FULLNESS IN CHRIST

Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang

December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

INTRODUCTION
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and
established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone
cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic
principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. “(Col 2:6-10)

We are here to ponder on what we have received in Christ. All that we have received in Christ can be
summed up in the word “fullness”.

Meaning of Fullness: Pleroo

1. To reach the desired mark: We have missed the mark – DIVINE GLORY
2. To be crammed with the things of God so much that there’s space for nothing else –NEW ZEAL,
PASSION
3. To be furnished with everything necessary for life and godliness: the world is depraved, corrupted,
and perverse – DIVINE NATURE
4. To be made complete through the filling up of all that was lacking - RESTORATION
5. To be satisfied never to thirst again – ETERNAL JOY
6. To experience the fulfillment of promises and prophecies – FAITH TESTIMONIES
7. To receive an accomplishment – IMPARTATION OF GRACE
8. To come to ripeness – DIVINE FULFILLMENT
9. To be made perfect – MATURITY, FINALITY

With Christ (Col.2:12,13)

Buried
Raised
Made alive

In Christ
Past Fact:
Circumcised, putting off the flesh. The old has passed away (Col.2:11)
Have been given fullness
Present Goals (Col.2:6, 7):
Live
Be rooted
Be built up
Be strengthened in the faith

The Human Predicament

1. In the dominion of darkness (Col.1:13)
2. Alienated from God (1:21)
3. Enemies in minds because of evil behavior (1:21)
4. Dead in sins (2:13)

The Divine Solution

Jesus Christ: Complete God, Complete Man, Witness (Prophet), Mediator (Priest), Lord (King)
John 1:16
 FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang
December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

Explanation
1. In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily: The Complete Man, The Complete God
2. You are complete in Him: Completeness in and through Christ: The New Creation

Application
1. Listen Carefully and Receive the Word of Faith
Beware of the Deceitful World (John 2:23-25).
 FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang
December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

MODULE 2
# THE GROUNDS AND MEANS OF FULLNESS

The Key to Understanding Fullness is Understanding the Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ
and Our Relationship to Him

Col.1:19; 2:9; 1:17

I. FALSE VIEWS ABOUT CHRIST

1. Ebionism - Denied deity and pre-existence of Christ.
2. Docetism - Denied His humanity; affirmed His deity; Jesus appeared human but was really divine.
3. Arianism - Denied deity; Xt was the first and highest created being homoiousia, not homoousia. He is
subordinate to the Father.

II. UNDERSTANDING CHRIST’S DIVINITY

1. Preincarnate – Pre-existence (Jn. 1:1; 1Jn.1:1; Jn.17:5). Participation in creation

(Gen.1:26;Pr.8:30; Col.1:15; Jn.1:3;Col.1:16; 1Cor.8:6). Christophanies (Gen.18,19; Hos.1:7;
Gen.22,31; Ex.3:2; 14:19; Nu.22:22; Judg.6).
2. Divine Nature – Divine Attributes (eternal-Jn.1:1; 8:58; 17:5; omnipresent- Mt:28:20; Eph.1:23;
omniscient- Jn.16:30;21:17; omnipotent- Jn.5:19; immutable- Hb.1:12; 13:8). Divine Offices
(Creator- Jn.1:3; Col.1:16; Sustainer- Col.1:17; Hb.1:3). Divine Prerogatives (forgives sin –
Mt.9:2; Lk. 7:47; raises dead- Jn.5:25; 11:25; executes judgment- Jn.5:22). Identified with OT
YHWH (Jn.8:58; Jn.12:41;8:24, 50-58). Divine Names (Alpha & Omega-Rev.22:13; I AM –
Jn.8:58; Immanuel- Mt.1:22; Lord-Mt.7:21; Son of God- Jn.10:36; God- Jn.1:1; 2 Pt.1:1; Tit.2:13;
1Jn.5:20). Divine Relations (Image of God- Col.1:15; Hb.1:3; One with Father- Jn.10:30).
Accepts Divine Worship (Mt. 14:33; 28:9; Jn.20:28-29). Claims to be God (Jn.8:58; 10:30; 17:5 –
in such case, He is either liar, lunatic, or the Lord that He claims to be, but never can be regarded
as merely a good moral teacher).

III. UNDERSTANDING CHRIST’S HUMANITY

Human Nature – Human Birth (Mt.1:18;2:11). Human Development (Lk.2:50, 52). Essential
Elements of Human Nature (Human body – Mt.26:12; Jn.2:21; Reason & will – Mt. 26:38; Mk.
2:8). Human Names (Jesus -Mt. 1:21; Son of Man- Mt. 8:20; 11:18; Son of Abraham- Mt. 1:1;
Son of David- Mt.1:1). Sinless Infirmities of Human Nature (weariness-Jn.4:6; hunger- Mt.4:2;
21:18; thirst- Jn.19:28; temptation- Mt. 4; Hb.2:18). Repeatedly Called a Man (Jn.1:30; 4:9;
10:38).

III. Union of Natures

Theanthropic – The person of Xt is theanthropic; He has two natures, divine and human, in one person.
Personal – Hypostatic union, constituting one personal substance: two natures but one person.
Includes the Human and Divine Qualities and Acts – Both the human and divine qualities and acts
may be ascribed to Xt under either of His natures.
Constant Presence of Both Humanity and Divinity- His natures cannot be separated.

