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Complete in Christ Our Journey to Spiritual Maturity

By Glen Elliott

Yeomen Press Box 281 Walton KS 67151 www.yeomenpress.com

Internet sites cited may have changed or been removed. The author has no control over those changes. Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission www.Lockman.org

DEDICATION To Colleen, the love of my life who, through the years, has stood by my side warming my heart with her steadfast devotion, loving affection, and the reverberating echo of her laughter.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank all the elders under whom it has been my privilege to minister and all those members with whom it has been my pleasure to serve the Lord. Your grace and love have been a great source of encouragement. But, most of all, I am thankful to the Father in heaven who graciously extends the free gift of completeness in Christ. To Him belongs all glory both now and through eternity. Glen Elliott

Foreword We frequently hear the phrase “get your act together!” or “I’m getting my act together!” While such is a noble concept, there is never a more important area to “get together” than one’s own spiritual walk. We live in a world that is in a sad spiritual state. Religious confusion abounds, churches are hemorrhaging members at alarming rates and the role God plays in our lives is being reduced to virtual insignificance. There is a need for a spiritual revival, a return to the high calling of God and a reestablishment of the “living hope” that only God can provide (1 Peter 1:3). The all-important questions are asked in this book: “Will we accept the challenge and aim for the best that God has for us in terms of spiritual growth and maturity? Or will we settle for something less – something comfortable or convenient?” (p. 69). Yet one might logically ask: “Where do I begin?” If there is a genuine desire to return to God, or to strengthen a weakened relationship with Him, what is that first step? Fortunately, this book provides the answer. Glen Elliott takes us on a spiritual journey that will bring us home – a home in which we are truly “complete in Christ.” He addresses the logical starting point – Jesus, the Son of God. He doesn’t pretend that the journey is without pitfalls. He devotes considerable time to hindrances (chapter 9) and how to “hold on” (chapter 11). This work is well organized and easy to follow. It is clearly founded on the Word of God. Glen establishes his points with clarity and gives the biblical verses to back up what he is saying. After each chapter he provides discussion questions that will deepen one’s understanding of the important principles presented. More importantly, the questions will encourage us to make necessary changes in our own spiritual walk. Biblical

references are provided with the questions to make sure our answers are founded in the inspired word of God. Glen is wholly qualified to take us on this journey. He has prepared himself for this task and has devoted his life to ministry. He has the educational background and the experience needed to write a book like this. He has experienced the ups and downs in his own life, and has helped many people find their way back to God.

Denny Petrillo, Ph.D. President Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver

TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces ................................. p. 1 Confidence Concentration Constancy Chapter 2 – Getting it Back Together............................. p. 15 The Right Piece--Christ The Right Place—in You The Right Prospect—The Hope of Glory Chapter 3 – We Proclaim Him: Our Message ............... p. 29 What It Means to Proclaim Jesus What Proclaiming Christ Does Not Mean Chapter 4 – We Proclaim Him: Our Method ................. p. 43 We Proclaim Christ Universally We Must Proclaim Christ Didactically We Must Proclaim Christ Practically Chapter 5 – We Proclaim Him: Our Purpose ................ p. 59 The Presentation The Product Chapter 6 – We Proclaim Him: Our Work ...................... p. 73 The Greatest Purpose The Greatest Persistence The Greatest Power Chapter 7 – Christ: Our Teacher .................................... p. 87 Direction Decision Development

Chapter 8 – Christ: Our Measure of Completeness ..... p. 99 An Ongoing Process A Worthwhile Objective An Every Member Responsibility Chapter 9 – Hindrances to Completeness..................... p. 117 Past: We Have Died to Sin Present: We Have Laid Aside the Old Self Future: Wrath or the Kingdom? Chapter 10 – Companions of Completeness ................ p. 131 Virtues that Identify Us with Christ Virtues that Show Appreciation Virtues that Relate to His Image in Us Chapter 11– Holding On to Completeness .................... p. 145 The Crowning Virtue The Compelling Virtue The Completing Virtue Chapter 12 – Filled Up and Ready to Go ....................... p. 159 Filled Filled with Knowledge Filled to Overflowing Chapter 13 – A Life Complete in Christ ......................... p. 171 Walk Worthy of the Lord Please Him in Every Way Addendum – A Church Complete in Christ .................... p. 199 A Teaching Church A Working Church A Growing Church

