The fullness of the gospel is in Christ alone!
Referring to Jesus, Paul wrote the following to the Colossians – “Him we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose I also labor, striving according to His working, which He works in me in power.” (Colossians 1: 28-29)
Salvation and sanctification are both a work that God does in us. Paul wrote the following to the Romans – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8: 28-30)
Paul wrote the following to the Philippians about his own sanctification – “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 12-14)
The apostle John wrote – “See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we would be called children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3: 1-3)
We are not complete in ourselves, but are only complete in Christ.
The ‘fullness’ of Jesus’ true gospel is that at the time of our spiritual birth, which occurs after we place our faith in what He has done for us, He permanently indwells us with His Holy Spirit and He brings about our sanctification. The apostle Peter wrote – “To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1: 1b-4)
…Peter further encourages us with this admonition – “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these things are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter: 1: 5-8)
At the point of our salvation, Jesus gives us ‘everything pertaining to life and godliness.’ Beware of false teachers who come along with a false gospel!
