“That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:21).

As we observe the words of the beautiful hymn, “Complete in Thee,” we notice that verse two deals with the believer’s deepening walk in Christ, the setting aside of sinful practices by resisting the tempter, i.e., progressive sanctification.

Complete in Thee! no more shall sin, Thy grace hath conquered, reign within; Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee, And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Contemplate what it means to be complete in Him. “In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9,10). This is made possible because we are “buried with Him in baptism” (v.12), “quickened together with Him” (v.13), thus “dead with Christ” to worldly things (v.20). “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above” (3:1).

Jesus Christ, in His humanity, was tempted to sin (Luke 4:1–13), but He resisted by quoting the word of God (vv.4,8,12). Complete in Him, we have the same source of power and victory. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

Our text sums up this concept well. Sin had reigned in our lives, but now grace reigns. This standing comes only through the work of Jesus Christ. His grace will encourage righteous decisions and habits—victory over sin!

Our goal “is that we may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). JDM