And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Paul's bowed-knee prayer to the Father reaches its climax in asking that believers know Christ's love and by it be filled with all the fullness of God. That love passes knowledge, surpassing human understanding, thought and imagination so it cannot be fully comprehended, measured or uttered, yet it can be truly known by living experience as Christ dwells within. To know it is to be filled with God's fullness, which is the highest privilege of the Christian life and nothing less than perfection of Christian character. It comes as the Father grants strength in the inner person by His Spirit, as Christ dwells in the heart by faith, and as believers rooted and grounded in love together comprehend its breadth and length and depth and height. That love is infinite and without measure, seen when Christ though eternally rich and glorious became poor, clothed divinity with humanity, and died in shame on Calvary to purchase eternal life for a lost world.
Prayer Setting and Terms
The verse is the climax and close of a bowed-knee prayer to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, asking that believers might be filled with all the fullness of God. That asking is that they be granted according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith, that being rooted and grounded in love they may be able with all saints to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. It is given to men and women who realize their weakness and entire dependence upon Him, revealing God's nature as love expressed in His holy law, and it is the spiritual privilege God grants through His Spirit and the means by which the church is given power and efficiency for its work of making known the manifold wisdom of God.
The prayer ends in praise to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought according to the power working within, to whom be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages without end. That Giver is the high and holy One who inhabits eternity, whose ways are everlasting, who changes not, and in Christ there is boldness and confident access by faith. It is truth that works by love and purifies the soul, and its instruction exposes hard-spiritedness that comes from being strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit and calls for a great reformation in lives, words, works, and spiritual understanding, with daily catching of the inspiration of angels and breathing the atmosphere of heaven.
It was a prayer of love, commendation, and large and full encouragement for the church at Ephesus, given by one who labored much for that church, and it is to be read in connection with Christ's message to the church at Ephesus. Paul himself had a clear and full grasp of the breadth, length, depth, and height of a love that is beyond the limits of human knowledge yet can be truly known. That comprehension shaped his teaching and enabled him to represent Christian character.
The chapter reveals the work to be done for everyone who is saved: that Christ is to be revealed in them, by them, and through them. The verse is full of instruction to be understood and practiced, and the larger passage of Ephesians 3:7-21 shows the experience every minister in every conference, ordained or not, must have, to be read carefully and prayerfully as personally belonging to him. That privilege of knowing God and the power of His grace and the love of Christ and being filled with the fullness of God is gained not by casual interest but by earnest travail for souls, earnest heart searching, and earnest prayerful seeking for God, so that religious life is not tame and commonplace but marked by grace and the decided working of God's power with human effort in going after the lost sheep. These words are to be read to hearers, impressed upon minds, and read most solemnly with the fourth chapter of Ephesians, because their instruction means much, and they belong as a lesson for all teachers, all ministers of the gospel, and all who occupy responsible positions, requiring conversion manifest in spirit and action with right example in family, school, church, and world.
The knowing belongs to the mystery hidden in God from the beginning of the world, who created all things by Jesus Christ, and now revealed according to the eternal purpose in Christ Jesus, in whom there is boldness and confident access by faith, to the intent that by the church the manifold wisdom of God is made known to principalities and powers in heavenly places. It shows part of what God has revealed for diligent students to understand and the aim of the solemn work of the gospel minister, not by choosing the least self-sacrificing part and contenting oneself with preaching while leaving ministering to others, but by self-denying, well-directed personal labor as a servant for souls for whom Christ died. Mysteries God has not revealed are to be left alone and spiritualistic ideas of God are to be shunned completely as defiling, because human minds would tarnish His glory in handling His unrevealed treasures of wisdom.
Love Beyond Yet Knowable
The love of Christ passes knowledge, surpassing ordinary human understanding, thought and imagination, and it cannot be fully comprehended, explained, measured, uttered or portrayed. No human science can explain it and no wisdom can fathom it, and tongue and pen fail before its infinite extent. Yet it belongs to the high privilege of the Christian to come to know it through the Spirit strengthening the inner life, through Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, and through being rooted and grounded in love. As believers with all the saints grasp its breadth and length and depth and height, this knowing culminates in being filled with all the fullness of God, which is a possible standard of Christian life to be sought in humble, reverent prayer.
That knowing is by living experience, for the love comes right into the heart and cannot be manufactured or merely explained. It is a spiritual understanding that grows as Christ dwells within and as the heart opens to receive His attributes, so believers increasingly comprehend the vastness of His riches and know His love and power. Though beyond the limits of human knowledge, it can be truly known, as Paul himself had a clear and full grasp of its dimensions. This experience deepens understanding of Calvary and fellowship in Christ's sufferings, makes people more like Christ, moves them to devoted service even when they cannot explain how it warms their hearts, and equips those who teach others to tell the story of faith and show needy souls how to trust Him as a personal Saviour.
Merely knowing truth without its sanctifying power is not enough. The divine fullness is within reach through Christ dwelling in the heart, but it must be kept continually sought through communion with Christ and deep longing for righteousness. The soul is to keep thirsting for the water of life and hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and that hunger brings the full measure of His grace with spiritual power to reflect His character. As believers behold His goodness and purity they are changed into His image, and this deep work appears in love expressed through obedience.
The immensity of the great gift of God through Christ leaves human thoughts too poor, words too limited and human wisdom foolishness. In expressing admiration for Jesus believers merely lisp like babes, and only Christ formed within as the hope of glory can expand the mind to comprehend this love with all saints. Oppressed by a sense of its greatness, Paul could only bow his knees and find refuge in prayer, beseeching the Father to make believers able to comprehend and know it.
Filled With God's Fullness
To know the love that passes knowledge is to be filled with all the fullness of God, and this is the climax of Christian privilege and the high and exalted privilege belonging to God's people. It is a possible standard of Christian life, joined with being strengthened by the Spirit in the inner person, having Christ dwell in the heart by faith, and being rooted and grounded in love. This fullness is nothing short of perfection of Christian character, reached through faith in God's promises and the merits of Christ and obedience to His requirements. It is given by the Father according to the riches of His glory to men and women who realize their weakness and entire dependence upon Him, enabling them with all saints to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of that love which reveals God's nature as love expressed in His holy law. The Giver is the high and holy One who inhabits eternity, whose ways are everlasting and who changes not, who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought according to the power working within, to whom belongs glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages.
