Embodying the Fullness of God in Christ

 

Summary

In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul prays for the Ephesians to be filled with all the fullness of God, a concept that represents the pinnacle of Christian experience and understanding. This prayer is not merely about receiving blessings but about reaching the highest spiritual state possible. Paul envisions a journey of spiritual ascent, where believers move from basic understanding to a profound realization of God's infinite possibilities. He is not content with the Ephesians' current state; he desires them to experience the unsearchable riches of Christ.

The fullness of God is not about possessing God's incommunicable attributes like omniscience or omnipotence, which are unique to God. Instead, it involves the communicable attributes such as holiness, righteousness, love, and mercy, which God imparts to believers. This fullness is made possible through the indwelling of Christ in our hearts by faith, leading to a transformation that aligns us with the image of Christ.

Paul's prayer is a call to spiritual maturity, urging believers to grow beyond the initial stages of faith. It is a reminder that true Christianity involves a deep, ongoing relationship with Christ, where His fullness becomes part of our daily lives. This fullness is not about quantity but quality, reflecting the character of God in our lives. As we grow in grace and knowledge, we become more like Christ, manifesting His love and holiness in our interactions with others.

The ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ, reaching the measure of the stature of His fullness. This transformation is not about acquiring new gifts or talents but about embodying the love and holiness of God. It is a journey of continuous growth, where we strive to live out the fullness of God in our daily lives, reflecting His character to the world.

Key Takeaways:

- The fullness of God represents the highest spiritual state, where believers embody God's communicable attributes like holiness and love, made possible through Christ's indwelling. This is not about acquiring God's incommunicable attributes but about reflecting His character. [04:54]

- Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is a call to spiritual maturity, urging believers to move beyond basic faith to a profound realization of God's infinite possibilities. This journey involves a deep relationship with Christ, where His fullness becomes part of our lives. [03:59]

- The fullness of God is not about quantity but quality, reflecting God's character in our lives. As we grow in grace and knowledge, we become more like Christ, manifesting His love and holiness in our interactions with others. [40:19]

- True Christianity involves a continuous journey of growth, where we strive to live out the fullness of God in our daily lives, reflecting His character to the world. This transformation is not about acquiring new gifts but about embodying God's love and holiness. [34:41]

- The ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ, reaching the measure of the stature of His fullness. This involves a transformation that aligns us with Christ's image, where His fullness becomes part of our daily lives. [33:22]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 3:14-21
- [01:24] - The Climax of Prayer
- [02:53] - Spiritual Ascent and Growth
- [04:54] - The Perfection of Man
- [06:00] - The Objective of Fullness
- [08:37] - Practical Implications of Fullness
- [10:36] - Misinterpretations of Fullness
- [12:38] - Logical and Precise Statement
- [16:31] - Understanding Fullness
- [20:13] - Communicable vs. Incommunicable Attributes
- [26:13] - Fullness Through Christ
- [29:50] - The Doctrine of Fullness
- [34:56] - The Call to Holiness
- [37:40] - Union with Christ
- [42:09] - Growing in Grace and Knowledge

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 3:14-21
- Romans 8:29
- John 14:23

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul specifically pray for the Ephesians in Ephesians 3:14-21, and how does this relate to the concept of being filled with the fullness of God? [01:24]

2. How does the sermon describe the journey of spiritual ascent that Paul envisions for the Ephesians? [02:17]

3. What are the communicable attributes of God mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from the incommunicable attributes? [20:29]

4. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate goal for believers in their spiritual journey? [33:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being filled with the fullness of God challenge the common understanding of spiritual maturity? [04:54]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the fullness of God is about quality rather than quantity? How does this affect our understanding of spiritual growth? [40:19]

3. How does the sermon explain the role of Christ's indwelling in achieving the fullness of God in our lives? [26:53]

4. What does it mean to be conformed to the image of Christ, and how does this relate to the fullness of God? [33:22]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual state. Are you content with where you are, or do you feel called to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ? What steps can you take to move towards spiritual maturity? [03:09]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of embodying God's communicable attributes like love and holiness. Identify one attribute you feel called to develop further in your life. What practical steps can you take to cultivate this attribute? [24:39]

3. Consider the idea that the fullness of God is about quality, not quantity. How can this perspective change the way you approach your spiritual growth and daily interactions with others? [40:19]

4. The sermon discusses the transformation that aligns us with the image of Christ. What specific areas of your life do you feel need transformation to better reflect Christ's image? [33:22]

5. How can you actively seek to experience the unsearchable riches of Christ in your daily life? What practices or habits might help you in this pursuit? [03:42]

6. Reflect on the concept of being filled with the fullness of God through Christ's indwelling. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of Christ's presence in your heart? [26:53]

7. The sermon calls for a continuous journey of growth. What is one specific goal you can set for yourself to ensure you are continually growing in your faith and relationship with God? [34:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Embodying God's Communicable Attributes
The fullness of God is about embodying His communicable attributes such as holiness, righteousness, love, and mercy. This is made possible through the indwelling of Christ in our hearts by faith, leading to a transformation that aligns us with the image of Christ. It is not about acquiring God's incommunicable attributes like omniscience or omnipotence, which are unique to God. Instead, it involves reflecting His character in our daily lives. As we grow in grace and knowledge, we become more like Christ, manifesting His love and holiness in our interactions with others. This journey is not about quantity but quality, where the character of God is reflected in our lives. [04:54]

Ephesians 4:24 (ESV): "And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively reflect God's love and holiness in your interactions with others today?


