Scripture Reading: Deut. 8:9; Col. 2:7-15; Phil. 1:19
Ⅰ
Colossians 2:6-7 reveals that Christ as the good land is the rich soil in which we have been rooted so that we may grow with the elements that we absorb from the soil—cf. 1 Cor. 3:6, 9; Col. 2:19.
Ⅱ
Colossians 2:8-15 presents a full description and definition of Christ as the soil, in which we do not lack anything; as we take time to absorb Him as the all-inclusive land, the facts in these verses become our experience:
A
Christ as the soil is the One in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily—v. 9:
１
Fullness refers not to the riches of God but to the expression of the riches of God; what dwells in Christ is not only the riches of the Godhead but the expression of the riches of what God is—v. 9; 1:15, 18; 3:10-11.
２
When we are rooted in Christ as the soil, we are made full in Him; we are filled up with all the divine riches to become His expression—Eph. 3:8, 19.
３
In Christ as the soil we are filled, completed, perfected, satisfied, and thoroughly supplied; we do not lack anything—cf. Phil. 1:19.
４
Christ as the soil is the history and mystery of God with all the riches of His person and processes—Col. 2:2:
ａ
Christ is God—John 1:1; 20:28-29; Isa. 9:6; John 14:9-10; 2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Cor. 15:45b; Acts 2:36.
ｂ
Christ is man—1 Tim. 2:5:
⑴
He is the Apostle—Heb. 3:1.
⑵
He is the Prophet—Acts 3:22-23.
⑶
He is the Counselor—Isa. 9:6.
⑷
He is the Teacher—Matt. 23:8, 10.
⑸
He is the Leader—Heb. 2:10.
⑹
He is the Master—Luke 5:5.
⑺
He is the Slave—Isa. 42:1.
⑻
He is the Shepherd—John 10:11.
⑼
He is the Witness—Rev. 1:5.
⑽
He is the Priest—Heb. 7:25-26.
⑾
He is the Mediator—8:6.
⑿
He is the surety—7:22.
⒀
He is the King—Matt. 2:2.
⒁
He is the Bridegroom—John 3:29; 2 Cor. 11:2.
ｃ
Christ is our necessities—John 14:6:
⑴
He is our light—8:12.
⑵
He is our air—20:22.
⑶
He is our water—4:14.
⑷
He is our food—6:35.
⑸
He is our clothing—Gal. 3:27.
⑹
He is our lodging—John 15:5.
⑺
He is our enjoyment and rest—Col. 2:16-17; Matt. 11:28.
ｄ
Christ is our divine provision—1 Cor. 1:30:
⑴
He is our power—v. 24b.
⑵
He is our wisdom—vv. 24b, 30b.
⑶
He is our righteousness—v. 30b.
⑷
He is our sanctification—v. 30b.
⑸
He is our redemption—v. 30b.
ｅ
Christ is to the church:
⑴
He is the Head of the Body—Col. 1:18.
⑵
He is the Body of the Head—1 Cor. 12:12.
⑶
He is the foundation of the church—3:11.
⑷
He is the cornerstone of the house of God, the church—Eph. 2:20.
⑸
He is all the members of the new man—Col. 3:10-11.
B
Christ as the soil is the Head of all rule and authority—2:10.
C
In Christ as the soil there is the killing power, which puts the flesh to death—v. 11.
D
In Christ as the soil there is an element which causes us to be buried—v. 12a.
E
In Christ as the soil there is an element which causes us to be raised up— v. 12b.
F
In Christ as the soil there is an element which vivifies us—v. 13.
G
In Christ as the soil there is the wiping out of the handwriting in ordinances—v. 14.
H
In Christ as the soil there is the victory over the evil spirits in the atmosphere—v. 15.
Ⅲ
We must take time to enjoy the Lord as the all-inclusive land so that all the elements of Christ as the rich soil may be absorbed into us for us to be made full in Him in our experience—Col. 2:10a; 4:2:
A
If we would absorb the riches of Christ as the soil, we need to have tender, new roots—cf. 2 Cor. 4:16.
B
We need to forget our situation, our condition, our failures, and our weaknesses and simply take time to absorb the Lord—Luke 8:13; 14:22:23; 6:6.
C
The highest profession on earth is to spend time being infused with God so that we may glow with God and shine forth God; this is to absorb God for us to be made full with His riches to become His fullness—Exo. 33:11a; 2 Cor. 3:18—4:1; Col. 2:19; Eph. 3:16-19.