From Brokenness to Wholeness in Christ
The concept of wholeness in Christ, often expressed as "perfection" or "completeness," describes a state of spiritual maturity and reconciliation with God. This wholeness is not an inherent human quality but is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ [4, 5].
Biblically, the idea of being "perfect" or "complete" does not imply absolute sinlessness in this life, but rather a sincere desire to do God's will and a full development of Christian character [3, 4]. For instance, Noah is described as "just... and perfect," yet this perfection is understood as living by faith and being sincere in his desire to obey God, rather than being entirely free from sin [4]. The Apostle Paul speaks of striving to "be found in him" (Christ) at His coming, living spiritually in Him as the element of one's life, having been "found" after being lost [5]. This finding is contrasted with a "righteousness... of the law," emphasizing that true righteousness comes "from God (resting) upon faith" [5].
The process of achieving wholeness involves endurance and patience. James 1:4 states, "Let endurance have a perfect work... that ye may be perfect" [3]. This "perfect work" of endurance means allowing patience to have its full effect, leading to a complete development of Christian character, which includes "joy in bearing the cross" [3]. This journey towards perfection is a work of God within an individual [3].
In Colossians, believers are described as "complete in him" (Christ) [8]. This means that because all fullness resides in Christ, believers, being in Him, are also "filled full" with all they need [8]. This completeness is not an exhortation to become perfect but an affirmation of what saints already are in Christ, even if they are not perfect in themselves [8]. The Church itself is considered Christ's body, His "fulness," meaning it is "dwelt in and filled by Christ" [6]. Christ's life is the Church's life, and she shares in His crucifixion and glory [6]. He possesses His fellowship with the Father, the fullness of the Spirit, and His glorified manhood not just for Himself, but for the Church [6].
The reconciliation that leads to this wholeness is achieved "in the body of his flesh" through Christ's death [7]. This emphasizes that Christ took on human flesh to atone for fallen humanity, making reconciliation possible [7]. The ultimate goal is for believers to come "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" [1]. The term "fulness" (Hebrew: Millo) itself denotes completeness [2]. This signifies a unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, leading to a mature spiritual state that reflects Christ's own stature [1].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Ephesians 4:13 — Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Millo — fullness”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 1:4: Let endurance have a perfect work (taken out of the previous "worketh patience" or endurance), that is, have its full effect, by showing the most perfect degree of endurance, namely, "joy in bearing the cross" [MENOCHIUS], and enduring to the end (Mat 10:22) [CALVIN]. ye may be perfect--fully developed in all the attributes of a Christian character. For this there is required "joy" [BENGEL], as part of the "perfect work" of probation. The work of God in a man is the man. If God's teachings by patience have had a perfect work in you, you are perfect [AL”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 6:9: Noah . . . just . . . and perfect--not absolutely; for since the fall of Adam no man has been free from sin except Jesus Christ. But as living by faith he was just (Gal 3:2; Heb 11:7) and perfect--that is, sincere in his desire to do God's will.”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 3:9: be found in him--"be found" at His coming again, living spiritually "in Him" as the element of my life. Once lost, I have been "found," and I hope to be perfectly "found" by Him (Luk 15:8). own righteousness . . . of the law-- (Phi 3:6; Rom 10:3, Rom 10:5). "Of," that is, from. righteousness . . . of God by faith--Greek, "which is from God (resting) upon faith." Paul was transported from legal bondage into Christian freedom at once, and without any gradual transition. Hence, the bands of Pharisaism were loosed instantaneously; and opposition to”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:23: his body--His mystical and spiritual, not literal, body. Not, however, merely figurative, or metaphorical. He is really, though spiritually, the Church's Head. His life is her life. She shares His crucifixion and His consequent glory. He possesses everything, His fellowship with the Father, His fulness of the Spirit, and His glorified manhood, not merely for Himself, but for her, who has a membership of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones (Eph 5:30). fulness--"the filled-up receptacle" [EADIE]. The Church is dwelt in and filled by Christ. She”
- Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:22: In the body of his flesh--the element in which His reconciling sufferings had place. Compare Col 1:24, "afflictions of Christ in my flesh" (Pe1 2:24). Angels who have not a "body of flesh" are not in any way our reconciling mediators, as your false teachers assert, but He, the Lord of angels, who has taken our flesh, that in it He might atone for our fallen manhood. through death--rather as Greek, "through His death" (which could only take place in a body like ours, of flesh, Heb 2:14). This implies He took on Him our true and entire manhood. Fle”
- Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 2:10: And ye are complete in him,.... Or "filled up", or "filled full" in him; that is, are perfect in him: saints are in Christ, and all fulness being in him, they are full too, of as much as they stand in need, and are capable of containing: for these words are not an exhortation to perfection, as the Arabic version reads then, be ye complete in him, like those in Gen 17:1; but are an affirmation, asserting not what the saints shall be hereafter, or in heaven, but what they now are; not in themselves, for in themselves none are perfect, not even those who are truly sa”