Christ's Fullness and the Christian Family (Colossians 3:18–4:1)

Jesus is the absolute and incomparable Christ who preexisted all (Col 1:17), created all (1:16), is over all (1:15; 2:10), sustains all (1:17), and owns all (1:16). All the fullness of divinity dwells in him (1:19; 2:9), all things are being reconciled to him (1:20), and all the treasures of wisdom are hidden with him (2:3). Jesus is everything and, because of that, believers lack nothing. By virtue of our relationship with Christ we have access to all spiritual understanding (1:9), enjoy all assurance (2:2), can please him in all ways (1:10), are strengthened with all power and all steadfastness (1:11), forgiven of all transgressions (2:13), united to all the body (2:19), and are freed from all that is perishing (2:22). But how do these lofty realities affect the daily life of a Christian? What practical difference do they make? In 3:18–4:1, Paul shifts from the extraordinary to the ultra-ordinary, from the heavens to the home, and explains how it is that the fullness of Christ changes family life.