4 Powerful Ways Christ Makes Us Complete in Him

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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 (NIV)

    You are enough.

It’s a popular sentiment because it sounds so good. We want to believe it. It’s the centerpiece of many self-help philosophies. You are enough. But it’s wrong.

On the surface, I would agree. I get it. I really do. Whether you know and trust in the power of Christ’s work on the cross- or not- you are still made in the image of God. Whether you accept God’s love, or you whether you reject it, you are still loved by the creator of the universe- more deeply than you can ever comprehend or imagine.

     As long as you have breath in this life, you can’t escape God’s love. That love is powerful. As humans, we instinctively know that there is something deeply sacred about life. Humans are image bearers of God. He chose to create us, even with the knowledge that sin would enter the world through humanity, requiring the ultimate sacrifice from God- and even knowing, that some would still reject him.  

     God sent his only son from heaven to earth, to live, die, and rise again, for you, making a way to restore your relationship with God that was broken through sin.  That gift means complete salvation and forgiveness is available to you, no matter what you’ve done. That love is exemplified through the person of Jesus. He is love.  And the redemptive work Jesus did was necessary. Because here’s the truth:

     You are NOT enough.

     You are not enough on your own. You cannot save yourself. And you cannot live up to the standard of holiness that is required by the perfect, holy, and just God of the universe. None of us can. Deep down, we all know it’s true. There is nobody but Jesus who can meet this standard. (1 John 1:8)

     The good news is that Jesus is enough, and through him, we are complete. You are enough- in Christ. Let the credit go where it is due. You are enough, not because of anything you have done, but because of what Jesus has done. The only requirement is a humble acceptance of the forgiveness and salvation that is available through Jesus, alone, along with a desire to follow and obey him. The Holy Spirit puts that desire in our hearts and guides us.

We are nothing apart from Christ, but we are complete in him.

Here are four reasons how Christ makes us complete/enough in him:

    

1.     Salvation through Christ means we are spiritually whole.

When you accept Christ as your Savior, you are completely (not partially) saved. Yes, the Holy Spirit will continue to work in your life and you will continue to be sanctified as you grow more and more like Christ. But there is nothing you can do to become any more saved than you already are. Christ’s work of salvation is complete and perfect.

“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:10 (NLT)

2.     You don’t need to go through an earthly intermediary.

You have access to the Father through Christ. He is your intermediary. When you pray, God hears you.

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” – Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

3.     You have complete forgiveness.

You are fully accepted and declared righteous in Christ.

“as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” -Psalm 103:12 (NIV)

4.     You have complete victory.

This does not mean you will be problem free. It means that fear, sin, unbelief, and all those things that come between you and God, have been overcome. Jesus overcame these obstacles and we get to live in that freedom.

“for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” -1 John 5:4 (NIV)

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I pray these words will encourage you today and that you will know the joy and the confidence that comes from knowing that, though we are not enough, on our own, we are enough, in Christ.

You are enough, in Christ.

Linking up with Deb Wolf at #faithandfriends (Friday), #GraceandTruth (Friday), Lori at #Momentsofhope (Thursday)