Daily Bread – January 28, 2023 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) John 1:16 – And of His fullness we have all received, and grace after grace. We Have Received His Fullness The idea of being filled with all of the fullness of Christ Jesus is an awesome example of God’s willingness to share everything He has with us. Paul also uses this same word ‘pleroma’ (fullness) to make some of the most radical statements in the New Testament. In Ephesians 4:13, Paul says that we are to come to “the measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ”. Paul told the Church in Roman that he would come in the “fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:28-29). Paul makes it known that “God was pleased for all fullness to dwell” in Christ Jesus, and that “in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 1:19, 2:9). And also that His Church, which is the body of Christ, “is the fullness of Him that fills all things” (Ephesians 1:23). The very idea is shocking to many because such a blessing and position seems so far out of reach. Unfortunately, many still consider their relationship with God on a meritorious basis to one degree or another. However, when we view the ‘chesed’ (covenant love/grace) of God in the Old Testament, we observe that not even Israel under the Law received their relationship with God and their inheritance based upon their own goodness and faithfulness (Deuteronomy 9:14). This privilege of receiving the fullness of Christ is a result of God’s Own good pleasure and purpose for us – not by any works of righteousness we have done. Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 1/28/2023
