Building Your Spiritual House: Complete in Christ

I've been watching a new house being built next door to me. It's pretty cool seeing it come together day by day. First the foundation, then the framing, now they're working on the roof, and soon they'll start on all the internal systems—plumbing, electrical, heating, all that stuff. 

It got me thinking about how God builds us up spiritually. So, I want to talk about how we're actually completely built and fully equipped in Christ.

When Something's Missing

Have you ever finished a jigsaw puzzle only to find out there's a piece missing? Super frustrating, right? Or maybe you've bought a new gadget, and then you see: "Batteries not included." Ugh. I ordered some raised planter beds a while back. I laid out all the pieces, ready to go, and guess what? Screws were missing. Hm.

That house next door would be useless without all of its parts in place. A missing foundation, or missing pipes, or an open gap in the roof would make it incomplete. In life, being incomplete doesn't work either. But here's the good news—in Christ, we're already completely built, 100%. Turn to Colossians 1, and see what that means. 

The Blueprint: What "Complete" Means

So what does it mean to be complete? It means you're not missing anything—you've got all the pieces! You're full, whole, entire, got all the parts. No gaps, no leaks. No missing screws. Full. And that's exactly how God has made us, through Jesus Christ. Complete in Christ.

The Foundation: Christ as the Cornerstone

When they started building next door, they began with the foundation. Everything in the house relies on the foundation. It’s the most important thing. Every house has one. If the foundation is weak or crooked, the whole house is in trouble. Same thing in life.

Let’s read Colossians 1:18-19. It says: "And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things, he might have the preeminence (so that he is most important thing). For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." That word "fullness" is a Greek word that means “completely filled.” Christ is like the foundation of our spiritual house (the beginning, the most important thing), and God packed in Him (Christ) with EVERYTHING, we could ever need. Nothing's missing. “...in him (Christ) should all fullness dwell.” But I have God in Christ in me, so, therefore, I’m packed with everything I need. All fullness dwells in me too. That’s what that means. We are complete. 

The Framework: Christ in You

After the foundation, the builders next work on all the framing—the wooden structure that gives the house its shape. Well, what’s our framework? 

We’re in Colossians. Let’s look at Colossians 1:27. It says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" Christ in me. The same fullness that was in Christ, is now in us. When we're born again (born from the dead), we get the gift of holy spirit—the exact same Spirit that was dwelling in Christ is now fully living inside us.

It's like God saying, "I'm not just going to build you a house—I'm going to move in with you and bring all my power and resources with me." That's the framework of our spiritual house—Christ in us.

 So, we’ve got the most important thing (foundation). We’re full and complete (with the Christ-in-us framework). Turn to Ephesians 1, and take a look at the pipes.

The Pipes: Complete Access to God's Power

When these builders fill the water pipes in that new house, they will test them to make sure they're completely full—with no air gaps, and no leaks.

Ephesians 1:22-23 says: "And [God] hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all."

We see the same Greek words here that mean “filled to capacity.” Just like they will fill the water pipes in the house. This spiritual fullness fills up any emptiness or open gaps in our lives with God's power, grace, love, joy, peace, and hope.

We've been made righteousness, blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, rescued from the power of darkness. We have full authority to use Jesus' name—the name above every name. 

So, we’ve got the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no gaps, no leaks. Turn to Colossians 2. And let’s take a look at the roof.

The Protective Covering: Guarding Against False Additions

See the roof they're putting on next door? The roof’s job is to protect everything inside from rain, wind, and anything else that might damage the house.

Just like that roof, we need protection from false teachings. In Collossians, we read that some people were being told, "Hey, what Christ did isn't enough—you need to do some special works." That's like telling the builders, "Hey, that roof isn't good enough—you need to add this special untested building material."

Colossians 2:8 warns us: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

"Spoil" here means to be captured or robbed. Any teaching that says you need something instead of or beyond “God in Christ in you” is actually stealing from you. 

So, we’ve got the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no open gaps. And we’re protected. Turn to 2 Corinthians 4, and learn about the internal systems of the house.

The Internal Systems: How We Function in Christ

In that house next door, they're about to install all the internal systems—plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling. And they’ll all work together. And without each of these systems, the house wouldn't function properly.

Our internal "spiritual system" is what the Bible calls the "inner man." Let’s read 2 Corinthians 4:16. It says: "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."

This inner spiritual system (the combination of body, soul, spirit), is what makes us complete, as three-part beings—body, soul, and spirit. It's designed to work perfectly with our unique personality, or mind, and physical body.

This divine nature within us, this inner spiritual essence, is the source of our power and completeness in Christ. 

So, we’re built on the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no open gaps. And we’re protected. And our inner spiritual system is designed perfectly. Turn to 1 Corinthians 12. And let’s check out the special features of the house. 

The Functional Features: Manifesting the Spirit

When that house is finished, it'll have all kinds of cool features that make it functional—lights, switches, outlets, thermostats. But those features only benefit the homeowners, if they actually use them.

In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul says: "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." The manifestations of the Spirit are like the functional features of our spiritual house—and there are nine of them:

• Word of wisdom—for profit!

• Word of knowledge—for profit!

• Faith—for profit!

• Gifts of healing—for profit!

• Working of miracles—for profit!

• Prophecy—for profit!

• Discerning of spirits—for profit!

• Different kinds of tongues—for profit!

• Interpretation of tongues—for profit!

All profitable. What's the point of having all these manifestations, if we don’t use them? We need to actually USE these spiritual gifts. When we exercise our God-given authority, He energizes these manifestations through us, confirming that - God in Christ - is in and through us. 

So, we’re built on the most important foundation. We’ve got a full framework. And there are no open gaps. And we’re protected. And our inner spiritual system is designed perfectly. And we got the best features to use. Turn to Phillippians 4 and look at the power supply to the house.

The Power Supply: Strength for Every Task

You know, that house next door is going to have plenty of electrical lights, plugs, TVs, and appliances, right? The homeowners are going to need a lot of power supplied to their house.

The same is true for us spiritually. Philippians 4:13 provides us with an amazing promise: "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

Think about that. We can do ALL things—not just some things, not just easy things—ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. When the spiritual construction project seems too big, when the tasks in life seem overwhelming, when things seem to be not going our way, we can remember that - we have Christ's power supply that never fails. His strength is available for everything we do in life, so that we can do all things. 

So, Foundation. Full framework. No open gaps. We’re protected. Inner body-soul-spirit. We manifest. And we’ve got power. Turn to Romans 8. 

Moving In: Living Out Our Completeness

Eventually, there will be a day when the house is complete, and the new owners can move in and start living in that house. 

Well, let’s live our lives knowing we’re complete in Christ. Romans 8:37 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” We’re more than conquerors. 1 John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he, that is in you, than he, that is in the world.”

• If someone says to you that you don't have what it takes or you lack something, remember: you are complete in Christ. 

• When challenges in life make you feel weak or inadequate, remember: you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

• When the world makes you feel empty or powerless, remember: you are filled with the fullness of God's power and love.

God has built us complete in Christ—foundation to roof, inside and out, every system working perfectly together. 

See yourself as God sees you—His fully-built spiritual house, lacking nothing, We are complete in Him.

Amen?