Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all… Here in the text Christ is said to be all; but in what sense is Christ all? 1. Christ is all by way of eminency; all good things are eminently to be found in Him, as the sun doth virtually contain in it the light of the lesser stars. 2. Christ is all, by way of derivation; all good things are transmitted and conveyed to us through Christ; as your rich commodities, jewels, and spices come by sea, so all heavenly blessings sail to us through the red sea of Christ's blood; "through Him and to Him are all things." Christ is that spiritual pipe, through which the golden oil of mercy empties itself into the soul. Christ must needs be all, for "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead." He hath a partnership with God the Father; "all things that the Father hath are Mine;" so that there is enough in Him to scatter all our fears, to remove all our burdens, to supply all our wants; there can be no defect in that which is infinite. It shows us the glorious fulness of Jesus Christ; "He is all in all." Christ is a panoply, a magazine and storehouse of all spiritual riches: you may go with the bee from flower to flower, and suck here and there a little sweetness, but you will never have enough till you come to Christ, for Be is "all in all."Now, in particular, Christ is in all six respects: 1. Christ is all in regard of righteousness — "He is made to us righteousness." 2. Christ is all in regard of sanctification — "He is made to us sanctification." This doth tune and prepare the soul for heaven; it turns iron into gold; it makes the heart which was Satan's picture, Christ's epistle. There must be first our days of purification before our days of glorification. What a blessed work is this! A soul beautified and adorned with grace, is like the firmament bespangled with glittering stars. But whence is this? Christ is all; He is made to us sanctification; He it is that sends His Spirit into our hearts to be a refiner's fire, to burn up our dross, and make our graces sparkle like gold in the furnace; Christ ariseth upon the soul "with healing in His wings." 3. Christ is all in regard of Divine acceptance. As Joseph did present his brethren before Pharaoh, and brought them into favour with the king, so the Lord Jesus carries the name of the saints upon His breast, and presents them before His Father, so bringing them into repute and honour. Through the red glass everything appears of a red colour; through the blood of Christ we look of a sanguine complexion, ruddy and beautiful in God's eyes. 4. Christ is all in regard of Divine assistance; a Christian's strength lies in Christ. Whence is it a Christian is able to do duty, to resist temptation, but through Christ's strengthening? 5. Christ is all in regard of pacification; when conscience is in an agony, and burns as hell in the sense of God's wrath; now Christ is all, He pours the palm of His blood into these wounds, He maketh the storm a calm. Christ doth not only make peace in the court of heaven, but in the court of conscience; He not only makes peace above us, but within us. 6. Christ is all in regard of remuneration; He it is that crowns us after all our labours and sufferings. If Christ be all, it shows what a vast disproportion there is between Christ and the creature; there is as much difference as between ens and nihil; Christ is all in all, and the creature is nothing at all — "wilt thou set thine eyes on that which is not?" In all our spiritual wants we should repair to Christ as Jacob's sons did to their brother Joseph. He opened all the store-houses, and "gave to his brethren corn and provision for the way." Thus the Lord hath made Christ our Joseph; "in whom are hid all treasures." If Christ be all, see here the Christian's inventory, how rich is he that hath Christ! he hath all that may make him completely happy. Plutarch reports that the wife of Phocion being asked where her jewels were, she answered, "My husband, and his triumphs are my jewels!" so, if a Christian be asked, where are his riches, he will say, "Christ is my riches." How could a Christian sit down satisfied with Christ? "Christ is all." What though he wants other things, is not Christ enough? If a man hath sunshine, he doth not complain he wants the light of a candle. Thou hast Christ with all His perquisites and royalties! Suppose a father should deny his son furniture for his house, but should settle all his land upon him, had he any cause to complain? If God denies thee a little furniture in the world, but in the meantime settles His land upon thee, He gives thee the field wherein the pearl of price is hid, hast thou any cause to repine? A Christian that wants necessaries, yet having Christ, he hath the one thing needful; "ye are complete in Him." What! complete in Christ, and not content with Christ? If Christ be all, see the deplorable condition of a Christless person; he is poor, he is worth nothing; "thou are wretched, miserable, and poor," etc.The sadness of a man that wants Christ will appear in these seven particulars. 1. He hath no justification. 2. He that wants Christ, wants the beauty of holiness; Jesus Christ is a living spring of grace; "full of grace and truth." 3. He that wants Christ, wants His freedom; "if the Son make you free, you shall be free indeed." 4. He that wants Christ, hath no ability for service. 5. He that wants Christ, hath no consolation; Christ is called "the consolation of Israel." A Christless soul is a comfortless soul. 6. He that wants Christ, hath no salvation. 1. If Christ be all, then set a high valuation upon Jesus Christ; "to you which believe, He is precious." 2. If Jesus Christ be all, then make sure of Christ; never leave trading in ordinances, till you have gotten this pearl of price. In Christ there is the accumulation of all good things.And that I may persuade all to get Christ, let me show what an enriching blessing Christ is. 1. Christ is a supreme good; put what you will in the balance with Christ, He doth infinitely outweigh. Is life sweet? Christ is better: He is the life of the soul; "His loving: kindness is better than life." 2. Christ is a sufficient good; He who hath Christ, needs no more; he who hath the ocean, needs not the cistern. 3. Christ is a sanctifying good, He makes every condition happy to us, He sweetens all our comforts, and sanctifies all our crosses. 4. Christ is a select, choice good. God shows more love in giving us Christ, than in giving us crowns and kingdoms. 5. Christ is such a good, as without which nothing is good, without Christ health is not good, it is fuel for lust: riches are not good, they are golden snares; ordinances are not good, though they are good in themselves, yet not good to us. 6. Christ is an enduring good; other things are like the lamp, which while it shines it spends, the heavens "shall wax old like a garment." 7. Christ is a diffusive, communicative good; He is full, not only as a vessel, but as a spring, He is willing to give Himself to us.But how shall I get a part in Christ? 1. See your need of Christ, know that you are undone without Him. 2. Be importunate after Christ. "Lord, give me Christ, or I die!" 3. Be content to have Christ, as Christ is offered,A Prince and a Saviour. 1. Make Christ all in your understanding, be ambitious to know nothing but Christ. What is it to have knowledge in physic — to be able with Esculapius and Galen to discourse of the causes and symptoms of a disease, and what is proper to apply, and in the meantime to be ignorant of the healing under Christ's wings? What is it to have knowledge in astronomy — to discourse of the stars and planets, and to be ignorant vi Christ, that bright morning-star which leads to heaven? We cannot know God but through Christ. 2. Make Christ all in your affections. Love nothing but Christ; love is the choicest affection, it is the richest jewel the creature hath to bestow; O if Christ be all, love Him better than all! 3. Make Christ all in your abilities, do all in His strength, "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." When you are to resist a tentation, to mortify a corruption, do not go out in your own strength, but in the strength of Christ: "be strong in the Lord." 4. Make Christ all in your aims; do all to His glory. 5. Make Christ all in your affiance; trust to none but Christ for salvation; the Papists make Christ something, but not all. 6. Make Christ all in your joy. "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." When a Christian sees a deficiency in himself, he may see an all-sufficiency in his Saviour: "happy is that people whose God is the Lord!" That servant needs not want who hath his master's full purse at command: he needs not want who hath Christ, for "Christ is all and in all." (T. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. |
    |