Being filled means the empty human heart is filled to overflowing like a cistern or tank receiving refreshing showers of grace from His presence, even as empty tanks are made full in time of drought by rain sent from heaven to be prayed for and received with gratitude and praise. The provision God has made is too wonderful to comprehend and express yet not too rich to enjoy, with a height and depth and breadth beyond human expression given as a privilege to experience and taste by knowing that the Lord is good. The love of God is an exhaustless fountain and a reservoir continually supplied with abundant grace and goodness and love, and human hearts may be filled and expand and overflow with its fullness.
This fullness means bearing God's likeness in character as His counterpart, being elevated, pure and one with Christ as complete overcomers who are complete in every grace in and through Him. It lifts believers from remaining dwarfs in spiritual things through unreserved surrender and consecration, especially those who minister in word and doctrine, producing unselfish and blameless lives that are examples to the flock and a living rebuke to selfishness and affection set on earthly treasure. So filled, lives measure with the life of God, with power to press back the powers of darkness and to taste the joys of the world to come, loving God because He first loved them, magnifying His name, rejoicing in His love, keeping His law, and at last entering through the gates into the city to cast crowns at the Redeemer's feet and join the song of Moses and the Lamb. That height and breadth of Christian perfection can be attained even under the most discouraging circumstances, as when exhausting labor would dry up the springs of life without change and the guarding protection of angels, by making God the strength, lifting thoughts to noble aspirations and clear perceptions of truth, walking carefully in humility, hanging the helpless soul upon Christ, and keeping independence of soul with sweetness amid confusion and temptation without seeking ardently for human applause.
The fullness is the complete satisfaction believers long for but do not yet fully have, having tasted the powers of the world to come through the redemption Christ purchased with His own blood, so that the whole being cries out after the living God. It belongs to the glorious hope big with immortality and full of glory at Christ's coming, and the prospect of it calls for praising God even now with a loud voice. It is to be desired and prayed for, received by asking for the promises of God like precious pearls, bringing release from burden and agony, blessing like gentle dew, inexpressible love for Jesus, and wave after wave of glory until nothing is seen but Jesus. That love will be fully felt in heaven where nothing blocks it, with no sufferers, no skeptics to convince and no prejudices to uproot, where the redeemed with glorified bodies, enlarged capacities, pure hearts and undefiled lips constantly discern new depths in the plan of salvation and sing the riches of redeeming love because He loved them and gave His life for them, as Jesus leads them into green pastures by the streams of living waters which make glad the city of God.
Being filled gives life, power, grace and salvation, with sanctified hearts and sanctified lips breathing the rich, bracing atmosphere from the heavenly Canaan, which comes by encouraging faith and talking faith rather than talking doubt. Jesus calls those for whom He died to this fullness, and every possible provision for it has been amply supplied so there is no excuse to remain in weakness and spiritual poverty, for whether it happens rests wholly with each soul in whether they will believe God's words, and those so filled will represent the words of Jesus Christ. Being so filled requires being emptied of self and enables truly representing His promise of water springing up into everlasting life, making believers co-laborers who receive from Him to impart to others like olive branches emptying golden oil through golden pipes to supply cleansed vessels with light and comfort and hope and love.
The fullness of God is in Christ and must be sought, lived in His lines, and revealed in every thought and word and deed. It comes through a daily baptism of the love of Christ, the same love that made the apostles of one accord, and it brings health to body, mind and soul. It requires not letting perplexities and disappointments eat into the soul, but putting away fretfulness, impatience, strife, evil thinking and evil speaking, envy and evil surmising, because the Holy Spirit cannot abide where these are cherished. Surrounding the soul with an atmosphere that strengthens spiritual life and cultivating faith, hope, courage and love lets the peace of God rule in the heart, enabling faithful discharge of responsibilities, while the Holy Spirit imparts divine efficiency and calm, subdued dignity in efforts to relieve suffering, so the life testifies of having been with Jesus.
How the Gift Comes
The gift comes by the Father granting according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner person. That strengthening is received through constant communion with God and trust in His Word, with Christ supplying spiritual life and strength and the Spirit giving power to rise higher. Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, being rooted and grounded in love, and with all the saints comprehending breadth and length and depth and height belong together with being filled with all the fullness of God, and this love and fullness sustain unity and love among fellow workers.
Christ dwelling in the heart by faith means contemplating Him, beholding Him, and ever cherishing Him as best and most honored friend, one never to grieve or offend, bringing divine grace, for salvation is by grace through faith as the gift of God. In a heart cleansed from moral impurity He ennobles and sanctifies the whole nature and makes the person a temple for the Holy Spirit. His presence dwelling in the thoughts and heart gives purpose to put away besetting sin and overcome evil by accepting freely offered grace and laying aside every weight.
Being rooted and grounded in love enables believers, with all the saints, to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of that love, though it passes knowledge. This shared comprehension leads to being filled with all the fullness of God. It is sought through humble, reverent prayer, and requires a heart purified from inherited and cultivated wrong tendencies for Christ to enter and for grace to work within.
It is given to those willing for self to be humbled, through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought, beside which all else is vanity and nothingness. It belongs to those who are meek and lowly of heart, who become as little children with self and pride dead, imbued with the Spirit of Christ and having His meekness and lowliness. It requires emptying the soul-temple of self-sufficiency, self-dependence and self-exaltation, devoting the powers of the entire being to God's service in the vigor of health, understanding the laws established in the being and bringing habits into harmony with them to preserve the human machinery as a harp of a thousand strings kept in harmonious action under the noble powers of the mind. Such humbling is kept through close communion with God, unity, much time seeking heavenly wisdom and prayer, holding Bible evidence for every point, holding truth as it is in Jesus, and meeting conflict with the sword of the Spirit rather than condemning words.
