THE SUPREME MYSTERY – THE BODY OF CHRIST
ACT II: The Mystery of The Body Unveiled
2. THE BODY MADE FULL (Eph. 3:14-21)
INTRODUCTION:
Am I the only one, or has anyone else had their prayers to God interrupted by a wandering mind? Last week, we saw that even the Apostle Paul can be susceptible to distraction and that these distractions can sometimes even be divinely led and beneficial!
Last week we discovered how, in the middle of his letter to the Ephesian church, and after emphasizing the unity in Christ among believers achieved through Christ’s death and resurrection, Paul began to launch into a passionate, written prayer on their behalf. He began his prayer with an acknowledgment of his identify and role as a servant of Christ on behalf of the Gentiles. But, before he got any further, his mind began to wander as he realized that they may yet need a greater understanding of what he was praying for and why. As we studied last week, Paul then interrupted his own prayer and used the next 12 verses to clearly explain what had been a mystery but was now revealed by God – that all believers regardless of their past, nationality, race or gender are equally parts of God’s ’Body’ on earth, of which Christ is the ’head.’ That, in fact, each of the members of the local church is to see and conduct themselves as vital and integrated parts of One Body in Christ.
This morning, we will rejoin Paul in getting back to his prayer that God’s Body, the local church, would be “Full.”
THE WORD: READ EPHESIANS 3:14-21
A.) SOURCE OF THE BLESSING (vv. 14-15)
* The source of the blessing and the object of our glory is The Father - God Almighty!
“For this reason I bow my knees. . .”
* Paul is saying that since God is already doing this great work in and through us and has
already determined to transform all believers into new people who are inextricably knit
together, I submissively and passionately pray that God prepares and equips them for this great
task! This is especially needed in light of the inevitable obstruction and suffering that Paul has
already been subjected to and just encouraged the saints to persevere.
* It is so common for us to think of praying on our knees (even if we never do) and see others
doing so in pictures, but during this time it was quite uncommon.
* The normal Jewish position for prayer was standing. To kneel in prayer was to exhibit a
significant attitude of submission, humility, a recognition of one’s own limited stature, and
adoration.
* Kneeling in prayer was generally reserved for extraordinary times and/or passion.
B.) PETITION FOR THE CHURCH TO HOLD THE “FULLNESS OF GOD” (vv. 16-19)
* From this beautiful, emotional posture of submissive prayer & adoration, Paul launches into
his petition for the church.
“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory. . . so you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.” (vv. 16a,19b)
* It is my conclusion/interpretation that Paul’s specific requests in vv. 16b-19a are all building
up to and inclusive of v. 19b. Thus, I would characterize it as one petition with several key
components.
1. Filling From an Infinite Source (v.16a) “the riches of His glory”
* Paul’s petition is that we be filled from an unlimited, over-abounding source! Remember,
God does not give from his riches BUT according to the riches of His glory. Big difference.
These riches, like His glory are inexhaustible and without limit!
* A limited, earthly example of this would be the world-famous Pitch Lake in Trinidad. In, fact
this in the only known source of natural pitch in the world! It is a huge expanse of bubbling,
black pitch that appears to have a limited surface area but near limitless depth. It is said that
every major asphalt road in the world has been made with pitch from here. Further, it is said
that they could continue to pave the entire world for several more centuries before the pitch
may be exhausted. If you go to Pitch Lake, you can watch huge machines and vehicles
picking up tons of pitch at a time, and yet as soon as these tons are lifted out, more immediately
fills back in as if the Lake was never touched! For all of the supply of pitch that has been
removed over the last 200 yrs., there has been no apparent receding of the lake - pictures from
many years before look the same as the lake does today. Ultimately, we know it can eventually
be exhausted. BUT God’s riches are NEVER exhausted!
2. Strengthened For Fullness (vv. 16b-17a)
“strengthened with might”
* Note the double-emphasis. This is not ordinary strengthening!
“through His Spirit”
* The agent of this filling is the Holy Spirit.
“in the inner man,”
* We pray all the time for our physical needs. But we need to remember that our spiritual nature
is just as much or more in need of prayer, strengthening and filling from the Holy Spirit!
* The “inner man” is a reference to our spirit which has been “born” (our second birth) through
Christ’s regenerative work and redemption in us - by His grace. Thus, these riches can only be
received by those who have been “born again.”
* The idea of “inner” versus “outer” may also be a testament to the depth to which He reaches us!
* It is also an indication that even while our outward bodies may weaken, sicken, etc., yet there
may be only strengthening within for those who are in Christ and seek His filling!
2 Co. 4:16 Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our
inner person is being renewed day by day.
“that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;”
* There is great significance here that should not go unnoticed: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
and the indwelling of Christ is, essentially, one and the same (see also Ro. 8:10-11)!
* Further, it is a permanent dwelling! Paul here uses a specific Greek word (katoikeo) which
distinctly indicates a settling into and permanent rather than casual dwelling.
* All of this is through faith - a phrase Paul expresses in the present continuous sense.
As we continue to trust in Him, so He will continue to dwell in us with power and might!
