Experiencing Christ's Fullness: The Essence of Salvation

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, we find a profound declaration: "Of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." This statement encapsulates the essence of Christian salvation and the testimony of believers. It challenges us to examine whether we truly experience this fullness in our lives. If we find ourselves lacking, it may be due to a failure to understand the truth about Christ or to realize what is available to us through Him.

Christianity is fundamentally about our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our identity and salvation are entirely dependent on Him. All of God's dealings with humanity are through Christ, who is the sole channel of God's grace. This has been true throughout history, even for the Old Testament saints who looked forward to Christ's coming.

The Christian life is about receiving from Christ's fullness. Many believers, when feeling spiritually dry, mistakenly focus on themselves, seeking experiences or solutions within. Instead, we must start with Christ and His fullness. John's Gospel begins by emphasizing Christ's divine nature, taking us back to the beginning: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This foundational truth is essential for understanding the Christian life.

Christ's fullness is not just inherent but also representative. He became flesh, dwelling among us, to be our mediator and savior. The Incarnation was necessary for our salvation. God could not save us by a mere word or decree; it required the Son of God to become man. This is the mystery and wonder of the Christian faith: God became man to redeem us.

In Christ, we see the perfect union of God and man. He is fully God and fully man, two natures in one person. This mystery is beyond full human comprehension, yet it is the foundation of our salvation. Through Christ, we receive grace upon grace, becoming partakers of the divine nature. This is the hope and joy of the Christian life.

Key Takeaways:

- Our Christian identity and salvation are entirely dependent on our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are who we are because of His fullness, and our lives should reflect this truth. [06:14]

- The Incarnation of Christ is essential for our salvation. God becoming man was necessary because only a perfect man could redeem humanity. This profound mystery is central to the Christian faith. [19:05]

- Christ's fullness is both inherent and representative. He is fully God and fully man, and through Him, we receive grace upon grace. This union of divine and human natures is the foundation of our salvation. [37:57]

- Many believers mistakenly focus on themselves when feeling spiritually dry. Instead, we must start with Christ and His fullness, as emphasized in John's Gospel. Our spiritual vitality comes from receiving from Him. [09:09]

- The mystery of the Incarnation and the union of God and man in Christ is beyond full human comprehension. Yet, it is the foundation of our salvation and the source of our hope and joy. [40:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Gospel of John
- [00:57] - The Essence of Christian Salvation
- [01:41] - The Christian Testimony
- [02:28] - Confronting Our Christian Identity
- [03:27] - Understanding Christ's Fullness
- [04:31] - Testing Ourselves by John's Statement
- [05:21] - The Christian's Relationship with Christ
- [06:27] - God's Dealings Through Christ
- [07:26] - Christ as the Head of New Humanity
- [08:25] - Starting with Christ's Fullness
- [10:09] - The Christian Method
- [11:22] - Christ's Essential Fullness
- [14:34] - Christ's Fullness as Our Representative
- [19:05] - The Necessity of the Incarnation
- [22:00] - Christ's Dual Nature
- [37:57] - The Union of God and Man in Christ
- [40:26] - The Mystery of Godliness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 1:14-16
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
- Philippians 2:5-8

---

Observation Questions:

1. What does John 1:14-16 reveal about the nature of Christ and His relationship with humanity? How does this passage describe the concept of "fullness"? [00:33]

2. In 2 Corinthians 8:9, what does it mean that Jesus became poor for our sake? How does this relate to the concept of receiving "grace upon grace"? [20:18]

3. According to Philippians 2:5-8, what attitude did Christ demonstrate through His incarnation, and how is this significant for understanding His fullness? [22:14]

4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between Christ's divine and human natures? What is the significance of this union for our salvation? [37:57]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon explain the necessity of the Incarnation for our salvation? Why couldn't God save humanity by a mere word or decree? [19:05]

2. What does it mean for believers to receive "grace upon grace" from Christ's fullness? How does this concept challenge common misconceptions about spiritual dryness? [09:09]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of Christ as the mediator and savior? Why is it essential to understand His dual nature as fully God and fully man? [40:26]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers often mistakenly focus on themselves when feeling spiritually dry? How does this contrast with the approach of starting with Christ's fullness? [09:09]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual state. Are there areas where you feel spiritually dry? How can focusing on Christ's fullness, rather than your own efforts, bring renewal? [09:09]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding Christ's dual nature. How can a deeper understanding of this mystery enhance your relationship with Him? [40:26]

3. Consider the concept of "grace upon grace." How have you experienced this in your life, and how can you be more open to receiving it daily? [20:18]

4. The sermon challenges us to examine our understanding of Christ. Are there aspects of His nature or work that you find difficult to grasp? How can you seek clarity and growth in these areas? [03:09]