The filling comes just in proportion to the emptying, when the soul-temple is purified in soul, body and spirit. The old mold and superscription of nature, whatever the temperament and hereditary and cultivated tendencies, cannot be retained, because Christ died to give His own mold and superscription; pride, self-sufficiency, self-importance, self-esteem and stubborn will must be crucified and self renounced, with one's own way overcome and the will bent into perfect conformity with the will of God. The rubbish must be cleared from the door of the heart and the heart opened through self-examination, repentance, confession and earnest prayer, through surrender of personal way, will and plans to let God plan, and through falling on the Rock and being broken. Just as soon as the emptied nature is presented to Jesus and His cause, He supplies the vacuum by His Holy Spirit and gives of His fullness, the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness filling all chambers of mind and heart, so truth enlightens the mind and sanctifies soul and spirit, the soul sees the Lamb of God, God's will becomes its will, and it is changed from glory to glory as a new bottle for the wine of the kingdom and the oil of grace and a vessel unto honor prepared for the Master's use.
Its answer requires awake, watchful prayer, earnest travail for souls, earnest heart searching, and earnest prayerful seeking for God, not by casual interest but with religious life marked by grace and the decided working of God's power with human effort in going after the lost. It requires searching with every spiritual muscle stretched, with patient, persevering, diligent seeking that taxes intellect and patience and the whole man, and even then an infinity remains beyond. It calls for complete consecration with the will exercised to say I will be a Christian and I will know this love, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and resolute whole-hearted effort rather than desires and good purposes that stop short, with confession, repentance and humility as preparation for immortal life. This knowing cannot be manufactured but comes only through the Spirit of God, giving power to become sons of God and more than conquerors, so that living in the warm rays of the Sun of Righteousness His compassion, grace and power subdue the heart and His melting love softens it to receive power, for the joy of the Lord is strength.
Knowing comes by lifting up the Man of Calvary and letting the mind dwell on the beauties of His character until beholding changes into the same image, producing living, acting faith with all the Christian graces that speaks His praise and tells His power. It comes by beholding Christ, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, which deepens and broadens the conception of His love, and makes His character increasingly clear. It is grasped by prayer in the home and by thinking more of Christ and His rich grace in God's Word, where His life stands as holy, uplifting purity and life-giving light, so riches of grace are received and love for Christ does not fade. It is obtained through daily work in co-partnership with Christ, overcoming uncertainties by faith, refusing to talk of Satan's great power and instead talking of God's great power to bind up human interests with His own, talking the language of Christ with no impatient speech, and so becoming a savor of life unto life.
United with Christ by living faith as branches of the living Vine and members of His mystical body of which He is the glorified head, believers are loved by the Father as He loves Christ. The vitality of God's love circulates through every part of human nature to abide there as it dwells in Christ Jesus, transfused through the soul that believes through His merits. By that union feeble, finite, sinful human nature is restored to healthful growth and the life of the Vine becomes the life of the adopted, grafted branch, nourishing the soul and freeing it from spiritual weakness, pride, vanity, selfishness and whatever deforms character, inspiring gratitude, while selfishness proves this love is not known.
It is a day-by-day living experience through connection with Christ, going forth in His Spirit with His mind as human agents cooperating with the divine to bear to the world the message of God's love, that Christ is Advocate, that the bow of promise encircles the throne, and that the Lord waits to be gracious. It advances step by step in the divine life with ever clearer understanding, coming very near to God bringing more grace that enlarges capacity to apprehend and enjoy greater light and creates intense longing to know the fullness of that infinite love. It is a progressive knowing of God and beholding of His glory that changes character from stage to stage, beginning with only first rays of early dawn and continuing learning daily in Christ's school until reaching the full noontide of perfect gospel faith, a knowledge of highest value for time and eternity.
What Christ's Love Is
That love is infinite, without measure and without comparison, a boundless fathomless ocean of the Father and the Son that passes knowledge. It is larger, broader and deeper than any human love, and all paternal love coming down through generations and all tenderness opened in human hearts is only a tiny rill beside its boundless, infinite, exhaustless ocean. Human science cannot explain it and human wisdom cannot fathom it, tongue cannot utter it and pen cannot portray it, and even meditating on it daily, summoning every power, and studying it for ages still leaves an infinity beyond. The gift of Christ given so that believers may have everlasting life reveals this immeasurable love.
It is seen in the dignity and glory of Christ prompting the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for the redemption of a lost world, where He died in shame to purchase eternal life in the Kingdom of Glory. There He bore the sins of the world and paid the price of redemption, though excellent and innocent, and contemplation of that matchless love displayed at Calvary should fill and absorb the mind, soften the soul, refine and elevate the affections, awaken deep devotion and praise, humble the heart, and transform the whole character. His omnipotence has opened channels for this love to flow without measure and His wisdom has devised means to draw every heart. To know its breadth and length and depth and height should awaken deepest gratitude and melody of heart now and fill the saints with wonder and amazement through eternal ages, while Satan blunts the sensibilities of the soul so that men and women remain indifferent to great salvation and lose eternal riches, and after so much has been done that man might be saved it will be a terrible thing to be lost. Renouncing selfishness is necessary to grasp it, and cherishing it brings a love that cannot be repressed, leading to seek truth and divine knowledge, with happiness, joy and peace planted in the heart so that heaven begins on earth.
Though eternally rich, clothed with light and glory and surrounded with hosts of heavenly angels waiting to execute His commands, for our sakes He became poor and put on human nature to sojourn among sinful mortals, that through His poverty believers might be made rich. He willingly laid aside His honor and His high command in heaven and clothed His divinity with humanity in order to become man's substitute and surety, and that love manifested toward us is to be appreciated and permitted to melt the heart and humble pride to the dust. Though human guilt could have separated Him from us, He came to dwell among us with all the fullness of the Godhead and became one with us so that through His grace believers might attain perfection, descending from the highest excellency to the lowest depths of humiliation, with His death of shame and suffering paying the ransom, and no line can measure its depth. God's purpose in giving Christ is to reclaim humanity and bring people into close union with Himself so they may be filled with all His fullness, and through faith and hunger for righteousness human beings can lay hold of divinity. Here is love that no language can express, the great mystery of godliness, which should enliven, elevate and enrapture souls, and which followers should learn to reflect in some degree here in preparation for joining all the redeemed in ascribing blessing and honor and glory and power unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
As substitute and surety He laid down His life for the sheep, taking human liabilities and transgressions and receiving in Himself the full penalty of the law, fulfilling the Father's will and vindicating His justice, for which the Father loves the Son more for giving His life to redeem fallen man. His infinite sacrifice alone could express God's love to man, for Jesus alone knew the height and depth of the love of God and undertook to represent God's character to the world, and it is abundantly provided for all who believe in Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice justice and mercy are reconciled, making it possible for God to be just while justifying the believer, with mercy offering to cleanse people from unrighteousness when they accept the gift and bring their wills into harmony with God's will. Having represented the Father's love, He requires every believing soul to represent Jesus Christ to the world and thus multiply the character of God in life and character, reflecting God's glory.