As R. Kent Hughes summarizes, “We are frail containers pulsating with divine power!”1
3. Fullness Rooted in Love for Christ (vv. 17b-18)
“that you, being rooted and grounded in love”
* Perhaps a better translation here would be “rooted and established.” Again, Paul mixes
together both an agricultural and architectural metaphor. Paul deems it necessary to use both
terms to better emphasize the degree to which all else flows through relationship in love!
* Like a tree & its roots, so is our lives to emanate from being spread out deep and wide,
nourishing from and anchoring in “the soil of love.” And this is not static, but is continually
to grow, spread and strengthen!
* And like a building, our edifices will only be built tall and remain shiny and strong to the extent
to which our foundation is deeply grounded in the solid rock of love!
* Further, it is a love that is to flow through many channels. As we are filled with the reality and
recognition of God’s love for Him, so should unlimited love flow from us back to God and
to others – loving God absolutely and others sacrificially!
“may be able to comprehend with all the saints”
* The only way any of us will possibly be able to even begin to comprehend the fullness of
God, His love and blessings, is to seek it TOGETHER! This is why it is SO IMPORTANT for
believers to regularly gather together in worship, fellowship, discipleship and service to God
and others.
* Love is a lifestyle that we are to live, receive and exercise together for a lifetime!
“what is the width and length and depth and height”
* These are poetic emphases to just how infinite is God’s love!
* No matter what direction you go or how far, no matter what dimension you seek or how deeply,
God’s love infinitely exceeds it!
* Again, God’s love is not something that can be grasped in a “moment.” Rather, it is the pursuit
of a lifetime - an eternal lifetime – and it is experienced best in community with other believers!
* As John Stott has expressed: “the love of Christ is ’broad’ enough to encompass all mankind . . . ,
’long’ enough to last for eternity, ’deep’ enough to reach the most degraded sinner, and ’high’
enough to exalt him to heaven.” 2
“to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge”
* Further this is a love that goes far beyond simply knowledge or “understanding.” True, it does
require all of our intellectual capacity, but it also requires our personal, intimate and continual
relationship with the object - Christ Himself! To “know” it we must also experience it, and the
greater we experience it (through receiving and giving it), the more we will “know” it!
* When may never know it exhaustively, but together we may know and experience it truly.
* There may even be times, places and circumstances in which His love doesn’t make sense or seems
absent. Yet, it is there! Consider:
In the 19th Century, when Napoleon’s armies explored an abandoned prison that had previously
been used by the Spanish Inquisition, they found the remains of a prisoner who had been burned to death for his faith. They found his scarred remains underground in the dungeon.
All that was left of him was a chain fastened around a charred anklebone. Yet, there was
something else. On the wall of his small, dismal crypt this faithful martyr for Christ had
scratched out a rough cross with four words. Above the cross was the Spanish word for “height.” Beneath it was the word for “depth.” To the left was the word “width,” and to the
right was the Spanish word for “length.”
Even amidst the worse conditions of injustice, suffering and physical hopelessness, this man of
God understood that Christ’s love for Him remained inexhaustible! And to consider the petty trials
over which we so quickly question Christ’s love or will for us! I know have.
* Another unknown prisoner once wrote this poem:
Could we with ink the oceans fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade -
To write the love of God above
Would drain the oceans dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky.
“that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”
* Again, this is what it is all about! We need to be strengthened in our inner man by the Holy
Spirit, so that in Christ we may be rooted and established in love that is deep within us and yet
extends out far beyond us, so that we may be filled with the inexhaustible fullness and riches
of the glory of God, our Father!
* To be filled with the fullness of God (which, by the way can never be fully because He is infinite)
is to achieve perfect maturity in the image of Christ (4:13). This is our eternal pursuit, by His
grace, and power unto His glory!
C.) FULLNESS WITHOUT LIMIT (vv. 20-21)
* From the substance of this prayer, Paul naturally bursts into a climatic doxology of praise!
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works in us”
* Are you catching all of the superlatives?
* There is no end to what God can do, it is impossible to ask beyond what God can deliver!
* Therefore, we too can pray to be filled with the fullness of God and it will be done - even far
more than we could ever expect or imagine!
* It is His power, but it works and emanates from within us (v. 16b; 1:19-20).
“to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus”
* God’s glory in Christ and His glory in the church cannot be separated - WOW!
* It is through the church that God works His miracle and mystery of reconciliation throughout
the world and ultimately to the cosmos; it is through the church that His love is made know; it
is through the church that His wisdom is known and His glory is shown throughout the universe!
“to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
* No limit in quantity and quality, and there is also no limit in time and eternity!
So it is, so let it be! Praise be to God, glory in the highest!!!
CONCLUSION:
Do you know this incredible love of the Lord? Have you experienced it? Are you experiencing it right now? Are you being filled with His Spirit? Are ALL of us? And filled . . . and filled . . . and filled . . . forever? Do we understand that we can NEVER reach reach the point at which we either need no more of it or that He has no more to give? It is inexhaustible and beyond our most glorious dreams!
