BECOMING COMPLETE IN CHRIST

BECOMING COMPLETE IN CHRIST

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 2 Corinthians 13:11

Key Verse: “Finally, brethren, be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:11

Supporting Texts: Colossians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 4:11-13; Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 10:14; James 1:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 3:18; John 15:4-5; Colossians 1:28

Description: Becoming complete in Christ means growing continually into spiritual maturity, allowing Christ to transform our character, faith, relationships, and service until our lives increasingly reflect His fullness.

INTRODUCTION

God does not save us merely to leave us where He found us. Salvation begins a lifelong process of transformation in which the believer grows in grace, knowledge, character, faith, obedience, and Christlikeness. God's desire is that His children become spiritually mature and increasingly reflect the nature of Jesus Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 13:11, Paul instructed the Corinthians to “be perfect,” meaning to pursue spiritual maturity, completeness, restoration, and wholeness. The instruction was given alongside the commands to be encouraged, be of one mind, and live in peace. This shows that Christian maturity is not simply about acquiring biblical knowledge; it must also be demonstrated through character, relationships, unity, love, and practical obedience.

Becoming complete in Christ is a process of surrendering every area of our lives to Him. We may not become perfect in the sense of never making a mistake in this present life, but we can continually grow toward maturity. Christ is working in us, the Holy Spirit is transforming us, and God's Word is shaping us until our lives increasingly resemble the One we follow.

1. UNDERSTAND THAT CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF OUR COMPLETENESS

True spiritual completeness is found in Christ, not in human achievement.

a. You Are Complete In Christ (Colossians 2:10) — Believers are made complete in Christ, who is the head of all principality and power. Our spiritual identity begins with what Christ has accomplished for us.

b. Christ Is The Fullness Of God Revealed (Colossians 2:9) — The fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ. Therefore, knowing Christ is central to spiritual maturity.

c. Salvation Is The Beginning Of Transformation (2 Corinthians 5:17) — Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. God begins a new work that continues throughout the believer's life.

d. Christ Supplies What We Need (Philippians 4:19) — God provides according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Our sufficiency ultimately comes from Him.

Biblical Example: Peter's life changed progressively after he encountered Jesus. He moved from an impulsive fisherman to a mature apostle who boldly proclaimed Christ (Matthew 4:18-20; Acts 2:14-41).

2. GROW TOWARD SPIRITUAL MATURITY

God wants believers to move beyond spiritual infancy.

a. Grow In Grace And Knowledge (2 Peter 3:18) — Spiritual maturity requires continual growth in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

b. Become Mature In Understanding (1 Corinthians 14:20) — Believers should not remain childish in their thinking but develop mature spiritual understanding.

c. Develop Spiritual Discernment (Hebrews 5:14) — Mature believers train their spiritual senses through practice to distinguish between good and evil.

d. Become Rooted And Established In Christ (Colossians 2:6-7) — Walking in Christ requires believers to be rooted, built up, established in the faith, and continually thankful.

Biblical Example: Timothy grew under Paul's teaching and eventually became a dependable ministry worker who could teach and lead others (2 Timothy 1:5-7; 2:1-2).

3. ALLOW GOD'S WORD TO TRANSFORM YOU

The Word of God is one of the primary instruments God uses to produce spiritual completeness.

a. God's Word Teaches And Corrects (2 Timothy 3:16) — Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

b. God's Word Equips You For Every Good Work (2 Timothy 3:17) — Scripture helps the servant of God become complete and equipped for every good work.

c. God's Word Cleanses Your Life (Psalm 119:9) — A person can cleanse his way by taking heed according to God's Word.

d. God's Word Produces Spiritual Growth (1 Peter 2:2) — Believers should desire the sincere milk of God's Word so that they may grow spiritually.

Biblical Example: Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, practise it, and teach it to Israel. His life demonstrates the proper relationship between learning, obedience, and teaching (Ezra 7:10).

4. LET CHRIST TRANSFORM YOUR CHARACTER

Spiritual completeness must be visible in the way we live.

a. Put On The Character Of Christ (Colossians 3:12-14) — Believers are called to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love.

b. Produce The Fruit Of The Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) — Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance are evidence of spiritual transformation.

c. Become More Like Christ (Romans 8:29) — God's purpose is that believers should be conformed to the image of His Son.

d. Practise Holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16) — Since God is holy, believers are called to reflect His holiness in every area of life.

Biblical Example: Joseph demonstrated Christlike character through integrity, patience, forgiveness, and faithfulness even when he was mistreated by others (Genesis 39:7-12; 50:15-21).

5. DEVELOP MATURITY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Christian maturity is demonstrated through the way we treat other people.

a. Love One Another (John 13:34-35) — Jesus made sacrificial love a distinguishing mark of His disciples.

b. Forgive Others (Ephesians 4:32) — Mature believers do not allow bitterness to control their relationships but forgive as God has forgiven them.

c. Bear With One Another (Colossians 3:13) — Spiritual maturity requires patience with the weaknesses and differences of others.

d. Pursue Peace (Romans 12:18) — Believers should make every reasonable effort to live peaceably with everyone.