INTRODUCTION Drawn to quick fixes, instant results, and painless makeovers, many have substituted shadow for substance. But there are no short-cuts to spiritual maturity. The deepest longing of the soul is met by Christ. In Him we are complete. Counterfeit Christianity is measured, not only by its departure from divine truth, but also by its heartless disconnect from everyday living. Without spiritually mature members, the church will be largely ineffective in sustaining its mission. The good news is that we can be complete in Christ even as we work toward spiritual maturity! Learn how you may experience the joy of completeness in Christ. By exploring the message of Paul to the church at Colossae, discover the true purpose and meaning of living for Jesus. By examining various aspects of completeness in Christ, this book will take you closer and closer to Jesus as you learn to appreciate His greatness and the power of His word. Each chapter is followed by questions designed for further study or group discussion. Drink deeply from the fountain that extols the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God bless you in your journey to completeness in Christ. Glen Elliott

A TIMELY WORD FROM AN ANCIENT CITY

All that remains of Colossae today is an unexcavated mound in southwest Turkey. But, at one time, Colossae was a city of some importance. Located in the beautiful Lycus River Valley along a major east/west trade route, from Ephesus to the Euphrates, Colossae was mentioned by Herodotus, the first secular world historian, as a “great city of Phrygia.” Cyrus’ famous general Xenophon described Colossae as a city “well-inhabited, pleasant, and large” (Barnes). However, by the first century, Strabo described it as a “small town” (O’Brien xxvi). There are a number of reasons for the fading away of Colossae. Perhaps it is best summarized by saying that, with the rise of its two sister cities in the region, Laodecia and Heiropolis, Colossae slipped into relative insignificance, and by 400 A.D., no longer existed as a city (Robertson 3). J.B. Lightfoot described Colossae as “the least important church to which any epistle of St. Paul is addressed” (16). Colossae was located in the Lycus Valley near the head waters of the Lycus River at a place where the Lycus River at one time had disappeared into the earth only to re-emerge about half a mile downstream where it eventually flowed into the Meander River and then into the Aegean Sea. The site is surrounded by mountains. Mt. Cadmus several miles to the south rises some 8,435 feet above the city. Another even higher mountain rises to the north. The Lycus River brought great wealth to the tri-city area in that it left behind beautiful deposits of calcium, calcium phosphate, and limestone. These deposits were used to produce dye to color the wool of sheep raised in the area. The name of the city itself, Colossae, may come from Colossus, perhaps, referring to a large statue or mineral deposit in the area. Or, it could derive

from Colossinus which describes the purple color used in dyeing their wool (Olbricht 10). As wealthy as this region was, it was also volcanic and prone to earthquakes. In fact, within a few years of receiving this letter, the region suffered a major earthquake, destroying the cities. Laodecia refused the help of the State and rebuilt using its own resources. Perhaps, this sheds a bit of light on what Jesus said to the church at Laodecia in the latter part of the first century when He accused them of saying, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing…” (Rev. 3:17). Laodecia was a wealthy and politically significant city— eventually becoming the capital city of the province. Across the river, about six miles away, was Heiropolis. This was a religious center and located in the midst of hot baths of mineral water, the vapors of which were believed to have healing powers. Both cities were about 12 miles downstream from Colossae and would have shared similar circumstances in the first century. It is possible that the churches of this region were planted as a result of the missionary work of the apostle Paul in the city of Ephesus on his third missionary journey. The inspired record does not mention a stop in Colossae. In fact, many believe that Colossians 2:1 argues against Paul having done mission work in Colossae. That verse says, “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face.” Paul’s mode of operation, after having been put out of the synagogue at Ephesus is described in Acts 19:10 where we learn that he spoke in the school of Tyrannus “for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.” Ephesus became an evangelistic center from which congregations were planted throughout the whole region. Rehearsing his work at Ephesus to their elders, Paul said, “You yourselves know, from the first

