“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22
Dear Ones:
When the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the believers at Colossae, he laid before them some most extraordinary truths, not only because they were revolutionary in their effect upon the life of the believer, but also, because they had been hidden from before the foundation of the world. These truths were embedded and incorporated in the overwhelming reality of the believer’s union with Christ, we IN Him, and He IN us. Preceded by the declaration that “…In Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, ” is the corresponding truth: “And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power.” (Colossians 2:9,10) Why is this concept so powerful in its capacity to transform us into the image of Christ? Perhaps one of the best ways to grasp the answer is found in looking at the different aspects of our Lord’s relationship with the Father, and the corresponding role that we have with Him.
The Lord Jesus was first and foremost HOLY, a “saint,” in the truest sense of the word. He was totally set apart unto His Father, perfectly righteous and good, there being no flaw or fault in Him, thus, well-pleasing to His Father in the highest and most noble sense. He was also the Son, begotten of God, but not created. In this role He was beloved, the whole of the affection of God the Father set upon Him. He was the perfect Servant also, one who lived under the authority of the Father, in order to serve the Father in the accomplishment of His purposes according to His will. And finally, He was a Soldier, the perfect warrior, who in the face of insurmountable opposition from a human standpoint, did overcome every obstacle, enemy, and personal loss to His person, in order to win a perfect victory over sin, death, the world, and Satan…for us. Remarkably, Christ became all these things on this earth, because He was already all these things IN HEAVEN. All the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Him, and marvel of marvels, because of our union with Him, we have been made COMPLETE in Him.
We come now to what Paul declares he has become because of what he IS…in Christ. Christ has set him apart and made him holy by virtue of clothing him with his perfect righteousness. He also made him to be a child of God by the new birth, a servant of God by the Spirit, and a soldier of Christ by authority and power. It is as the apostle IS what he has become, that he can say, “…I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” Paul’s capacity to love and serve others, even in the face of opposition, difficulty, and suffering, is made possible by his union with Christ, this perfect saint, Son, servant, and soldier.
Dear Father, give us a clear vision of Who Thy Son truly IS, and what He has accomplished to save us. Open our eyes to see what it means to be IN Him, to derive all from Him, living by the faith of the Son of God for every need. Then we, like the Apostle, will be enabled to pray, love, serve others, that they too might be saved, for Thy glory and honor. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad