Colossians 2:6-10 English Standard Version
Alive in Christ
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[principles] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
While we were talking about the door to our heart and using faith as the key to open up the door, the next question begs to be asked. Who is knocking? If we peek out the peephole, do we see a Savior or a Lord? Do we see a man or God? He is all those things but how we see Him determines how we receive Him and threat Him once He enters.
It might be easier to understand if Colossians 2:6 said “received Christ Jesus as Lord”. The Lord is a definitive statement and attaching that to our walk of faith declares us in Him, not with Him. In Him takes on a new outlook which is described in the following passages.
Galatians 3:27 English Standard Version (ESV) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
This is tied directly to a regional attitude of understanding that the clothes identified who they were in society. Roman soldiers were easily identified by their armor, priest were identified by their robes. It was a social understanding of personal identity.
If we put on Christ in that same sense of identity, what do we look like? If we believe Colossians 2:9-10 then the key to being seen as having put on Christ, He is the Lord of our lives. What does it mean to be filled in Him? Filled is an indication that there is no room for self; the old man has died and relinquished control of our lives.