5. READ: COLOSSIANS 2:1-19
a. What lives in Christ?
Answer: In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (verse 9).
The word "Deity" is from the Greek word theotes (used only here in the New Testament). It comes from theos, meaning "God." It means the essence of the divine nature. The very essence of Deity--the totality of God with all His powers and attributes--was completely present in (lives in, is at home in) Jesus' human body. In Christ, there was not just one or more aspects of the Godhead (again, the very essence of God), not merely the quality of God. All of God's powers and attributes are clearly seen, understood from what was made, and Jesus was all of these powers and attributes in human form:
Matthew 2:23: "'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel'-- which means, 'God with us.'"
Romans 1:20: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
The fullness of the God-head (Deity) was in Christ before He came in bodily form (called "The Incarnation"):
John 1:1, 18: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, Who is at the Father's side, has made Him known."
Philippians 2:6: "Who [Christ Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped..."
The fullness of the Deity was in Christ while He was in bodily form:
John 1:14, 18: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and Truth ...No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, Who is at the Father's side, has made Him known."
1 John 1:1-3: "That Which was from the beginning, Which we have heard, Which we have seen with our eyes, Which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The Life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the Eternal Life, Which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ."
It was the Son of God, the totality of God, Who came in the likeness of men (see Philippians 2:7-8 below) to offer Himself as an atoning sacrifice (propitiation) to God for our sins (see 1 John 2:2 and 1 John 4:9-10 below), so that men might be made sons of God, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, the family of God and brothers of Christ (see Romans 8:12-17, Romans 9:25-26, Galatians 3:26-29, Galatians 4:6-7 and Hebrews 2:10-11 below), and that they might participate in the divine nature of God (see 2 Peter 1:3-4 below):
Romans 8:12-17: "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory."
Romans 9:25-26: "As He [God] says in Hosea: 'I will call them "My people" who are not My people; and I will call her "My loved one" who is not My loved one,' and, 'It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, "You are not My people," they will be called "sons of the living God."'"
Galatians 3:26-29: "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
Galatians 4:6-7: "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit Who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
Philippians 2:7-8: "...but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"
Hebrews 2:10-11: "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for Whom and through Whom everything exists, should make the Author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the One Who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers."
2 Peter 1:3-4: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His Own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
1 John 2:2: "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
1 John 4:9-10: "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His One and Only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."