day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time…” (Acts 20:18). And then, in verse 31, he adds: “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.” There seems to have been a three-year period of uninterrupted work in the city of Ephesus. It is possible that Paul started the work in Colossae. Describing the beginning of the Third Missionary Journey, Acts 18:23 says he left Antioch “and passed successively through the Galatian region and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.” Although many believe the apostle traveled through the northern part of Phrygia, some argue that he may have taken the southern route and, therefore, may have come through Colossae. However, his activity during this period of time consisted of “strengthening all the disciples.” There were Jews from Phrygia in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. These may have had a part in bringing the gospel back to their homeland. However, it is more commonly believed, and for good reason, that Epaphras brought them the gospel. Paul spoke of their having “learned” the truth from Epaphras, “our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful servant of Christ on our behalf” (Col. 1:7). It is possible that Epaphras was converted by Paul in Ephesus and then was sent back home to preach the gospel. Paul describes him in chapter 4:12 as “one of your number.” Apparently, his concern for their spiritual well-being as well as the well-being of those in Laodicea and Heiropolis (vs. 13), caused him to travel 1,000 miles to Rome where Paul had been imprisoned. He had informed Paul of their situation and some very real threats from a particular kind of false teaching that was beginning to infiltrate the church. Paul sent this letter, along with a letter to Philemon, with another faithful and beloved brother by the name of Tychicus who would bring them up to speed about

Paul’s circumstances (Col. 4:7). It is believed to have been written about 61 to 63 A.D. The purpose for which the book of Colossians was written had to do with arming the brethren in Colossae against the aforementioned error. Normally referred to as the Colossian Heresy, volumes have been written arguing various theories about its identity. Some suggest that it is Gnosticism or at least what would later become full-blown Gnosticism. Others identify it with some form of Jewish influence, perhaps that of the Essenes. Still others see some mystical aspects from the religions of the indigenous people of the region, likely adopted as a result of teachings that made their way west long ago from ancient Babylon. Some argue that someone had arrived with a peculiar admixture of Jewish tradition and Greek philosophy. It is likely, in my opinion, that this heresy that threatened Colossae was a mixture of all these things. Syncretism is “the attempt or tendency to combine or reconcile differing beliefs, as in philosophy or religion” (The American Heritage Dictionary). Syncretic religion was commonly practiced in the world into which Christ came. Because you worshipped Artemis of the Ephesians did not mean your devotion to her was exclusive. You might also worship Apollos or Cybele (regional gods of the Lycus Valley). Like those in Athens, the inhabitants of the Lycus Valley, were always looking for the newest idea or philosophy that they could bring into their expanding system of religious beliefs. And, because of their geographic location on a major east/west trade route, they were exposed to a wide-range of teachings. Christianity, however, is exclusive. There is “salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;

no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn. 14:6). Christians belonged to “the way” not to “a way” (Acts 9:2). How are we influenced by syncretism? Morals become relative. “Your” moral system plus “my” moral system becomes “our” moral system regardless of how different they might be in their specifics. Situation ethics. The absence of moral restraint. Anything goes. If it feels good, do it. In government, syncretism is one world government—espoused by some as the way to get along. In religion, syncretism is one world religion—one way is as good as another. Tolerance is the gospel. Truth is the victim. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” (Jn. 8:32). And then, He prayed, “Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17). Are we as removed from the religious climate of first century Colossae as we think? People today come to Christ from all sorts of backgrounds. But, when we come to Christ, we must not bring the world or the teachings of the world with us. In a word, the answer for the problem in Colossae was “Christ.” “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete…” (Col. 2:9-10). All we need is Jesus. He is the answer and we must leave the world and its philosophies behind as we follow Him. Glen Elliott

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

CHAPTER ONE PICKING UP THE PIECES

How do we effectively develop and nurture the faith of Christians so as to make them complete in Christ? For years, those in positions of leadership in the church have struggled to find ways of helping members reach spiritual maturity. Many congregations struggle so mightily to hold on to their own members that little resources are left for evangelistic outreach. What we have discovered is that spiritual maturity or completeness within the membership of a congregation is essential to sustained growth. Completeness in Christ is the subject of Paul’s discussion in Colossians 1:28-29 where he writes: “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” Following the apostle’s example, we must develop an appreciation for the fact that spiritual maturity or completeness is found only in Jesus Christ. We might illustrate what it means to be complete in Christ by comparing our journey to spiritual maturity to putting together a puzzle. Imagine a puzzle patterned after the likeness of a beautiful painting. The picture on the box is breathtaking. So, with a little encouragement, we make the purchase and bring it home. But, when we get home and open up the box to pour out its contents on the kitchen table, we are not nearly as excited as we once might have been. We are struck by how this disorganized mess has such little resemblance to the desired potential as illustrated by the picture on the outside of the box. But, if puzzles came already assembled, they would not be called puzzles. They would be called posters or pictures. Be that as it may, some folks are thrilled by the challenge of putting a puzzle together and then marveling at the finished product. When we become Christians, our goal is to be like Jesus in word, thought, and deed. This might be compared to the beautiful 1