Biblical Example: Barnabas demonstrated relational maturity by giving Saul an opportunity when other disciples were afraid of him and later seeking out Mark after his earlier withdrawal from ministry (Acts 9:26-27; 15:36-39).

6. BECOME COMPLETE THROUGH TRIALS

God can use difficult seasons to develop maturity in His people.

a. Trials Test Your Faith (James 1:2-3) — The testing of faith produces patience and endurance.

b. Patience Leads To Maturity (James 1:4) — James teaches that patience must have its complete work so believers may become mature and complete.

c. Suffering Can Produce Character (Romans 5:3-4) — Tribulation can produce patience, experience, and hope when surrendered to God.

d. God's Grace Sustains You In Weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) — Human weakness can become an opportunity to experience the sufficiency and power of Christ's grace.

Biblical Example: Job's trials tested his faith deeply, but he continued to seek God and eventually experienced God's restoration and a deeper understanding of Him (Job 1:20-22; 42:1-6, 10-12).

7. BECOME COMPLETE THROUGH SERVICE

Spiritual maturity should produce usefulness in the kingdom of God.

a. Be Equipped For Ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12) — Christ gives ministry gifts to equip believers for service and the building up of His body.

b. Use Your Gifts Faithfully (1 Peter 4:10) — Every believer should use the gift received from God to serve others as a faithful steward.

c. Serve With Excellence (Colossians 3:23-24) — Whatever believers do should be done heartily as unto the Lord.

d. Become A Blessing To Others (Matthew 5:16) — Good works should cause people to see God's glory through the believer's life.

Biblical Example: Dorcas used her practical abilities to serve widows and others in need. Her life demonstrated that spiritual maturity can be expressed through compassionate service (Acts 9:36-39).

8. KEEP PRESSING TOWARD CHRISTLIKENESS

No matter how much we have grown, there is always room for deeper spiritual maturity.

a. Forget What Is Behind (Philippians 3:13) — Paul refused to become satisfied with past achievements. He continued pressing forward.

b. Press Toward The Prize (Philippians 3:14) — The believer's goal is continual progress toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

c. Be Transformed From Glory To Glory (2 Corinthians 3:18) — As believers behold the Lord, the Spirit transforms them increasingly into His image.

d. Let God Complete His Work In You (Philippians 1:6) — The God who began a good work in believers will continue it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Biblical Example: Paul, despite his years of ministry and spiritual accomplishments, continued pressing toward the goal and seeking greater knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:10-14).

CONCLUSION

Becoming complete in Christ is a lifelong journey of spiritual growth, transformation, obedience, service, and Christlikeness. Our completeness begins in Christ, but we must cooperate with the work of God's Spirit through prayer, the Word, obedience, fellowship, service, and perseverance. We must not remain spiritually immature when God has provided everything necessary for us to grow.

The call of 2 Corinthians 13:11 is therefore a call to maturity. Let Christ shape your character, strengthen your faith, heal your relationships, develop your gifts, and transform your life. Keep growing until your thoughts, words, decisions, relationships, and actions increasingly reflect Jesus Christ. The God who began the work in you will faithfully continue it until it is complete.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, thank You for making me complete in Christ through Your grace, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, help me to grow continually in grace, knowledge, faith, and spiritual maturity, in Jesus name.

3. Father, let Your Word transform my heart, character, thoughts, and actions, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, remove every childish attitude and spiritual immaturity from my life, in Jesus name.

5. Father, make me more like Jesus in my character, conduct, relationships, and service, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, use every trial and difficult season to produce maturity and stronger faith in me, in Jesus name.

7. Father, help me to love, forgive, bear with, and live peacefully with others, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, equip me to use my gifts faithfully and fruitfully in Your kingdom, in Jesus name.

9. Father, complete every good work You have begun in my life and ministry, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, give me grace to keep pressing forward until my life fully reflects the character of Christ, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall grow continually in grace, wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual maturity.

2. Every area of spiritual weakness in your life shall receive divine strengthening.

3. The Word of God shall transform your character and establish you in righteousness.

4. You shall increasingly reflect the character, love, humility, and holiness of Christ.

5. Every trial you encounter shall produce stronger faith, patience, endurance, and maturity.

6. Your relationships shall experience healing, forgiveness, unity, and peace.

7. Your spiritual gifts shall develop and become useful for the advancement of God's kingdom.

8. The good work God has begun in your life shall not be abandoned; He shall bring it to completion.

9. You shall not remain spiritually stagnant, but you shall move from strength to strength and from glory to glory.

10. You shall become mature, fruitful, established, and increasingly complete in Christ, and your life shall bring glory to God, in Jesus name.