God loves sinners with a love beyond comprehension while abhorring sin, and Christ's life and death show that God offers abundant forgiveness. That surpassing love is pardon and peace found at the throne of mercy encircled by the rainbow of promise, and the way to it stands open for all who have sinned when they return to Jesus, humble themselves and repent. That broad, deep and full love reaches everywhere, lifts people out of Satan's influence and brings them within reach of God's throne. It makes no distinction by nationality, race or caste, because all people belong to one family by creation and are united through redemption by Christ's blood, which breaks down divisions and opens access to God.
It is God's benevolence, compassion, mercy and care still flowing earthward though sin is increasing in volume and prevalence. It is seen in God sparing a rebellious race that tramples His prostrate law and His Sabbath under foot, when He could justly come forth out of His place to punish their iniquity and sweep them away by a flood as in Noah's day, but He spares them because of the covenant made with Noah. God calls people to receive this love and to impart it to others, with no thread of selfishness in their work, because unsanctified self misrepresents and greatly dishonors Him. It is also seen in Christ ascending to prepare mansions and promising to come again to receive His people to Himself where He is, so believers expect the soon coming of the Lord.
Growing Knowledge Through Eternity
As the Bible is studied and the life of Christ and the plan of redemption are meditated upon, these great themes open more and more to understanding and grow brighter and deeper. Meditation on the unfathomable riches enlarges the soul's capacity to comprehend more of salvation's glory, and as the heart is converted and obeys God understanding continues to grow. Though a person meditates every day of life, searches the Scriptures diligently, and summons every power to comprehend the Father's compassion, there remains an infinity beyond, for tongue cannot utter it and pen cannot portray it. That love may be studied for ages and even eternity itself can never fully reveal it, yet diligent use of every means of grace brings ever-deepening understanding as God enlightens the mind through the Spirit.
Coming very near to God and advancing step by step in the divine life brings more grace that enlarges the capacity to apprehend and enjoy greater light of that infinite love in breadth and depth. This creates intense longing to know the fullness of that love and brings clearer understanding of God's ways and the glorious plan of redemption, the extent and limitation of accountability, and the weighty truths of God's Word, where self is nothing and Jesus is all and in all. Humble, contrite seekers see as much of divine compassion as they can bear, in proportion to their appreciation of Christ's sacrifice as propitiation for sin. Even a glimpse of that love reveals the glory God has in reserve for those who endure testing, seek only His glory, and remain loyal to heaven's truth.
Even angels desire to look into these truths, and pure angels always find in the plan devised by Christ for the redemption of depraved man enough to hold their interest and to call forth profound thought and deepest admiration through eternity. This is a profitable theme for meditation alongside study of one's own depravity and unworthiness of the rich gift of grace, dwelling on themes worthy of more than a passing notice. God alone gives this deep knowledge to those who search His Word with contrite hearts and pray for wisdom and a fuller grasp of its depth and breadth, and He designs the plan of redemption to come to them as latter rain because they are fast losing connection by trusting and glorifying man. Its height, breadth and depth cannot be fully explained in this life and eternity will be needed to comprehend them.
Even the redeemed will not fully comprehend the plan at first, for its length, breadth, depth and height are only dimly grasped in this life. Through endless ages immortal minds will seek to understand it with wonder and adoration, constantly discerning new depths and new truth unfolding, and knowing ever more clearly what salvation cost. The cross will forever remain their praise and joy, shown in Christ's willingness to redeem a world that did not love Him at the cost of His own death. This mystery cannot be explained in words alone but is made known through a Christlike character.
With all saints believers comprehend as living truth the dimensions of the love that passes knowledge when Christ as ascended Teacher advocates that spiritual power be given them. The promised Comforter enlightens minds that were befogged so they no longer say they cannot comprehend and no longer see through a glass darkly. Through the abiding presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit as pleader and guide they gain practical knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ, grasping that love even though it surpasses knowledge. In the strength of One mightier than all enemies of God and man they receive power to overcome spiritual foes as they trust in Christ and commit themselves to His keeping, as the good work begun in them is carried on until the day of Christ Jesus. This knowledge works transformation of character, recreates the soul in the image of God, and imparts divine spiritual power to the whole being. In that strength followers are to be in human nature what Jesus was, living the pure and noble life He lived in keeping His Father's commandments and always doing what pleases Him.
Changed Lives Sharing Love
Contemplating matchless love shown at Calvary fills and absorbs the mind, softens, touches and melts the soul, refines and elevates the affections, awakens deepest gratitude, devotion and praise, humbles the heart, and completely transforms the whole character into Christ's image from glory to glory, so that pride and worldly attachments cannot flourish while Calvary stays fresh in memory and it is sin to be calm and unimpassioned on this theme. Seeing that love for sinners while they were still sinners awakens love for God and melts and subdues the stubborn heart, for love not force expels sin and turns pride into humility and enmity and unbelief into love and faith. Soundness in faith is solid love centered in Christ as leader, keeping believers sound as they are strengthened by the Spirit within, have Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, are rooted and grounded in love, and together with all saints grasp its vastness unto God's fullness. That sound love guards against both a hard, sharp, critical, faultfinding, judicial spirit that climbs into the judgment seat to condemn, seek first place and hurt hearts, and a false sentimental religion just as dangerous. Pressing together daily in Christian love and seeking God wholeheartedly restores unity so believers are not separated from one another and from Christ.
For fellow workers this means leaning heavily on the Mighty One and laboring for unity and for love, thereby becoming a power in the world, with truth received in the heart enabling love for one another like Christ's love. Those so filled bear God's likeness as His counterpart and are elevated, pure, one with Christ and complete in every grace, looking on every fellow person as God's own purchased possession, keeping their own souls in God's love, and not lording over His heritage. That love is the crowning grace pervading the whole person, giving the will a new motive and bringing every mental and spiritual faculty into its service, so that love for God and neighbor is the whole duty and condition for heaven, shown by keeping His commandments, forgiving those who err, loving one another as Christ loved, and cultivating love continually lest it wither.