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picture on the outside of the box. But, what we discover is that in many ways we resemble a pile of disorganized pieces of a puzzle. All the pieces are there—they just need to be put in the right places. That is a challenge which must be met through spiritual growth. In fact, it is a challenge that will occupy the rest of our lives—a challenge that can only be achieved with the help and guidance of the Lord. But, when the pieces are properly placed, we begin to grow more and more into the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. And, to the extent that we resemble His image, we grow in our ability to encourage one another and lead souls to Jesus—thus contributing to the fulfillment of God’s mission for His church. It all sounds quite simple. So, why don’t we all just get busy and put the puzzle together? Well, it’s really not quite as easy as it sounds because there are many pieces and only one place for each piece. Furthermore, the devil is not just going to stand idly by while we get the pieces of our lives put back together. He’s going to distract, distort, and discourage every step along the way. But we must not be “ignorant of his schemes” so that he might not gain advantage over us (2 Cor. 2:11). The devil will seek to distract us by drawing our attention away from the work God has called us to do in cooperating with Him to build our lives after the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:17-18). The devil will also work at distorting the image we are seeking to reproduce by adding to or taking away from the pattern God has given in Christ (Rev. 22:18-19). And finally, the devil will seek to discourage us by convincing us that our work is in vain and that our efforts are wasted in the Lord (Gal. 6:9-10). The net effect is this: while we are trying to put our lives together, the devil is trying to tear them apart. He is stealing pieces out of the puzzle and replacing them with pieces that do not belong. Therefore, we must “be on the alert” for our “adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). But God says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). So, what do we need to put this puzzle together? We need confidence, concentration, and constancy. With these three essentials in place, we will be prepared to make great strides toward spiritual maturity. 2

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

CONFIDENCE In a familiar passage related to Christian confidence, the apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Ph. 4:13). These are powerful words—words that should be repeated over and over again as we search for strength to put together the broken and fragmented pieces of our lives. If such confidence calls for anything, it calls for faith in Jesus Christ. To illustrate our need for faith, imagine that instead of a 1,000 piece puzzle, we are faced with the daunting task of putting together a 10,000 piece puzzle. Would that affect our level of confidence? Suppose things were taken a step further and that, instead of having a picture of what the finished product should look like, the pieces of our puzzle were all the same color? Surely, that would have some influence on our level of confidence! But then, suppose that this 10,000 piece, single-color puzzle was comprised of pieces that had no recognizable pattern, but that each of the 10,000 pieces were unique, like 10,000 snowflakes falling on a December morning. What then? How much confidence could we have in our ability to put it all together? I’m afraid that most of us would say, “Forget it! I’m not wasting my time trying to put that puzzle together!” But, what if our lives depended on it? What then? We simply must come to understand that there are some things that are humanly impossible no matter how hard we try or how many hours we put into the task. Putting the pieces of our lives together is not possible by placing our confidence in human wisdom. Jeremiah prayed, “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). Solomon observed that “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12). God's word reveals that we are not smart enough to put our own lives back together much less help somebody else put their life in order. Confidence cannot be based on human wisdom. Neither should confidence be based on human righteousness. Such righteousness will not help us put our lives back together. Every time we sin, we mess up the Master’s design like splotches of ink spilled on fabric set aside by a seamstress who is planning to 3