5. How does the idea of Christ as the sole channel of God's grace impact your view of salvation and your relationship with God? [06:27]

6. In what ways can you shift your focus from self-centered solutions to Christ-centered reliance when facing spiritual challenges? [09:09]

7. How can the mystery of the Incarnation inspire awe and worship in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to cultivate a sense of wonder at this profound truth? [40:26]

Devotional

Day 1: Our Identity in Christ's Fullness
Our Christian identity and salvation are entirely dependent on our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are who we are because of His fullness, and our lives should reflect this truth. The Gospel of John emphasizes that all of God's dealings with humanity are through Christ, who is the sole channel of God's grace. This has been true throughout history, even for the Old Testament saints who looked forward to Christ's coming. When we feel spiritually dry, it is often because we have shifted our focus away from Christ and onto ourselves. Instead, we must start with Christ and His fullness, as emphasized in John's Gospel. Our spiritual vitality comes from receiving from Him. [06:14]

Ephesians 1:22-23 (ESV): "And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally focus on Christ's fullness in your daily life, rather than on your own limitations or shortcomings?


Day 2: The Necessity of the Incarnation
The Incarnation of Christ is essential for our salvation. God becoming man was necessary because only a perfect man could redeem humanity. This profound mystery is central to the Christian faith. The Incarnation was not just a divine act but a necessary one for our redemption. God could not save us by a mere word or decree; it required the Son of God to become man. This is the mystery and wonder of the Christian faith: God became man to redeem us. Through Christ, we see the perfect union of God and man, which is the foundation of our salvation. [19:05]

Hebrews 2:14-15 (ESV): "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."

Reflection: How does the reality of the Incarnation change your understanding of God's love and commitment to humanity? How can you live in light of this truth today?


Day 3: Christ's Fullness: Inherent and Representative
Christ's fullness is both inherent and representative. He is fully God and fully man, and through Him, we receive grace upon grace. This union of divine and human natures is the foundation of our salvation. In Christ, we see the perfect union of God and man. He is fully God and fully man, two natures in one person. This mystery is beyond full human comprehension, yet it is the foundation of our salvation. Through Christ, we receive grace upon grace, becoming partakers of the divine nature. This is the hope and joy of the Christian life. [37:57]

Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Reflect on the areas of your life where you need to rely more on Christ's fullness rather than your own strength. What steps can you take to depend more on Him?


Day 4: Starting with Christ's Fullness
Many believers mistakenly focus on themselves when feeling spiritually dry. Instead, we must start with Christ and His fullness, as emphasized in John's Gospel. Our spiritual vitality comes from receiving from Him. The Christian life is about receiving from Christ's fullness. When we feel spiritually dry, it is often because we have shifted our focus away from Christ and onto ourselves. Instead, we must start with Christ and His fullness, as emphasized in John's Gospel. Our spiritual vitality comes from receiving from Him. [09:09]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to ensure that your focus remains on Christ's fullness rather than on your own efforts or circumstances?


Day 5: The Mystery of the Incarnation
The mystery of the Incarnation and the union of God and man in Christ is beyond full human comprehension. Yet, it is the foundation of our salvation and the source of our hope and joy. In Christ, we see the perfect union of God and man. He is fully God and fully man, two natures in one person. This mystery is beyond full human comprehension, yet it is the foundation of our salvation. Through Christ, we receive grace upon grace, becoming partakers of the divine nature. This is the hope and joy of the Christian life. [40:26]

1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV): "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory."

Reflection: How does the mystery of the Incarnation inspire awe and worship in your life? How can you cultivate a deeper sense of wonder and gratitude for this profound truth?

Quotes

"Here is the essence and the fullness of the Christian salvation what it means this is the Christian testimony this is the summary of all that John rarely goes on to say in the remainder of his gospel now the great question therefore is we find ourselves as we read such a statement as this of his fulness have all we received and grace upon grace is it true of us where the words we've just been singing two of us but what but what are those who find our this no tongue nor pink ensure the love of Jesus what it is none but his loved ones know well Jesus light of all below the fount of life and of life and far surpassing all of the joy we know and all we can desire now that is Christianity." [00:59:55]

"The Christian is to be explained solely and entirely and exclusively in terms of his relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ it means and almost ridiculous to say that in the middle of the twentieth century and yet there's nothing more essential there are people who talk about Christianity and doing Christian things and they never even mention it but this is basic it is of his fullness that we receive therefore we are what we are entirely only solely exclusively as the result of our relationship to him." [05:34:44]

