The Answer to Human Philosophy

In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete.

–Colossians 2:9–10

Many people in today’s world rely on human philosophy to find meaning and direction in life. What is the answer to human philosophy? In Colossians 2:9, Paul reminded the Colossians, “In [Christ] all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” God didn’t pour just a little bit of Himself into Jesus; He poured all of Himself into that tiny embryo in Mary’s womb. Jesus is the fullness of God in bodily form.

What does that mean for us? Look at verse 10: “In Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.”Jesus Christ is the answer to every question and every need you have in life. The apostle Peter said, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Warren Wiersbe put it this way: “When a person is born again into the family of God, he is born complete in Christ. His spiritual growth is not by addition, but by nutrition. He grows from the inside out. Nothing needs to be added to Christ because He already is the very fullness of God. As the believer draws on Christ’s fullness, he is ‘filled unto all the fullness of God’ (Eph. 3:19). What more does he need?”

Philosophers may say Christianity is too simplistic to offer solutions to today’s complex problems. But God’s Word says Christ offers everything we need for this life, while human wisdom is empty.

During the last couple of decades, many people have built their lives around the teachings of atheists like Richard Dawkins. In his book The God Delusion, Dawkins wrote, “Atonement, the central doctrine of Christianity, [is] vicious, sado-masochistic and repellent.” When I read that statement, I couldn’t help but think of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 1:18–20: “The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.’ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

The wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God. It is bankrupt to provide lasting answers, and most importantly, it leads to eternal death. But the word of the cross leads to life. Jesus Christ is sufficient for every need you have–in this life and the next.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Problem with Philosophy” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2012.

Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Vol. 2 (Colorado Springs: Victor, 2001), 126, emphasis in original; Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (Boston: Mariner, 2008), 287.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.