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make a new garment. How can such fabric be cleansed so as to make it suitable for the work of the seamstress? Because of sin, we are faced with a similar dilemma. Paul identified the reason why relying on human righteousness is an exercise in futility when he said, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). It would be foolish to assert otherwise. The apostle John said that if someone should claim to have no sin, then he or she is either a liar or self-deceived (1 Jn. 1:8, 10). One of the clearest examples of the futility of placing our confidence in human righteousness is found in the story of the Rich Young Ruler. This young man came to Jesus one day asking, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (Mt. 19:16). Jesus asked him if he was keeping the commandments of the Lord (vss. 17-19). Or, as we might ask, “Do you have all your pieces in place?” He answered in the affirmative, saying, “All these things I have kept from my youth” (Lk. 18:21). Yet, he knew that there was something missing and so he asked, “…what am I still lacking?” (Mt. 19:20). How sad to discover that, after we have worked so hard to put all the pieces together, we are very much like this young man with whom Jesus held this conversation—that we are still incomplete! This man’s sad state of affairs began with misplaced confidence in himself. Spiritually speaking, we simply cannot pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We can never be good enough to get it all together by ourselves. Finally, we should observe that putting the pieces of our life together is not possible by placing our confidence in material possessions. Paul told Timothy to instruct the rich “not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches” (1 Tim. 6:17). When someone claims to have it all together, what do they mean? Does a good job, a beautiful house, a nice car, and expensive clothing mean that we have all the pieces in place? No, that’s just the outside. It says nothing about what is on the inside. These things are temporary, not eternal. So, whether we are talking about human wisdom, human achievement, or human possession— we cannot put the pieces of our life back together by placing confidence in our own strength. 4

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

Suppose we go back into the room we described earlier—the room with the 10,000 piece puzzle. How are we going to have any confidence that we can get it put together? We don’t know what it is supposed to look like. We have no idea how the pieces fit together. So, no matter how hard we work, we will not be able to make any real progress. But what if a “master puzzle designer” showed up? What if we found out about his power to put puzzles together? What if we heard others talk about how he had helped them put their pieces in place? Would we ask him for help— especially if our lives depended on it? In such a case, wouldn’t getting that puzzle together become a matter of faith? Would we trust this man’s advice? Would we follow his instructions? Of course we would. Why? Because of our confidence that he knows what he is doing and our awareness that we do not. We have something infinitely more complex than 10,000 uniquely shaped pieces of a single-color puzzle to put together. And, it is not our lives but our souls that hang in the balance. Without the Lord, we are clueless when it comes to putting our spiritual lives back together. Like “Humpty Dumpty” in the nursery rhyme: “All the king's horses and all the king's men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.” Where then is our confidence that we can put our lives back together? Our confidence is in the Great Physician who has proven, over and over again, that He has the power to put lives back together? “It is no secret what God can do; what He’s done for others, He’ll do for you” (Hamblen). It really is a matter of faith. Paul said, “…we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). So, where is our confidence? Our confidence is in Christ so that, with Paul, we may say, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Ph. 4:13). CONCENTRATION Along with confidence, a second essential we must have in order to develop spiritual maturity is concentration. Rather than focusing on the things in which he had formerly boasted, Paul said, “I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having 5

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laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Ph. 3:12-14). If there is one thing we can say about the apostle Paul, it is that he was focused. He had the ability to concentrate on what he was doing and where he was going. Is it any wonder why Paul was arguably the most successful and influential Christian missionary in the history of the world? The reason so many are making little or no progress in putting their lives back together is that they are not concentrating properly or are concentrating on the wrong things. Too many Christians exhibit characteristics of what we might call Spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder. Can you imagine the success we might have putting any puzzle together if we were distracted, first by one thing and then by another? Our self-talk might go something like this: “I need to get a glass of water…You know, I’m a little hungry, so I think I’ll go into the kitchen and make myself a little sandwich….Wait just a minute! I don’t want to miss that ballgame. I better turn on the TV so I can watch it while I work on this puzzle…Oh, I need to check the thermostat—it seems a little hot in here…I almost forgot, I better go make that telephone call…If I don’t do it now, it may be next week before I can get the lawn mowed…And, what about the fertilizer? I sure need to get it down before it rains…Now, what was I supposed to be doing?” Very little meaningful progress is made toward spiritual maturity without concentration. Whereas confidence requires faith in Christ, concentration requires focus on Christ. Paul said, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2). We must fix our eyes on Jesus and concentrate on Him. This is how Paul succeeded in his ministry. He said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Ph. 1:21). Writing to the Corinthian church, he said, “…I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). Oh, that we might concentrate on Jesus!