Knowing this love by personal experience is needed to use God's light rightly and to stand amid the perils and trials of the last days. Teachers and workers need that converted, personal knowledge to tell the story of faith, present the essence of true faith, and show needy souls how to accept Christ, trust Him as personal Saviour, and follow His steps. Telling souls about this love beyond knowledge is a privilege, part of the word to be given where called for to willing hearers and eager longing souls and to people everywhere needing help. Making it known to lead others to Christ is holy work begun on earth by every soldier of the cross pushing forward not in self-sufficiency but in meekness and lowliness, not seeking pleasure or convenience but asking what can be done, a work that does not cease with this life but after brief rest in the grave is taken up again in God's kingdom to advance Christ's glory.
When church members live the Christ life and diffuse the influence of the cross as designed and required, missions illustrate the power of Christ's principles, the wonderful efficiency and working of the cross is seen and felt, and the kingdom founded on infinite love, compassion and purity is manifested where perfect obedience brings perfect joy. It is a message for now because the end is near, laying Paul's burden on the church to do a worldwide work earnestly in a short time, proclaiming truth and the last warning with trumpet voice, showing God's people the transgressions and sins hindering the work, arousing understanding of the true position amid swift coming judgments, resisting Satan's plans to keep God's forces out, taking up the work intelligently and unitedly with one voice in warning and salvation, and turning fully to the Lord for mercy and abundant pardon, for there is no second probation. That knowledge makes Christ's name the keynote of the heart with thanksgiving, glory, honor and praise to Him on the throne and to the Lamb, removes gloomy groaning service, and makes believers lights diffusing light, hope and faith. Learning that song here, by bringing truth into daily life, advancing higher with ever clearer understanding, having Christ abiding individually in the soul and opening mind and heart to the indwelling Spirit, prepares for joining the song of triumph with angels and redeemed saints at the change in a moment, and for praising God on earth while looking to the purified earth without sin as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Being filled is received by turning to the Lord with deep earnest repentance securing forgiveness and enduring strength of might, opposite to forsaking God and depending on own works and righteousness which leaves ministers ignorant of the divine will and a stumbling block. It comes through new entire consecration and oneness with Christ, claiming the exceeding great and precious promises to partake of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust, presenting the body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable as reasonable service, and coming up to high privileges to be changed to Christ's image for eternal life in His presence, which the Father requires according to grace and truth given and will not accept less than, so demands must be fully met. As believers consecrate themselves and obey the holy law, wickedness and selfish ambition are cast out and sacred refining ennobling truth is revealed in life. It requires conversion manifest in spirit and action with right example in family, school, church and world, for imperfections leading others wrongly evidence deficiency, departure from righteous principles of law, separation from God and lack of the quickening discerning influence of the divine mind on discernment, words and care to preserve the fragrance of the Spirit, and unless converted such should take another calling where they will not act the unbeliever's spirit.
It calls gospel ministers to the aim of making all see the fellowship of the mystery hidden from the beginning in God who created all by Jesus Christ, unto glory in the church by Christ throughout all ages, not by choosing the least self-sacrificing part and contenting themselves with preaching while leaving ministering to others, but by self-denying well-directed personal labor as servants of the people for souls for whom Christ died, falling upon the Rock to be broken and fashioned as vessels unto honor for solid beautiful soul-saving work in all countries. Christ Himself is the source of divine love His children must receive and impart, pledged at baptism to love brethren as He loved and lived out daily in gospel principles, and tasting it enlarges comprehension beyond full knowledge, makes steadfast and persevering partakers of the divine nature, and fulfills God's eternal purpose that they reveal to one another in a selfish sinful world the love He revealed, a life speaking louder than words. Arousing strife and dissension proves sanctification through truth unlearned, selfishness being Satan's corrupting fruit, while comprehension begun here opens still more fully in eternal ages. Making Christ one's dependence brings daily increasing enrichment by His love beyond knowledge, without whom one is helpless to subdue sin or overcome temptation, and asking God to impress His instruction and help carry it out in daily life belongs to this fullness.
God longs to satisfy the soul's desire with peace, grace and love, imparting to all who believe His Word power, efficiency, hope and comfort beyond knowledge, and believers are to show the world they know this source by feeding the mind on it rather than worthless defiling food. Cherishing this love brings a love that cannot be repressed and leads to seek truth and divine knowledge, and when planted in the heart it brings happiness, joy and peace so heaven begins on earth as lasting heavenly qualities take place within. Sharing it daily makes human honor, worldly pleasures, contempt and opposition insignificant, leaving no room for selfishness, pride, spiritual coldness, sloth or cowardice. Renouncing selfishness is necessary to grasp it as seen in Christ's compassion for suffering humanity and Calvary sacrifice, grasping its height, depth, length and breadth.
As self is surrendered and Christ is known by lived experience and abided in, this fullness becomes evident in a life representing Christianity, with grace to share with others, reflecting His character and speaking His praise. God wants believers to seek Him now while heaven is open and access to grace is open to be filled with all fullness of His love, measured not by desk work but by home, brethren and daily life. Those filled have faces shining with God's glory reflecting divine rays, talk of heaven, heavenly things and redemption through Christ, reveal belief they will leave earthly sin and sorrow, show the power of truth as shining light, represent truth as in Jesus to pave the way to heaven, while professing truth without representing it brings condemnation in judgment by those rising against them. Christ's fullness is the measure to grasp for doing much for Him, so wholehearted laborers are neither proud of service nor seek to do as little as possible but weigh efforts by the Saviour's work.
Those filled become living channels of light whose hidden life with Christ in the Spirit, sanctified through truth and conformed to His image, produces visible effects as they walk as children of light. They are faithful handlers of the Word of life imbued with the Spirit to exalt the standard and lift up Jesus everywhere, entering heartily into the work instead of standing back questioning, doubting and speculating, and not merely preachers. That love is to shape words and influence in clear notes of faith, hope, courage and love of God. Through Christ there is certainty where eternal realities feel uncertain, enabling knowledge of God's love beyond knowledge amid life's unsolved problems, as clear moral perception grows to understand godliness.
