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THE ALL

COLOSSIANS 3:11

“a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.”

If you were dropped on this earth without any prior knowledge of the people, you might think we were all intentionally separated by our skin color or our language. I have the privilege to travel all over this globe and let me tell you something – there isn’t a smidgen of difference between us. Some people like to talk about the differences, but we are all created by the same great Creator.

Paul is insistent that the Colossians know there is no separation between believers. Whomever accepts Jesus and follows Him are brothers and sisters in Christ. That is clear as Paul lists these groups – very different groups. But the one little word that caught my attention is not evident in the English. In the Greek, the last phrase literally reads, “but the all and in all Christ.” What word did you see? It’s the little definite article “the” which is in the original. Christ is not just all. He is THE all.

APPLICATION

I know you don’t want a grammar lesson. But you have to look at this little Greek definite article, ta. This separates Christ from the rest of the so-called gods. Christ is THE all. There is no other. It’s interesting that no commentator I read even mentioned this. I wonder why.

My wife is THE one for me. God is THE God. THE Bible is THE Word of God. That little word is so important. I believe Paul is saying that you may have all these other groups which are all brought together because of THE Christ. No other person could have done that.

We have heard stories of bitter enemies who became friends due to a life-changing experience one or both had with THE Christ. I have seen people set free from bondage by THE Christ. Don’t trust a substitute. There are many out there. Come to THE Christ and discover a whole new way of living.

Thank You, Father, for THE Christ You sent for me.

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All, Attributes, Bible, Fullness, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Whole

ALL IN ALL

EPHESIANS 1:23

“which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Do you remember the Three Musketeers? They were in it together. All for one and one for all. They had each other’s backs. They never left a man behind. You know, all those “together” cliches. We still use those cheers today in our sports competitions. I remember one year our football team broke every first huddle of the game with “All for one.” It sounded good but didn’t insure a victory on the field that night.

As Paul finishes up chapter one (I know, there were no chapters in the original letter), he gives us this last phrase, “the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” What did Paul mean by that? What was the message the Holy Spirit was trying to portray in these words? It undoubtedly is referring to the omnipresence (all presence) of Christ. He is everywhere, filling all things.

APPLICATION

What does that mean for us? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:6. “There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.” The All Present God Who is in all things is working all things in us. Isn’t that just coolest thing you have ever heard? He wants to give you His all.

A few chapters later in chapter 15 and verse 28 of I Corinthians, we find this from Paul. “When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.” Christ is all in all. God is all in all. God wants us to have His all. What else could you ask for?

And then in Colossians 3:11, we have this verse, “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.” So, “all in all” isn’t just a cute catchphrase. It has serious meaning for us as believers and followers of Christ. He is our everything. Is He your everything today?

Father God, You are my All in all. You fill my life with Your presence

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