Day 2: Journey to Spiritual Maturity
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is a call to spiritual maturity, urging believers to move beyond basic faith to a profound realization of God's infinite possibilities. This journey involves a deep, ongoing relationship with Christ, where His fullness becomes part of our lives. It is a reminder that true Christianity is not static but dynamic, requiring continuous growth and development. As believers, we are encouraged to seek a deeper understanding of God's nature and His plans for us, moving from a basic understanding to a profound realization of His infinite possibilities. [03:59]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Christ and grow in spiritual maturity?


Day 3: Quality Over Quantity in Spiritual Growth
The fullness of God is not about quantity but quality, reflecting God's character in our lives. As we grow in grace and knowledge, we become more like Christ, manifesting His love and holiness in our interactions with others. This transformation is not about acquiring new gifts or talents but about embodying the love and holiness of God. It is a journey of continuous growth, where we strive to live out the fullness of God in our daily lives, reflecting His character to the world. [40:19]

2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How can you focus on the quality of your spiritual growth rather than the quantity of religious activities you engage in?


Day 4: Continuous Journey of Growth
True Christianity involves a continuous journey of growth, where we strive to live out the fullness of God in our daily lives, reflecting His character to the world. This transformation is not about acquiring new gifts but about embodying God's love and holiness. It is a call to spiritual maturity, urging believers to grow beyond the initial stages of faith. As we grow in grace and knowledge, we become more like Christ, manifesting His love and holiness in our interactions with others. [34:41]

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can strive for growth and transformation today?


Day 5: Conformed to the Image of Christ
The ultimate goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ, reaching the measure of the stature of His fullness. This involves a transformation that aligns us with Christ's image, where His fullness becomes part of our daily lives. It is not about acquiring new gifts or talents but about embodying the love and holiness of God. As we grow in grace and knowledge, we become more like Christ, manifesting His love and holiness in our interactions with others. [33:22]

Romans 8:29 (ESV): "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to align your life more closely with the image of Christ today?

Quotes


Now we come here Beyond any question to a phrase to a statement which has been well and rightly described by someone as the climax of all prayer it is quite certain that nothing higher than this is conceivable either in the real of prayer and petition or in the realm of experience. [00:01:38]

He is not satisfied with them as they are he thanks God for them he's already been doing that they had been pagans they were far away from Christ and without God in the world but they have been made nigh and he rejoices in that he thanks God for it but but he's not satisfied that's only the beginning. [00:03:11]

He wants them to realize these larger greater infinite possibilities and he not only wants them to realize that there are such possibilities he wants them to partake of them he is anxious that they should enjoy them and so you see he has planned his prayer and he goes on from step to step. [00:04:02]

The Perfection of men consists in his being full of God so the Apostle here is praying for Perfection the Perfection of men consists in his being full of God and that is the petition that the Apostle has arrived at each of the previous ones has suggested another and that in turn has suggested another. [00:04:41]

There is no more staggering statement in the whole range of scripture than this we are are indeed standing face to face here with the utmost of experience with the highest doctrine of all there is no point I say without any hesitation in the whole of the scriptural teaching as far as we and our experience are concerned. [00:06:20]

The men who have actually done most in the relief of suffering in this world have been those who have known most about the fullness of God now that's a sure fact of history very well then let's concentrate on this in order that having this we may under God be usable and used of him in working in this world with its pain and its tragedy. [00:08:28]

The attributes of God can be divided into two groups and it's a very important distinction there are certain attributes of God and characteristics of God which are incommunicable they cannot be communicated but there are other attributes of God which are communicable and the whole essence of understanding this phrase is to draw the distinction. [00:20:03]

Holiness God is Holy yes but he has given a commandment he has said be ye holy for I am Holy he can communicate Holiness he does righteousness that essential righteousness that right and Justice God can give that it is the whole glory of the Christian salvation that a righteousness from God is now given to men through the Redemption that is in Christ. [00:24:41]

The fullness of which Paul speaks here in other words becomes ours through the indwelling in of Christ in our hearts and our knowledge of his love so you see now how carefully the Apostle builds up his case how he works it out he has already pray that Christ May dwell in our hearts by faith because this is a sure impossibility apart from that. [00:26:56]

If Christ dwells in My Heart by faith well then I say the fullness of the godhead is in Me by faith how do I prove it I prove it like this take for instance what the Apostle tells us about the Lord Jesus Christ in that epistle to the Colossians in the first chapter and the 19th verse he says it pleased the father that in him should all fullness. [00:29:50]

We are to be conformed to the image of his son and what is true of the son well I've been telling you in him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead B he is the express image of his person it pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell and we are to be conformed to that image. [00:33:22]

The fullness of God you haven't suddenly become Divine and cease to be a man you haven't suddenly become Eternal and immutable and absolute and omnipotent and omniscient no no but this fullness of God in these communicable attributes has come into you and you in turn are manifesting and displaying and showing the same love as God shows as Sinners you are showing it to others. [00:44:31]

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Transcript
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