Colossians 2:9
A Key Question For You To Answer
Examine the picture to the left of this paragraph. I have a very basic riddle for you to solve: Is the water in the glass or is the glass in the water? I’m sure there is some philosophical nutcase who would do their best to argue the finer points of moisture content in the atmosphere, but I’ll digress from that discussion!
Have you decided which it is? Of course you have. It doesn’t take long conversation, expansive deductive reasoning or a political popularity poll to quickly reach the conclusion that the water is definitely in the glass.
The key question for you to answer within yourself and within the confines of your own theological understanding is this:
Is Jesus “in” the Godhead or is the Godhead “in” Jesus?
BEWARE!
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:…” Colossians 2:6-10
From Colossians we understand that God wants us to be rooted and established (verse 7 reads ‘stablished’) in Jesus. From the entirety of the bible, it is clear that God wants us to know him, to be grounded on a solid foundation and to be knowledgable of Him. If there is one thing we should be in these last days, it’s established in Christ! Not only should you be rooted, you need to be firmly established in Christ or Satan will have you tossed too and fro with every wind of doctrine which comes along.
Let’s take a closer look at Colossians 2:8-10. Verse 8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” The Apostle Paul is giving a strong warning to BEWARE of those who would spoil you (rob from, take from, ruin you, deprive you of your faith, etc). We already know that Satan wishes to steal, kill and to destroy (John 10:10) and that he would love nothing more than to see you fail miserably in your Christian walk. Don’t be deceived, my dear one. Satan has many men planted all over the world who would just love to destroy you, who will shake you from your faith and will spoil (or even make spoil of) you. Paul further states the means by which some would spoil you: “…through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ”. The implication is that philosophy, tradition and the rudiments of the world (carnal principles or thinking) will DESTROY you!
I want you to concentrate for a moment on the next verse. Verse 9.
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily“.
Verse 9 isn’t a long scripture but it is very powerful. I’m not a ‘one scripture theologian’ but if you’ll use this scripture as a base along with the question asked at the top of this page, you’ll have a reference by which to answer the many inquires you’ll certainly have as we study the Godhead. Verse 9 states “…in him…” In whom? Verse 8 gives us the clear answer. We are speaking of course, of Christ!
Allow me to further break down verse 9: “…in him…” (Christ) dwelleth (resides, lives) all (the entire amount, the whole quantity, every member or individual component of, the whole or sum of, the extent of) the fulness (containing all that is possible, complete in every particular, the maximum or complete amount, possessing all qualties or quantities of, to the complete extent) of the Godhead (divine nature, essence, nature of God, totality of God’s nature) bodily (in his “person”, in the flesh, physical as opposed to spiritual or mental, as a complete physical entity, having a body).
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”. In other words: The Father, Son, Holy Ghost dwells completely within the body of Jesus.
The bible couldn’t be more clear on the subject than that!
As we move forward, it’s a good time to address some of the common beliefs surrounding the subject of the Godhead. Several beliefs are prevalent in the world today but is impossible for all to be true. The most common beliefs with an abbreviated description are listed below.
Monotheism
The belief that God is absolutely one, undivided and indivisible. He has no partners and no physical body, no offspring, no children. God simply exists.
Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
God exists in 3 physically distinct and individual beings who are ‘one in purpose’ rather than one in substance. Jesus and Satan are “spirit brothers”, both children of God the Father and all people (humanity) were also siblings in heaven before being physically born on earth.
Binitarianism
God is comprised of only two persons: the Father and the Word (Jesus). The Holy Spirit is only the power (or the essence) of God.
Unitarianism
God is a single unitary person. Jesus is the Son of God (a prophet) but not God Himself.
Arianism
Jesus is only a created being, subordinate to God.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Only Jehovah is truly God. Jesus is God’s first creation and is synonymous with Michael the Archangel. The Holy Spirit is God’s “active force.
Tritheism
Father, Son, Holy Spirit are three separate and distinct gods who work together in agreement.
Partialism
God is split into 3 parts, each being one-third of total God.
Docetism
Jesus’ physical body was only an illusion and he was a pure spirit. In other words, he only seemed to be human to those around him but was not in reality, a human as we know it.
Trinitarianism
This is the traditional belief and view of the Godhead. God exists as three distinct, co-equal persons (sometimes labeled as “personalities”). Father, Son, Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit if you wish to use that term instead) are all “one God”.
Modalist
God is a single person who manifests himself in three “modes” (or forms). Father, Son, Holy Ghost are all different forms of God. The core belief is that God is the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Spirit in regeneration and that God simply switches his mode (form) at will.
Sola Scriptura
The scriptures are the sole source of information concerning God’s entire nature. God is spirit, Jesus is the Son (The Word who was made flesh), Holy Ghost is God’s nature dwelling in believers.
Which of these beliefs do you hold for yourself?
The most common of these and, by far, the largest denominational organizations today subscribe to two beliefs: Modalism and Trinitarianism.
Let’s continue our study.