Isaiah - Verse By Verse | Walking through Ephesians

Walking through Ephesians - Day 79

versebyverse | January 29, 2008 20:19

Thought: To me, every possibility of mature Christian perfection is presently available to me--in Christ!

Question: Do I "hold onto" any amount of self, preventing Christ's fullness in me?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13 (NIV): "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Paul returns (though never having left) to his original theme of chapter 4, the unity of all believers. The end of God's purpose is grand unity and fullness of Spirit. Christ is the greatest unifier of the human race ever. He died to unify us back under God's authority. He arose again to unite us to the eternal life we forfeited in Eden. He gave gifts to men and led captive souls free to unify all believers together! We, the church, are still working with His giftings to bring to a close the full fruit of the church age, which all works together in a grand unification drawing all like souls together in salvation, and conforms those saved souls into one likeness of Christ Himself.

The gifts will continue to be given and used "until we all reach unity...and become mature." God The Father knows when maturity is reached, we don't. God knows how many souls total will comprise the body, we don't. We just need to keep on developing the gifts and working in service one to another, perfecting our faiths.

The "maturity" is described here in two facets: 1) "faith of the Son of God", and 2) "knowledge of the Son of God." All maturing, apparently, falls into one area or the other. Our faith revolves around The Son of God. He is of utmost importance. Our relationship with Jesus Christ is everything. Then we need to grow in relationship in two ways, 1) faith in (Him) and, 2) knowledge of (Him). What do we believe about Christ and how far will our beliefs carry us? What do we know about Jesus and will what we know cause trust to keep growing every day? What is happening to me now that stretches trust? What did we learn today about Christ that was new? If these thought exercises are kept every day we will not grow stagnant, first of all, and we will not cease improving, second of all. It is then that we begin to see that the life of faith is a continual growth process and that maturity is still ahead of us and continually unattainable. To be as good as Jesus Christ is basically not possible except as we empty ourselves of self-will and yield more and more to Him. "The whole measure of the fullness of Christ" therefore, is never my ability to be as good as Christ was; but rather an ability to continually empty self-will out whenever it rises or flares up, and trade for Christ's Spirit to take its place. Perhaps the most mature Christian is the one who never again yields to flesh but, every time flesh tempts, turns to the control of Spirit. It takes a while to learn this. Then it takes awhile to decide to obey.

Christ "apportioned" (verse 7) grace in His gift-giving. Now we see His portions working together with other portions (gifts) until all of us come all the way to "full measure" maturity. Interestingly, we all need each other, don't we? We have to remember that we are pieces of His body, interdependent and incomplete alone. We also have to remember that grace in the first place is God giving bits of Himself away to us in order for us to get a feel of Who He is. We are indulged by His graces. He is too kind. But it is nice to learn that God is "too kind."

"Fullness of Christ" is what I want. I covet it with most all of my heart. (I'm being honest! A part of my heart still wants space for self-indulgence!) This is what God has to purge out of me. This is the immaturity in me that needs to be destroyed!

Prayer: Great, Almighty Father, help me yield 100% of myself so that I can reach maturity and the "whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Amen!