God is not a tyrant delighting in suffering of the condemned but loves His creatures with love beyond understanding and desires their salvation in His kingdom. He gave Christ and all heaven's resources to restore the fallen and lift them toward the divine image, further expressed in churches and sanitariums. When that immeasurable love is experienced, the value of missionary work is better understood, the lack of true engagement is seen, religion is brought into home life with cooperation with God in the home circle leading to exclamation over what He has wrought, for He never fails but does exceeding abundantly above all asked or thought. Those sensing this golden chain binding finite humanity to the infinite God, which no science can explain nor wisdom fathom and the more felt the more amazing, become meek, lowly, trustful, believing and cheerful in assurance of His love, knowing Jesus lives and reigns as Redeemer and Sin-bearer pardoning when asked and holding fast to the hand strong to save, for He loves more than earthly father or mother her suffering child and gave Christ to express it, not wanting gloom and despondency.
This love is received aright only when entire affections are placed on Christ, who paid infinite price for redemption. Thinking more of Christ and His rich grace in the home brings riches of grace and keeps love from fading, as contemplating highest-value subjects in God's Word where His life stands as holy uplifting purity and life-giving light opens this love to the heart. It is the privilege of rejoicing in a whole Saviour saving from all sin, longing to be more like Jesus and reflect His lovely image, a knowledge of perfect love's length, breadth, height and depth not to rest without until fully possessed and increasingly filled. Jesus made ample provision to satisfy the hungering thirsting soul with pure love expanding capacity for higher attainments and increased knowledge of divine things not satisfied short of God's fullness, requiring disciplined mind educated to love purity and spirituality and will exercised to be wholehearted, not stopping with desire and good purposes but determinedly carrying them out to grow in grace and experimental knowledge of truth.
Those filled value rich faith and deep experience above earthly treasure, have Christ as life within, and show inward piety, the mind of Christ and pure wholesome spiritual life without grieving God's Spirit, as answer to Paul's prayer. Knowing it belongs with returning to wholehearted love for God and neighbor through confession, repentance, humility and prayer, as preparation for immortal life where all done and said should promote Christlikeness. It comes by being strengthened to take hold of God's power by faith in Jesus even when feeling is lacking, as Israel prevailed when Moses lifted hands, with mind drawn to God and heaven and His righteousness and truth worked inside, following on to know the Lord whose going forth is sure as morning. The heart opened to receive Christ's attributes increasingly comprehends His riches, and this growing knowledge and fellowship, begun amid persecution as reward and heritage, fills with God's fullness, for Christ Himself is the servants' reward, sympathy, riches and righteousness from the Lord, bringing into sympathy with Him, knowing His love and power and possessing unsearchable riches.
Words seeming barren to an unrenewed heart become like God's garden to a renewed converted soul with Christ dwelling by faith and the Spirit enabling grasp of breadth, length, depth and height. Believers are to use every means of grace, advance rather than stand still, live sincere and without offense, and bear fruits of righteousness until Christ's day, gaining understanding diligently as spiritual knowledge and growth. Abiding in Christ brings realizing sense of God's love, supping with Jesus and He with us, feeling at home with Him, promises flowing in, peace like a river and wave after wave of glory rolling in until nothing is seen but Jesus, beyond language because beyond knowledge. It makes one with Christ with life hid in God, gives assurance of appearing with Him in glory when He who is life appears, strong confidence to call God Father, belonging to the Lord in life or death, and likeness in temper representing Christ by His Spirit. Release from burden and agony, blessing like dew, inexpressible love for Jesus and wave after wave of glory come by longing for full salvation, not resting satisfied without God's fullness, and receiving promises like precious pearls by asking in prayer and trust.
Experiential knowledge of God and Christ's love revealed in Christ comes through diligent prayerful searching of Scripture, with the Spirit quickening understanding and heart lifted in faith, hope and praise. As received light is shared, understanding grows beyond human wisdom into intellectual knowledge exceeding human wisdom. Deep knowledge God alone can give may be sought by searching Scripture with contrite hearts and praying for fuller grasp of depth and breadth, into which angels desire to look. That love in length, breadth and height is among deep things still to be known more fully as God designs the plan of redemption to come as latter rain to those fast losing connection by trusting and glorifying man, given to those searching His Word with contrite prayer and dwelling on themes worthy of more than passing notice.
Christ offers heavenly wisdom and knowledge certain and grounded in truth, unlike conflicting human theories. This deeper experience is progressive knowing and beholding of glory changing character stage to stage from first rays of dawn to full noontide of perfect gospel faith. The Spirit's illumination enables grasp of depth, breadth and fullness of God's love beyond ordinary knowledge, giving courage and joy and fitting disciples for mission. That love is the infinite sacrifice of the Father giving His Son for fallen men to be transformed through obedience into acknowledged sons of God, so deep, broad and high it amazed angels and left the apostle without language, calling church and world to behold it in contemplation and admiration.
Christ's life revealed God's love in compassion, grace, humility, truth and love, which church members must show, and seeing the riches bestowed by giving His Son awakens wonder and greater love, while turning to another master breaks covenant, declares His service hard and love unsatisfying, dishonors Him and brings reproach on His name. Union with Christ brings into the Father's love resting in Christ and communicated to those joined to Him, nourishing the soul and freeing from weakness, pride, vanity, selfishness and whatever deforms character. Those sharing the heavenly gift beyond measure must value salvation and everlasting life, remain joined to Him, live by His Word, and resist selfishness, sin, hypocrisy, envy and Satan's devices in Christ's strength lest they neglect salvation, separate from Him and lose everlasting life. A deep experience of the subject in length, breadth and depth is joined to representing Christ through patience, courage and steadfast integrity.
The love beyond knowledge calls for deep insight into Christ's nature and mystery, not manufactured but coming only through God's Spirit in answer to awake watchful prayer, giving power to become sons of God and more than conquerors. Living in warm rays of the Sun of Righteousness with love filling the heart brings His compassion, grace and almighty power baffling the foe and subduing heart opposition, softening and preparing to receive His power, for the joy of the Lord is strength unto victory as believers draw near and grow in grace, wisdom and love. In Jesus are discerned infinite wisdom, justice, mercy and dimensions of love beyond knowledge, and when convicted souls heed truth spoken in love and tenderness, truth frees from slavery of sin and bondage of worldly principles, opening new themes and fields of action. Beholding Christ's perfection and contemplating His mission, love, grace and truth charms them, meets the great soul-want, ends love of world and worship of earthly treasure, and satisfies in His likeness. Being emptied of self with life hid with Christ in God opens the heart to depth and fullness of that love, and His fullness as lasting treasure of belonging to Christ and Christ to us is received by coming and continually drinking from the fountain, with self dying that Jesus may clothe and shape in His likeness.
