Ephesians 3:18 to 19 says, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Let’s look at verse 19— “Filled with all the fullness of God.” What does it mean to be filled with all the fullness of God? How do you attain this knowledge? Verse 19 says you have to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge and that produces knowledge of the fullness of God.
The question one may ask is—How do I know something if it passes knowledge? This is talking about an experience that goes way past your natural understanding. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. What is he speaking about when he talks about the natural man? The natural man is the man who lives by his five senses. He is moved by what he can see, taste, touch, smell and hear. He cannot understand spiritual things because spiritual things are received in your spirit. It is revelation from God. Only from your spirit can you understand spiritual things. The natural or carnal man cannot comprehend the things of God. They will always be foolishness to him. How can you understand that you are healed when you feel sick? How can you understand you’re forgiven when you feel guilty? How can you understand when your spirit is telling you one thing and your five senses say something else? When you are in the world, being natural is normal. It’s normal when you’re in the world to be governed by your five senses. Being natural isn’t sin but the Word of God says that you are not of this world. John 17:16, They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. If you are not of this world then it means for you to be carnal or natural is enmity against God. You cannot walk with God effectively if you’re not in agreement with Him. Amos 3:3 says, Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Paul wasn’t just speaking about the world, he was speaking to the church. The born-again believers. He was saying that you have Christ in you and yet you walk as natural men. How many of you reading this can identify with what I’m saying?
This love of Christ that passes knowledge is an intimacy with God that goes beyond your natural understanding. It is far superior than head knowledge. This intimacy is what causes us to be filled with the fullness of God.
2 Peter 1:3 says, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: What was given to us by His divine power that pertains to life and godliness? It is talking about everything that God is so are we. He has released everything that He is in our lives. He has released healing, love, peace, deliverance and I can go on. When you understand the fullness of God all of His ability will flow through you.
Here is a question for you. Seeing that God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness does he demand that we should live holy lives to receive from Him? Here’s something you should know. The life that we live in Christ we do by grace through faith. Not based on what we do or how we live but because of what Christ already did for us on the cross. Let me explain.
When sin was unleashed on the world it demanded a penalty. That penalty was death. That is what we deserved. But God loved us so much that He didn’t give us what we deserved, instead He sent His Only Son to take on everything that was meant for us upon himself. When Christ died that penalty was paid in full. He left nothing undone. What this is saying is that there is nothing I can do to earn God’s love or attention. His loving me isn’t based on what I do. It’s based on what Christ did. If I try to be good and perfect before Him for Him to love me or use me then it’s the same as saying that everything that Christ did on the cross was not completed. I must do the rest. You can’t work to please God. There is nothing you can do that would ever be perfect or good enough for Him. not while you’re in this flesh. Nothing will ever be perfect until we receive our glorified bodies.
God wants us to walk in holiness only because it benefits us. How? It changes our hearts before Him. It helps us to move closer to Him. and we also do it because of our relationship with Him, but our holiness doesn’t earn us anything from God. He loves us despite ourselves. He also expects holiness because Satan is still the prince and power of the air. If you choose to walk apart from God the Devil will come in and steal, kill and destroy you. He will also convince you that you are imperfect before God. Therefore, grace is so important. If you believe God can only bless you based on your holiness (how good you can be) then you’ll never get anywhere in Him. Having your mind renewed with all the fullness of God only comes with knowing who He is.
This is Pastor Karen Bruce
I pray that God would open your hearts to the Revelation of His Word.