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

We could save ourselves a lot of pain and heartache if we could just keep our focus on Jesus. In our English New Testament, anxiety or worry is often taken from a word that literally means to be drawn in two directions. W.E. Vine goes on to include distraction in his list of possible translations (89). Anxiety is the result of losing our focus. James spoke of the double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, who “ought not to expect to receive anything from the Lord” (Jas. 1:7). God requires a focused faith. Lack of focus is what caused Peter to sink in the troubled sea. At the invitation of the Lord, Peter climbed out of the boat and began to walk to Jesus on the surface of the water (Mt. 14:29). But, when he was distracted by the wind, “he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Mt. 14:39). It was Peter’s lack of focus— allowing himself to be distracted—that caused him to lose faith and become overwhelmed by fear. We, too, must keep our concentration focused on Jesus. Like a laser-guided missile locked on its target, we need to be focused on Jesus. Paul said, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4). That is focus. In a discussion regarding things that distract us to worry and anxiety, Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt. 6:33). While confidence has to do with trust in the One who alone is able to give us the strength to pick up the pieces and put it all together in Christ; concentration has to do with being able to focus on the One who must be our number one priority—the goal that we are trying to achieve in putting it all together in the first place. In putting a puzzle together, where do we start? Most of us start with what is easiest—the outside edge of the puzzle. These pieces are easy to identify because they all have at least one straight edge. Imagine visiting someone with a reputation of being obsessed with puzzles. Arriving at his home, we discover that he 7

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has a huge metal building in back of his house dedicated to his hobby. Invited to take a look, we enter the building to find that there are many tables set up throughout the building. On each of these tables is a puzzle—puzzles of all kinds, beautiful puzzles scattered throughout the building. But, making our way through the building, we begin to notice that the only thing that has been done to any of these puzzles is that the outside edges have been put together. The rest of each puzzle is just lying there, piled up in the center of the table. What kind of person obsesses about puzzles and then only finishes the outside edges? Puzzles which might have been beautiful works of art hardly resemble the picture on the box. Our disappointment is pronounced in that this so called “expert” has done only that which was easy. Here’s the point we need to grasp: while we may begin ordinary puzzles from the outside edges and work in—this is not the way we put together the spiritual puzzle of our life. Picking up the pieces of our life and building a likeness of Jesus in our soul begins on the inside. Our concentration is on Jesus who is meant to be the center and focal point of our life. And, as we keep our focus on Him, all the other pieces of our life begin to fall into their rightful place. Misplaced priorities keep us from being complete in Christ. They distract us from the One who is to be our true focus. They cause us to be merely shells of what we ought to be and, as a result, when people look at us, they cannot see Jesus at all because we have merely put together the outside edge. We have done only that which was easiest. People are looking for Jesus in us. Let’s not disappoint them. Remember that Jesus is in the middle—in the center of the puzzle. That is where we need to be concentrating our efforts. The outside edge is important; but not to the neglect of the weightier matters of the heart. We must keep our concentration on Jesus.

CONSTANCY Finally, in addition to confidence and concentration, we must also possess constancy if we are to pick up the pieces and put 8

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

together the puzzle of our lives. As the Hebrew writer addressed the hardships and perils that faced his readers, he also emphasized the reward, saying, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Heb. 10:36). Oh, how we need to be constant! Jesus commanded His disciples to be “faithful until death” (Rev. 2:10). Paul admonishes us to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Cor. 15:58). Constancy is a rare but sorely-needed virtue. When we think about being complete in Christ—taking that journey to spiritual maturity—it sounds like a long-term project. We cannot just take a couple of classes or listen to a series of sermons and be done with it. It is a lifetime pursuit that we never fully complete this side of heaven. In this a paradox is encountered in as much as there is also a sense in which every Christian who is walking in the light (1 Jn. 1:7) and standing in the grace of God (Rom. 5:1) is complete in Christ (Col. 1:28). However, every Christian who is walking in the light and standing in the grace of God will also be growing into the likeness of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Pet. 2:1-3; 3:18). So, there must be a sense in which we are complete even while we are growing—even though we are in many ways quite incomplete although walking in the light and standing in the grace of God. Perhaps, that is why the Bible attributes our completeness to being in Christ Jesus (Col. 1:28). So, it seems that, while we are growing toward spiritual maturity, there is still much we lack; but, by the grace of God we are yet complete in Christ and justified by His blood. It is precisely when we stop growing as Christians that we step out of the light and away from Him who alone puts all the pieces in the right places. Keeping all this in mind, remember that there is also a practical level of spiritual maturity that is measured by the decisions we make and the things we are able to do with the help of the Lord. “By reason of time,” the Hebrew author said, “you ought to be teachers” (Heb. 5:12). In other words, they ought to have developed spiritually to the point where they could teach others. However, they were still babes in Christ and in need of someone to feed them the milk of the word. They had not practiced the things 9