So filled, with every provision made leaving no excuse for weakness and poverty and resting wholly on believing God's words, believers being emptied of self truly represent Christ's promise of water springing up to everlasting life, receiving from Him to impart to others like olive branches emptying golden oil through golden pipes to supply cleansed vessels with light, comfort, hope and love for the needy as co-laborers with Him. Knowing the love surpassing knowledge is the goal of teaching, leading learners to love God and be firmly bound to truth, possessing this love.
Paul's bowed-knee prayer to the Father reaches its climax in asking that believers know Christ's love and by it be filled with all the fullness of God. That love passes knowledge, surpassing human understanding, thought and imagination so it cannot be fully comprehended, measured or uttered, yet it can be truly known by living experience as Christ dwells within. To know it is to be filled with God's fullness, which is the highest privilege of the Christian life and nothing less than perfection of Christian character. It comes as the Father grants strength in the inner person by His Spirit, as Christ dwells in the heart by faith, and as believers rooted and grounded in love together comprehend its breadth and length and depth and height. That love is infinite and without measure, seen when Christ though eternally rich and glorious became poor, clothed divinity with humanity, and died in shame on Calvary to purchase eternal life for a lost world.
Prayer Setting and Terms
The verse is the climax and close of a bowed-knee prayer to the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, asking that believers might be filled with all the fullness of God. That asking is that they be granted according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith, that being rooted and grounded in love they may be able with all saints to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge. It is given to men and women who realize their weakness and entire dependence upon Him, revealing God's nature as love expressed in His holy law, and it is the spiritual privilege God grants through His Spirit and the means by which the church is given power and efficiency for its work of making known the manifold wisdom of God.
The prayer ends in praise to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought according to the power working within, to whom be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages without end. That Giver is the high and holy One who inhabits eternity, whose ways are everlasting, who changes not, and in Christ there is boldness and confident access by faith. It is truth that works by love and purifies the soul, and its instruction exposes hard-spiritedness that comes from being strangers to the working of the Holy Spirit and calls for a great reformation in lives, words, works, and spiritual understanding, with daily catching of the inspiration of angels and breathing the atmosphere of heaven.
It was a prayer of love, commendation, and large and full encouragement for the church at Ephesus, given by one who labored much for that church, and it is to be read in connection with Christ's message to the church at Ephesus. Paul himself had a clear and full grasp of the breadth, length, depth, and height of a love that is beyond the limits of human knowledge yet can be truly known. That comprehension shaped his teaching and enabled him to represent Christian character.
The chapter reveals the work to be done for everyone who is saved: that Christ is to be revealed in them, by them, and through them. The verse is full of instruction to be understood and practiced, and the larger passage of Ephesians 3:7-21 shows the experience every minister in every conference, ordained or not, must have, to be read carefully and prayerfully as personally belonging to him. That privilege of knowing God and the power of His grace and the love of Christ and being filled with the fullness of God is gained not by casual interest but by earnest travail for souls, earnest heart searching, and earnest prayerful seeking for God, so that religious life is not tame and commonplace but marked by grace and the decided working of God's power with human effort in going after the lost sheep. These words are to be read to hearers, impressed upon minds, and read most solemnly with the fourth chapter of Ephesians, because their instruction means much, and they belong as a lesson for all teachers, all ministers of the gospel, and all who occupy responsible positions, requiring conversion manifest in spirit and action with right example in family, school, church, and world.
The knowing belongs to the mystery hidden in God from the beginning of the world, who created all things by Jesus Christ, and now revealed according to the eternal purpose in Christ Jesus, in whom there is boldness and confident access by faith, to the intent that by the church the manifold wisdom of God is made known to principalities and powers in heavenly places. It shows part of what God has revealed for diligent students to understand and the aim of the solemn work of the gospel minister, not by choosing the least self-sacrificing part and contenting oneself with preaching while leaving ministering to others, but by self-denying, well-directed personal labor as a servant for souls for whom Christ died. Mysteries God has not revealed are to be left alone and spiritualistic ideas of God are to be shunned completely as defiling, because human minds would tarnish His glory in handling His unrevealed treasures of wisdom.
Love Beyond Yet Knowable
The love of Christ passes knowledge, surpassing ordinary human understanding, thought and imagination, and it cannot be fully comprehended, explained, measured, uttered or portrayed. No human science can explain it and no wisdom can fathom it, and tongue and pen fail before its infinite extent. Yet it belongs to the high privilege of the Christian to come to know it through the Spirit strengthening the inner life, through Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, and through being rooted and grounded in love. As believers with all the saints grasp its breadth and length and depth and height, this knowing culminates in being filled with all the fullness of God, which is a possible standard of Christian life to be sought in humble, reverent prayer.
That knowing is by living experience, for the love comes right into the heart and cannot be manufactured or merely explained. It is a spiritual understanding that grows as Christ dwells within and as the heart opens to receive His attributes, so believers increasingly comprehend the vastness of His riches and know His love and power. Though beyond the limits of human knowledge, it can be truly known, as Paul himself had a clear and full grasp of its dimensions. This experience deepens understanding of Calvary and fellowship in Christ's sufferings, makes people more like Christ, moves them to devoted service even when they cannot explain how it warms their hearts, and equips those who teach others to tell the story of faith and show needy souls how to trust Him as a personal Saviour.
Merely knowing truth without its sanctifying power is not enough. The divine fullness is within reach through Christ dwelling in the heart, but it must be kept continually sought through communion with Christ and deep longing for righteousness. The soul is to keep thirsting for the water of life and hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and that hunger brings the full measure of His grace with spiritual power to reflect His character. As believers behold His goodness and purity they are changed into His image, and this deep work appears in love expressed through obedience.
The immensity of the great gift of God through Christ leaves human thoughts too poor, words too limited and human wisdom foolishness. In expressing admiration for Jesus believers merely lisp like babes, and only Christ formed within as the hope of glory can expand the mind to comprehend this love with all saints. Oppressed by a sense of its greatness, Paul could only bow his knees and find refuge in prayer, beseeching the Father to make believers able to comprehend and know it.