IV. THE SPIRIT AND DOCTRINE OF THE ANTI-CHRIST

1. Rejects either the humanity or divinity of Christ in His uniqueness (some try to think that any
human can be called divine)
2. Rejects the centrality, pre-eminence, sovereignty, authority, and finality of Christ
 FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang
December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

3. Rejects the Messiahship of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy and the God of Salvation
V. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INCARNATION, DEATH, RESURRECTION, AND
ASCENSION OF CHRIST
1. For Mediatorship: Representing Man to God (Priest), Representing God to Man (Prophet)
2. For Sinless Atonement; Substitutionary Sacrifice
3. For Ending the Old and Beginning the New
4. For Making Available Adoption and the Divine Inheritance to us

Why Christ?
The right of redemption belongs to Him, since all was made by Him, through Him, and for Him.

Application
1. Worship
2. Witness
3. Work
 FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang
December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

MODULE 3
FULLNESS THROUGH ENROOTEDNESS

# Faith-Assasins; Cheats “not according to Christ”

1. Philosophy: Rationality, Experience, Pleasure, Pain

Knowledge devoid of Revelation
Knowledge based on Speculation
Knowledge in self-rebellion

Col.2:4: Fine sounding arguments

2. Vain Deceit: Fashions of the world, Advertised Deceptiveness

Emptiness, Vaccum inside
Worthlessness
Meaninglessness, Absurdity
Boredom

Col. 3:1-10

3. Tradition of Men: Man made laws, customs, culture, etc

Basic Principles of the World
1. Naturalism – In-Worldliness: The answer is in nature (Religious Garb: Pantheism, Polytheism)
2. Atheism – Godlessness: The answer is self or absurdity (Religious Garb: Monism, Asceticism)
3. Humanism – Man is the measure: The answer is education
4. Anarchism – Lawlessness: The answer is freedom (Materialism, Hedonism)

False Authority
False Faith
False Practices
False Pride

Col.2:16-23

#The Call to Fullness

1. Receive Christ Jesus the Lord: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LORDSHIP – SOVEREIGNTY

2. Be rooted and built up in Him: ANCHORING IN CHRIST – CENTRALITY OF CHRIST
3. Be established in faith, as you have been taught: ACCORDANCE WITH TRUTH – PEOPLE
OF THE WORD
4. Abound in faith with thanksgiving: ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE – PRAYER OF FAITH
5. Walk in Him: ACTION IN AGREEMENT – PRACTICE OF HOLINESS

IMPORTANCE
Col.1:22,23
MODULE 4
# INGREDIENTS OF FULLNESS
 FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang
December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

“You are complete in Him”

What belongs to Christ belongs to us in all fullness

The Gifts of Grace

“Out of His fullness, we have received grace upon grace”

I. SALVATION (In-Working)
1. Justification: Forgiveness, Righteousness: Positional
2. Adoption: Spirit of the Son, Family Name, Family Likeness, Boldness, Access, Inheritance
3. Sanctification: Cleansing, Separatedness (Holiness), Ministry: Progressive
4. Glorification: Inner transformation, Final Glorification: Perfect
Through the Spirit – Fruit of the Spirit “above all love…” Col.3:14
II. SERVICE (Out-Working)
1. Gifts of Ministry: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers, Pastors
2. Gifts of Manifestation: 9 Gifts of the Holy Spirit
3. Gifts of Motivation: 9 Gifts of Motivation
APPLICATION
1. Do not forget God’s salvation: Do not be near-sighted
2. Be faithful to your role within the body of Christ
 FULLNESS IN CHRIST
Resource Person: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang
December 2009, Bordi Retreat Camp

MODULE 5
# FULLNESS IN THE BODY

“who is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:10

“holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments,
grows with the increase that is from God.” Col. 2:19

I. The Meaning of Church

1. Name – Ekklesia – an assembly of called out ones
Kuriake – that which belongs to the Lord
2. Xtns are called – brethren, believers, saints, elect, disciples, Christians, those of the Way (Ac. 9.2)
3. Illustrations
The Body of Christ (1Co.10.16; 12.27)
The Temple of God(1Pt.2.5,6;Ep.2.21,22;1Co.3.16,17)
The Bride of Xt (1 Co. 11.2; Ep.5.25-27; Rev.19.7)

II. Founding
1. The Rock (Mt. 16.18) – The Confession of Jesus being the Son of the living God (His Being) and the
Christ of God (His Work – Ministerial Title)
2. Eph. 2.20 – Apostles & Prophets (Xt – The Corner/Cap Stone). Apostolic Doctrine and Prophetic
Ministration

III. Headship of Christ

1. Personal Relationship of each member with Christ (no mediator)
2. Role of each member within the Body
3. Finality and Centrality of Christ over everything

IV. The Sacraments

V. A Fully Functioning Body

Decapitated Churches
Where man bears the scepter
Where board rules out the Spirit
Where program is more important than honoring God
Where ministry is a political arena
Where ministry is a market place
Where Christ is dishonored and disfigured through utilitarian abuses

Warnings: Book of Revelation 2, 3

IV. APPLICATION
1. How is your relationship with Jesus Christ?
2. How is your relationship with fellow believers?
3. What is your testimony in the world?