No additions needed

On my daily walks through our neighbourhood, I note that there is almost always a house for sale, sometimes more than one. Because this is a highly desirable area, these homes are soon sold. However, when they take longer to sell, the realtors add little notes to their signs, such as “Pool” or “New Price”. Sales managers train their sales people to use this method in order to “add value” to the product and give buyers more incentive to purchase the house.

In contrast, in writing to the Colossians, the apostle Paul wrote, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ” (2:9–10). In essence, Paul is saying, “There is nothing to add to what Christ is; all of God is in Him. He is complete.”

In Colossians 3:3, Paul says that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. All that we try to learn in a lifetime is already in Him. There is nothing to add. That is why James can write, “ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God” (James 1:5). God is the absolute source of wisdom.

The same can be said for any attribute we can think of – such as love, patience, longsuffering, kindness or peace. If we are in need of these in our spiritual lives, we are already equipped with them; all the fullness of God is in us because we have His Spirit dwelling in us. Nothing needs to be added to what Christ has already given to us when we received Christ. All we have to do is pray that He will help us to manifest these qualities as we live from day to day.

Peter underlines this same marvellous truth when he says that God “has given us everything we need for life and godliness” and that as a result we can “participate in the divine nature” and “escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 1:3–4).

This is the good news we can share with those who are searching for Christ, and with those who are His children.

Lena Bergen Friesen is a member of The Dwelling Place in Waterloo, Ont.