"All God's dealings with men are in and through this blessed person and through him alone he is the sole channel of God's grace all God's dealings in grace with mankind have always been in through the Lord Jesus Christ even in the old history all the Old Testament Saints were what they were because of what they had received in and through the Lord Jesus Christ Abram rejoiced to see my day he saw it and was glad they all did and even though they didn't understand it fully that was the thing that made them children of God God has no other way in which he deals with men kind except in and through His only begotten son." [06:31:12]

"Our starting point therefore must be to start with him and with his fullness so many when they feel unhappy in the Christian life are feel that they're lacking in something they fall into the trap and into the error of starting with themselves what do I need what experience can I get they look at themselves and the entirely subjective and though they go around seeking something that will give them this something that they want they start with themselves they end with themselves at once they become wide open to all the teaching of the cults and the false teachings and heresies which are around and about us and ever ready to come in at that point and say this is what you want I've given to you and they fall victims to it satisfied for a while but only for a while because it's not true it's not the truth and again they find themselves in difficulties." [09:09:19]

"Now let me put it like this God the Sun in all is inherent and essential and eternal fulness could not deliver us and save us if he had remained that now that's a tremendous thing to say but it's true the whole message of the Bible can be put like this that the Almighty and everlasting God could not save fallen men by a word by a teaching by an edict it could not be done I say it could not be done because if it could have been done it would have been done and you would never have had you a New Testament you've never have had your Gospels you'd never have had the New Testament teaching if the son had remained there in that eternal glory we should all be lost not a soul would ever have been saved." [15:38:34]

"The Incarnation of the Son of God was an absolute necessity to the salvation of men and that of course is exactly what John tells us the word was made flesh and dwelt among us that's the whole point of the problem it's the whole point of his entire gospel this is the thing which saves us it is because of this alone that we are able to receive of his fulness if he do remain there we couldn't have received it we'd be incapable of receiving of it we are men he is God absolute in all his fullness and men cannot be joined to God in that manner directly he cannot receive of their children's the Incarnation was an absolute necessity he must become men before he can save he must be made flesh." [19:39:23]

"Now then this is the thing therefore that we've got to work out together John puts it here in his own characteristic manner in this world the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us yes but let's keep our eye on this particular point how we see his fullness now as our representative because that is what it only means that is what it all is it's his fullness as our representative that we are concerned about and so we look at it in this way and manner we look at the person of the Lord Jesus Christ we look if you like at the babe of Bethlehem and we look at the buying in the temple we look at the young men doing the work of a carpenter we look at that young preacher at the age of 30 we watch him we look at him we are contemplating him who is this that's the question and what we must say is this and it's essential to our salvation he is still perfect God weld in flesh the Godhead see hail Incarnate deity." [20:41:51]

"Now there is what I call his essential fullness we don't start with Jesus of Nazareth we don't start of the babe of Bethlehem we start in the beginning we start in the eternity we start in the glory everlasting and it's because the modern world doesn't do that if it is as it is you see the modern world makes this world the center of the universe it isn't there's the center and everything here must be considered and seen in its relationship to that center so you start always whatever you may feel whatever deficiency whatever lack whatever trouble you may be in you don't really start there you get away from yourself you look at him and contemplate him in his own essential inherent everlasting fullness." [13:21:20]

"Now it's very important we should be clear about this you remember how the Apostle Paul again puts this in the created passage in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Philippians which is crucial in this whole connection let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross." [22:28:19]

"Now here I say is the glory and the Wonder and the mystery of the Christian waves don't try to understand it my dear friend but marvel in its that the in order that you might receive something of this wholeness in order that you and I might be partakers of the divine nature in order that we might be redeemed and rescued and have the hope of an eternal bliss in the everlasting glory he came down and took upon him human nature but remember it was perfect that is why we must believe in the virgin birth that is why we say he was not produced by natural generation that is why we say that even that portion of the human nature of Mary out of which his body came was dealt with by the Holy Ghost and purified and cleanse and was rendered perfect." [41:18:86]

"Now then far as much them here's the argument and you see my friends the way to receive obvious fulness the way to have happiness and joy and peace and power in the Christian life is to follow the logic and the argument of the scripture to follow out the working of this mighty doctor far as much them are you with me are you following says the author are you able to reason it clue far as much then the children that you and I are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death that is to say the devil and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject abundant." [34:20:00]

"Now the Christian way of salvation is this that there is a second men a last Adam he is this Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God and salvation therefore consists of belonging to him receiving of his fulness being related to him he being the head and we the members of his body here is the whole of the New Testament teacher so we must look at it in terms of he our Lord Jesus Christ as the head of this new humanity to which we belong and as I say therefore salvation becomes what we're told here are receiving of his fullness and grace upon grace." [08:09:46]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 24, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?