For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority (Col 2:9-10).

Blessed are those who see themselves as those in Christ. To them belongs the same fullness of God that lives in Christ. It is important to know that there are two statements in this verse: the first one states that the fullness of the Deity lives in Christ, and the second one states that the same fullness has been given to us “in Christ.” The crucial factor that connects the two statements is in the phrase, “in Christ.” Without it, God’s fullness would mean nothing to us. No matter how wonderful Christ is with all the fullness of the Deity, we would be still nothing without being “in Christ.”

Needless to say, the important spiritual reality behind this is the covenant God made with us through Christ. A covenant binds two partners together. With this new covenant, we have become one with Christ, who as a man died for our sins, and was raised from the dead. And on the basis of this oneness with him, you and me, who believe him, have been brought into his kingdom, God’s family, having the same Father, and now enjoy the same fullness Christ has.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:13-14).

And, if you are in Christ, you are to live in Christ. Since you now exist in Christ, you have no choice but to live as one in Christ. Apart from him, you can do nothing.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (2:6-7).

Thus, any teaching or idea that distracts you from this lifestyle, or anything that hints that you can still live by not being rooted and built up in Christ is from the devil, not from God. This world is filled with such teachings, thoughts and attitudes, so we always need to stay alert spiritually not to be taken captive by them.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ (v. 8).

If you are a Christian and still have difficulty seeing yourself as one in Christ, look at the words Jesus spoke about you. For instance, the following are the words he spoke in his prayer to the Father the night before he died.

I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word (John 17:6).

Try to see the sense of responsibility Jesus expresses in these words: these disciples, who have been given to him, are completely under his dominion and care. You exist in the same way in Christ. “You are mine!” he says. And make sure that you accept and obey every word God speaks to you. When Adam and Even ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by obeying the serpent’s word, they stopped belonging to God and came to belong to the devil. By obeying God’s word, you continue to live in Christ.

I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them (vv. 9-10).

God loves all people on earth, both believers and non-believers. But the way he deals with them is not the same. The difference comes from whether a person belongs to him or not. Note that he prayed, “I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” Let us humbly accept these words and continue to live in Christ, rooted and built up in him.