The Fullness of Christ: Overflowing Grace Upon Grace

The Fullness of Christ: Grace Upon Grace

Have you ever experienced a moment where the words of Scripture come alive and impact you in a profound way? Last Sunday, as I gathered with a group of praying saints, I had one of those epiphany moments. A fellow believer prayed the words of John 1:14 and 16, and suddenly, the word "fullness" took on a whole new meaning for me. I felt a glimpse of the fullness of Christ and the incredible grace that flows from Him.

John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." These words describe the incarnation of Jesus, God's Son, who came to earth as a human being. He revealed His glory to us, and in Him, we find the fullness of grace and truth.

But what does it mean for Christ to be full of grace? The word "grace" in Greek is charis, which can be defined as the unmerited favor and kindness of God. It is the outpouring of God's love and mercy upon us, despite our unworthiness. When we receive Christ, we receive grace upon grace from His fullness.

What makes this fullness of Christ so remarkable is that it is not just any fullness, but the fullness of God Himself. Jesus, being the Word that was with God and was God, possesses an infinite and divine fullness. He is not a distant and unapproachable deity but a God who became flesh and dwelt among us. This accessibility of His fullness allows us to experience His grace firsthand.

Moreover, the fullness of Christ is a glorious fullness. When Jesus appeared in human form, His glory was evident to those who encountered Him. His divine nature radiated through His words, actions, and miracles. The fullness of Christ is not a mere abundance of blessings but a manifestation of His divine glory.

Furthermore, the fullness of Christ is not just a generic fullness, but a fullness rooted in His unique relationship with the Father. He is the only Son from the Father, the one through whom the divine fullness is mediated to us. God did not send an angel or a representative but His own Son to deliver His fullness of grace. This intimate connection between the Father and the Son assures us that we are receiving grace directly from God Himself.

It is crucial to note that the fullness of Christ is not only a fullness of grace but also of truth. In a world filled with relativism and deception, we can find solace in the fact that the grace we receive from Christ is rooted in truth. We are not being graced with empty flattery or false promises, but with a grace that is deeply anchored in the rock-solid reality of God's truth.

As I reflect on the fullness of Christ and the grace upon grace that flows from Him, I am filled with awe and joy. The magnitude of His fullness is overwhelming, and the depth of His grace is unfathomable. To sit at His feet and experience His fullness overflowing is the sweetest and most fulfilling experience one can have.

The Bible is replete with references to the fullness of Christ and the grace that comes from Him. In Colossians 2:9-10, Paul writes, "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." This verse reassures us that in Christ, we are complete and lacking nothing. His fullness fills every void in our lives and satisfies our deepest longings.

In Ephesians 3:19, Paul prays that we may "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." This prayer highlights the transformative power of experiencing the fullness of Christ. It is not merely an intellectual understanding but a personal encounter that surpasses knowledge and fills us with the very essence of God Himself.

The fullness of Christ brings to mind the image of a well overflowing with refreshing water. When we come to Christ, we come to a wellspring of grace that never runs dry. His fullness is inexhaustible, and we can drink deeply from it, knowing that His grace will sustain us in every season of life.

In conclusion, the fullness of Christ is a divine and infinite fullness, accessible to us through His incarnation as a human being. This fullness is not a generic abundance but a specific outpouring of grace, rooted in truth and mediated to us through the Son of God. As we delve into the Scriptures and encounter the fullness of Christ, may we be filled with awe, joy, and a deep desire to experience His grace upon grace. Let us drink from the well of His fullness and receive the unmerited favor and kindness that flows from Him.