According to Romans 6:22, we are “made free from sin” by Jesus and His sacrifice. We are truly made “Godlike” by and in Him.
Our Peace and Comfort are Complete in Christ
We need peace and comfort, for our world is filled with conflict and hurt. Paul said, “For he is our peace” (Eph. 2:14). And again, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17) As the sorrows of life mount, and as the suffering and sickness grows on us with the passing of the years, it is surely comforting to know that “as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ” (2 Cor. 1:5).
Our Labor and Toils are Complete in Christ
We know that our “labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58). Most workers will do better work if they know why they are doing what they are doing. In this verse we are plainly told why we work for Christ. Ours is not an empty or meaningless endeavor, but one with hope, one with purpose. This allows us an opportunity to be both the one who works and the recipient of the works that are done. Thus, in Christ, all that we do is complete.
Our Triumph Over the Adversary is Complete in Christ
A study of the Revelation which was received by John on the Isle of Patmos reveals the ultimate triumph of the saints over their enemy, the forces of evil. Paul assured them, and assures us even now, that we have the power to do (or accomplish) all things through Christ (Phi. 4:13). We know, and are assured by the Bible, that we are more than conquerors in Christ. Paul declared that God “always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14). There is nothing that Satan can throw at us that we are unable to overcome.
Our Tranquility and Happiness are Complete in Christ
The Christian can face the “grim reaper” happily, even unafraid. With Paul we can say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phi. 1:21). We know that if we live on another 50 years that we will live them for Christ and that if our next breath is our last that we will go home to be with Christ. This removes from the faithful the fear of some calamity overtaking us or some illness striking us down, and it allows us to press along no matter come what may.
Our Resurrection and Eternal Glory are Complete in Christ
There is nothing as reassuring for me than the knowledge that someday Jesus will come to receive His own and to carry them home to glory and that I will be in that number. I know that I will hear His voice, and that I will meet Him in the air, and that I will live on forever and ever, age without end, if I am living for Him. I further know that my redemption in Him is full, not partial, not contingent on some future battle that is to be fought after the end of time. All that needs to be done for me to be saved by Christ has been done. The only questions that remain are these: Have I done my part? Have I obeyed the Gospel? Am I living right? If not, please allow us to assist you.
