The Fulness that is in Christ
John 16:15
All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it to you.


I. CHRIST HAS A LEGAL RIGHT TO THE PROPERTY OF THE FATHER. Because He has —

1. A natural right to it, as He is God.

2. A federal right as Mediator, i.e., God the Father and God the Son are represented in Scripture as having agreed together in a covenant respecting the salvation of the human race. It was in this agreement that God the Father made over all the blessings that He had unto Jesus Christ.

3. A donative right as Saviour (John 3:35).

4. An acquisitive right as Conqueror. Suppose two individuals are combating for some property or privilege, and this is to belong to the individual who comes off victorious; you say of him afterwards, "he has acquired that." Just so Christ came into the world to contend with sin and Satan for us, and He came off victorious.

5. A hereditary right as God's Son and Heir (Hebrews 1:2.)

II. SOME OF THOSE "ALL THINGS" WHICH JESUS CHRIST IS SAID TO HAVE.

1. All the perfections of God. If, as is said, in 1 Corinthians 1:24, He is the power of God and the wisdom of God, then all the rest must be His.

2. The glory of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).

3. All the fulness of the Father (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:19).

III. IN WHAT SENSE ARE ALL THINGS CHRIST'S?

1. Substantially, not figuratively or nominally, but really.

2. Communicatively. Some persons may possess great and inestimable treasures, but they may not have the power of communicating them. But Christ possesses "all things" for the express purpose of communicating them (John 1:16). He has pardon for our sins, and we have received it; He has justification for our souls, and He has imputed it, &c.

3. Sufficiently (Psalm 107:9).

4. Efficiently. It shall be really applied to the heart, and go to the extent which necessity requires. There may be many things that may be said to be sufficient and yet not efficient. Some of us may have enough for ourselves and others, but it is not efficient unless they partake of it.

5. Unchangeably.

6. Eternally. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life."

IV. FOR WHAT REASON IT IS SO ARRANGED THAT THE FATHER'S PROPERTY IS CHRIST'S.

1. The right and the property of no party is lost. The Father has the same property as the Son, and the Son has the same property as the Spirit.

2. Herein is seen the pleasure of the Father, the pleasure of the Son, and the pleasure of the Holy Spirit.

3. Here is God's honour in choosing His people; Christ's honour in redeeming them, and the Spirit's honour in regenerating them.

(T. B. Baker, M. A.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

WEB: All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.




The Promise of the Spirit -- the Fulness of Christ
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