Words to Believers.

 
No. 2.
To the true believer Christ is everything, and Christ is enough. The heart, when in communion with Him, finds perfect satisfaction―perfect rest. “Ye are complete in Him.” I do not give this as the primary sense of the passage, but I use it to express my thought. I have all that I need in Him. So many excellencies congregate in Him, that when I see Him―when I feel Him with me―when I hold communion with Him―I have all my heart can wish. My mind, my spirit, my affections,—all are satisfied in Christ. He is my “wisdom.” (1 Corinthians 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30).) In myself I am a fool. The effort of my mind to search out God is vain. (Job 11:77Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job 11:7).) So high, so infinite, so far past finding out is He in all His thoughts and ways (Romans 11:3333O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)), that I―a worm, a child of yesterday―can only ask Him for instruction, and not even this aright without His aid. But Jesus is my wisdom. Jesus keeps me near His feet. Though but a babe (Matthew 11:2525At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. (Matthew 11:25)), He condescends to teach me, unfolding by His Spirit, through His word, those precious things which He alone reveals, and only those who love Him care to know―those precious things which are connected with himself and all His wondrous paths in grace and glory. Little do I know indeed, but He is “wisdom” to me. He who “was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was” (Proverbs 8:23-3123I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:23‑31)), is pleased to teach, and I am pleased to learn what He imparts—just so much and no more as He from day to day assigns me for my lesson. Slow and dull am I to learn, but He is patient, giving line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little, as He sees that I can bear it. (John 16:1212I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. (John 16:12).) Gentle, meek, and lowly, is His character (Matthew 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)), and all His methods of instruction correspond with it. None teacheth like Him (Job 36:2222Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? (Job 36:22))―none so kindly, so effectually. How blessed, then, the privilege of being taught of Him, in whom dwelleth all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:33In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3))―who is “pure and peaceable” (James 3:1717But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)), gentle and easy to be intreated (Luke 24:2929But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. (Luke 24:29)), full of mercy and good fruits―who is ready to “teach sinners in the way” (Psalms 25:88Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. (Psalm 25:8)), to make them “wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)) through faith which is in Him!
I am complete in Him for “righteousness;” for God has made Him “righteousness” to me, I have nothing of my own but sin. Lost and ruined in myself, I find in Him a perfectness which satisfies the eye of God, and in His grace He puts that perfectness on me―imputes it to me freely (Romans 4:22-2522And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:22‑25)), without money and without price (Isaiah 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1))―covers me from head to foot therewith (Isaiah 61:1010I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)), and makes me perfect in it. (Ezek. 16:1414And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 16:14).) Thus of Him my righteousness is now provided. (Isaiah 54:1717No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17).) Thus, in this respect, I am “complete in Him.”
“Sanctification” also is He made to me of God. In Him I am “separated” from this present evil world. (Galatians 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4).) Its principles, its maxima, and its ways are nothing now to me. I find no pleasure in them. The joy His presence gives has weaned me from the things of this world. Not by ascetic rules, or Pharisaic pride, am I apart, but by “His presence.” “Wherein shall it be known,” said one, “that I and thy people have found favor in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us?” So shall we be separated. (Exodus 33:1616For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. (Exodus 33:16).) Thus it was in olden time with Moses―thus is it with believers now. “His presence” separates from evil. He is sanctification. Companionship with Him is joy sufficient. We are “complete in Him.”
He too is our “redemption.” From the power of darkness―from the slavery of sin―from guilt and fear―from woe eternal, ―His precious death hath freed us. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, ―the forgiveness of sins.” (Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).) His Cross has been our ransom―His resurrection is its proof. In spirit we are risen with Him, through the faith which He has given. We wait, indeed, for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body; wait for Him to change it and fashion it like unto His glorious body. This is our blessed hope. We wait for Him yet a little while. Conformity to the Son of God (Romans 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)), to the image of the heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:4949And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. (1 Corinthians 15:49)), is that we wish for. God will accomplish it in us. Through eternal ages the church of the firstborn shall be to the praise of His glory; and to each believer now, as to the saints collectively, it may be said, the glory of Jesus, the blessed Christ of God, being in view—ye, each and all of you, are complete in Him.