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they had learned and, as a result, were stunted in their spiritual growth. This practical maturity will be the subject under discussion in the chapters that follow in this book. At one time or another, most of us have felt stuck in our spiritual growth. Spiritual growth is not something that can be forced or coerced. We do not know why God’s word germinates and grows in one heart and dies in another. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like a man who casts seed upon the soil; and he goes to bed at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows—how, he himself does not know” (Mk. 4:26-27). Perhaps, it is best to give up on speculation and second-guessing. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Cor. 3:6). While there are many things we do not understand about what it takes to get someone to grow to spiritual maturity, there are some things we do know. For example, we do know that repentance opens the door to God’s blessing (Acts 3:19). We also know that a study of God’s word followed by a commitment to practice its teachings is another avenue to spiritual growth (Jas. 1:25). Finally, we must not forget the contribution that prayer makes toward spiritual advancement (Lk. 17:5). It’s not hard to imagine someone getting stuck while putting a puzzle together. Nothing seems to fit where it is placed. Finally, after repeated failure a sharp knife is used to make pieces fit into places where they do not belong. Likewise, there may be times when we feel frustrated or discouraged about our own spiritual growth. It is then that we must keep working God’s plan instead of trying to force our own. Constancy relates to patience and patience is what we need in all aspects of the Lord’s work. This is reflected in Paul's statement to the Colossians: “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me” (Col. 1:28-29). In a world that is broken and bleeding, what a blessing it is to be complete in Christ! Our confidence is in Christ. Our concentration is on Christ. And, our constancy is with Christ. 10

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

The story of the Rich Young Ruler illustrates the fact that, sometimes, we have to give up something in order to be complete. He needed to give up his love for his material possessions. Because he was unwilling to do so, he went away sorrowful still missing life's greatest possession. Christ alone is the piece that fills our hearts and makes us whole. He is the One “…who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23). As the song says, “Bring Christ your broken life…He will create anew…Make whole again!” (Chisholm 911). Satan offers some attractive pieces that he would like to deceive us into accepting as the pieces that will make us complete. But, all he has to offer is “…the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life” (1 Jn. 2:15-17). Satan is a liar and the father of lies (Jn. 8:44). We must let go of our pride and our sin and make room for Jesus alone as the Lord of our lives. He alone can put our lives back together and make us truly complete.

Complete in Christ - Elliott

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What are some things Satan can do to make our journey to spiritual maturity more difficult? (Mt. 7:15; Mk. 4:15; 2 Cor. 4:4; 11:3; Eph. 6:11; 1 Jn. 2:15-17).

2. How can accepting what we cannot do help us find confidence in the future? (Jer. 10:23; Is. 64:6; Lk. 12:15 cf. Rom. 5:6; 8:32; Ph. 4:13).

3. How can we overcome “Spiritual Attention Deficit Disorder”? (Prov. 4:25-27; Col. 3:1-4; Heb. 12:1-2).

4. Why is it so important to build our lives from the inside-out? (Prov. 4:23; Mt. 12:35; 15:19; Rom. 8:9).

5. How can we be “complete in Christ” in the present if we are expected to continue growing spiritually? (Col. 1:28 cf. 1 Pet. 3:18).

6. What are some practical steps we can take in the direction of spiritual growth? (1 Pet. 2:1-2; 3:10-12; Jas. 1:19-22).

7. What are some things which must be given up in order to be made complete? (Mt. 16:24-26; Rom. 13:14; Jas. 4:6-10).

Chapter 1 – Picking Up the Pieces

WORKS CITED

Chisholm, T.O. “Bring Christ Your Broken Life.” Songs of Faith and Praise. Comp. and Ed. by Alton H. Howard. West Monroe, LA: Howard Publishing Co., Inc., 1994. Hamblen, Carl Stuart. “It Is No Secret.” New York, 1950. W.E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1984.