“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
— Colossians 2:9–10 (NLT)
Paul’s words here are some of the most astounding in the New Testament. Everything God is—His power, wisdom, holiness, and love—was revealed in Christ. And then Paul makes this staggering claim: we are complete in Him.
Yet many of us, even sincere followers of Jesus, don’t live as if that’s true. We know the promise, but we often fall short of walking in it. Why is that?
1. We Forget Who We Are in Christ
It’s easy to see ourselves through the lens of our failures, past mistakes, or human weakness instead of through our new identity in Christ. Paul constantly reminds believers to live “in Christ” because he knew how quickly we forget.
We act like spiritual paupers, though we’re heirs with Christ. When we renew our minds daily in God’s Word, we begin to live from our true identity rather than our old nature.
2. We Settle for Religion Instead of Relationship
There’s a big difference between knowing about Christ and actually abiding in Him. Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” Many Christians try to do good things for God without doing them with God.
Fullness doesn’t come from performance—it comes from relationship. The more we walk with Him, the more His life fills ours.
3. We Struggle to Believe It’s True
This truth can feel almost too good to be true. Our natural instinct is to earn God’s approval or to strive for spiritual success. But Paul reminds us:
“You are complete—now live out of that completeness.”
Faith receives what grace provides. When we truly believe we are already complete in Christ, it changes everything about how we live.
4. We’re Distracted by the World
Life is loud. We’re surrounded by noise, demands, and endless distractions. The more our eyes are fixed on circumstances, the less we live with the awareness of Christ’s indwelling presence. We must regularly quiet our hearts and turn our focus back to Him.
5. We Don’t Yield Fully to the Holy Spirit
The fullness of Christ is made real in us through the Holy Spirit. But He only fills what we yield. The more we surrender—our plans, attitudes, and desires—the more His power works through us. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
6. We Fail to Stay Rooted
Just a verse earlier, Paul wrote:
“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.”
Fullness isn’t a one-time experience—it’s a lifelong process of deepening roots. Shallow roots lead to shallow faith. But when we stay rooted in Christ, His strength becomes ours, and our lives bear lasting fruit.
The Truth That Changes Everything
We don’t live up to our potential—not because we lack anything—but because we don’t live from what we already have. The fullness of Christ is already within us. The more we walk in awareness of that truth, the more His life flows through ours.
A Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that all the fullness of God lives in You—and that You live in me. Help me to live from that truth today. Fill me with Your Spirit. Let Your strength replace my weakness, Your wisdom replace my confusion, and Your peace rule my heart. I want to walk in the completeness You’ve already given me. Amen.
