Ephesians 4:13 – Until we all come to the oneness of faith and the full knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, to the measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ.
Part 1 ~ The Fullness Of Christ
There are two challenging and yet glorious privileges expressed in this verse: First, “the measure of the maturity of Christ”; and second, the “fullness of Christ”. The fullness of Christ in ministry is promised to the believer by Jesus when He said, “…he that believes on me the works that I do shall he do also, and greater…”(John 14:12). When Jesus was baptized in the Spirit, He was filled with the Spirit without measure (John 3:34; Matthew 3:16). Jesus came as the express image of the Father filled with all of the fullness of God (Colossians 1:19, 2:9). God made it possible for us to be filled with all of the fullness of Christ Jesus first by the new birth, and secondly through the Baptism of the Spirit. When we are born of the Spirit, Christ Jesus was formed in us (Colossians 1:28; Galatians 4:19; 1 John 4:4; Romans 8:29).
This new creation created in Christ Jesus possesses the abiding presence of the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (John 14:23; 1 John 3:24). Paul testified how he had received the fullness of Christ when he declared to the Romans that he would “come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ” (Romans 15:29); and also when he made it known he no longer lived, but Christ Who was in him lived (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21). Paul also revealed how the fullness of God was made available to all of the saints through knowing the love of Christ: “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, so that we might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). In fact, he revealed how the Church was the fullness of Him Who fills all things (Ephesians 1:22-23).
Although we look at such a promise and are overwhelmed with amazement and a sense of impossibility, we must with awe and expectation embrace the call to this unspeakable gift of God! Father has revealed these things to us by His Spirit because it is His will for our lives. If we refuse to believe and take hold of the faith by both accepting and expecting this to be the reality of our lives, then we will certainly never realize this glorious privilege (Hebrews 11:6).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
