"and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,In our Sunday School class, we've been talking about the power of the gospel, how it changes our hearts and minds and influences how we choose to live our lives. As I was reading, the phrase 'the fullness of God' caught my attention. What is the fullness of God? And is there a connection with that and 'the power of the gospel'? That thought struck me since I desire for the gospel to permeate my whole being, and I also desire to be "filled up to all the fullness of God," whatever that might be, especially since the scripture says so. I know about being filled with the Spirit, but is being "filled up to all the fullness of God" a bit different?
that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."
As I read the brief passage over and again, I began to see the connection with that and the power of the gospel. It was easier for me to see by starting with the phrase there in the latter part of verse 19 and working backwards, sort of like this....
Being filled up to all the fullness of God (v19b) is a result of being able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (v. 18-19a). So the question begs itself... how do I "comprehend and know the love of Christ"? Surely that is incomprehensible, for his love is beyond understanding. Well, I may not be able to reason it out or explain it, but verse 17 tells me that it's "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." It isn't through any reasoning, but an outgrowth of faith in Jesus Christ. And as I keep moving backward in this passage to gain an understanding, I find in verse 16 that Christ's dwelling in my heart is through His own strengthening.
Coming full circle, I realize that the fullness of God is found in Christ's strengthening of my heart. He exercises my faith. The power of the gospel! Nothing that I have to do to get more of God. Simple faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and satisfies God's justice in his death, burial, and resurrection. He reconnects us to God. Sweet contemplation.
He wants us all to comprehend that. I do hope you do. He wants you to.
For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your heart through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Painting ~ Woman Reading, Pierre Auguste Renoir 1841-1919