Filled With God's Fullness
To know the love that passes knowledge is to be filled with all the fullness of God, and this is the climax of Christian privilege and the high and exalted privilege belonging to God's people. It is a possible standard of Christian life, joined with being strengthened by the Spirit in the inner person, having Christ dwell in the heart by faith, and being rooted and grounded in love. This fullness is nothing short of perfection of Christian character, reached through faith in God's promises and the merits of Christ and obedience to His requirements. It is given by the Father according to the riches of His glory to men and women who realize their weakness and entire dependence upon Him, enabling them with all saints to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of that love which reveals God's nature as love expressed in His holy law. The Giver is the high and holy One who inhabits eternity, whose ways are everlasting and who changes not, who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought according to the power working within, to whom belongs glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages.
Being filled means the empty human heart is filled to overflowing like a cistern or tank receiving refreshing showers of grace from His presence, even as empty tanks are made full in time of drought by rain sent from heaven to be prayed for and received with gratitude and praise. The provision God has made is too wonderful to comprehend and express yet not too rich to enjoy, with a height and depth and breadth beyond human expression given as a privilege to experience and taste by knowing that the Lord is good. The love of God is an exhaustless fountain and a reservoir continually supplied with abundant grace and goodness and love, and human hearts may be filled and expand and overflow with its fullness.
This fullness means bearing God's likeness in character as His counterpart, being elevated, pure and one with Christ as complete overcomers who are complete in every grace in and through Him. It lifts believers from remaining dwarfs in spiritual things through unreserved surrender and consecration, especially those who minister in word and doctrine, producing unselfish and blameless lives that are examples to the flock and a living rebuke to selfishness and affection set on earthly treasure. So filled, lives measure with the life of God, with power to press back the powers of darkness and to taste the joys of the world to come, loving God because He first loved them, magnifying His name, rejoicing in His love, keeping His law, and at last entering through the gates into the city to cast crowns at the Redeemer's feet and join the song of Moses and the Lamb. That height and breadth of Christian perfection can be attained even under the most discouraging circumstances, as when exhausting labor would dry up the springs of life without change and the guarding protection of angels, by making God the strength, lifting thoughts to noble aspirations and clear perceptions of truth, walking carefully in humility, hanging the helpless soul upon Christ, and keeping independence of soul with sweetness amid confusion and temptation without seeking ardently for human applause.
The fullness is the complete satisfaction believers long for but do not yet fully have, having tasted the powers of the world to come through the redemption Christ purchased with His own blood, so that the whole being cries out after the living God. It belongs to the glorious hope big with immortality and full of glory at Christ's coming, and the prospect of it calls for praising God even now with a loud voice. It is to be desired and prayed for, received by asking for the promises of God like precious pearls, bringing release from burden and agony, blessing like gentle dew, inexpressible love for Jesus, and wave after wave of glory until nothing is seen but Jesus. That love will be fully felt in heaven where nothing blocks it, with no sufferers, no skeptics to convince and no prejudices to uproot, where the redeemed with glorified bodies, enlarged capacities, pure hearts and undefiled lips constantly discern new depths in the plan of salvation and sing the riches of redeeming love because He loved them and gave His life for them, as Jesus leads them into green pastures by the streams of living waters which make glad the city of God.
Being filled gives life, power, grace and salvation, with sanctified hearts and sanctified lips breathing the rich, bracing atmosphere from the heavenly Canaan, which comes by encouraging faith and talking faith rather than talking doubt. Jesus calls those for whom He died to this fullness, and every possible provision for it has been amply supplied so there is no excuse to remain in weakness and spiritual poverty, for whether it happens rests wholly with each soul in whether they will believe God's words, and those so filled will represent the words of Jesus Christ. Being so filled requires being emptied of self and enables truly representing His promise of water springing up into everlasting life, making believers co-laborers who receive from Him to impart to others like olive branches emptying golden oil through golden pipes to supply cleansed vessels with light and comfort and hope and love.
The fullness of God is in Christ and must be sought, lived in His lines, and revealed in every thought and word and deed. It comes through a daily baptism of the love of Christ, the same love that made the apostles of one accord, and it brings health to body, mind and soul. It requires not letting perplexities and disappointments eat into the soul, but putting away fretfulness, impatience, strife, evil thinking and evil speaking, envy and evil surmising, because the Holy Spirit cannot abide where these are cherished. Surrounding the soul with an atmosphere that strengthens spiritual life and cultivating faith, hope, courage and love lets the peace of God rule in the heart, enabling faithful discharge of responsibilities, while the Holy Spirit imparts divine efficiency and calm, subdued dignity in efforts to relieve suffering, so the life testifies of having been with Jesus.
How the Gift Comes
The gift comes by the Father granting according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner person. That strengthening is received through constant communion with God and trust in His Word, with Christ supplying spiritual life and strength and the Spirit giving power to rise higher. Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, being rooted and grounded in love, and with all the saints comprehending breadth and length and depth and height belong together with being filled with all the fullness of God, and this love and fullness sustain unity and love among fellow workers.
Christ dwelling in the heart by faith means contemplating Him, beholding Him, and ever cherishing Him as best and most honored friend, one never to grieve or offend, bringing divine grace, for salvation is by grace through faith as the gift of God. In a heart cleansed from moral impurity He ennobles and sanctifies the whole nature and makes the person a temple for the Holy Spirit. His presence dwelling in the thoughts and heart gives purpose to put away besetting sin and overcome evil by accepting freely offered grace and laying aside every weight.
Being rooted and grounded in love enables believers, with all the saints, to comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of that love, though it passes knowledge. This shared comprehension leads to being filled with all the fullness of God. It is sought through humble, reverent prayer, and requires a heart purified from inherited and cultivated wrong tendencies for Christ to enter and for grace to work within.
It is given to those willing for self to be humbled, through the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, exceeding abundantly above all that is asked or thought, beside which all else is vanity and nothingness. It belongs to those who are meek and lowly of heart, who become as little children with self and pride dead, imbued with the Spirit of Christ and having His meekness and lowliness. It requires emptying the soul-temple of self-sufficiency, self-dependence and self-exaltation, devoting the powers of the entire being to God's service in the vigor of health, understanding the laws established in the being and bringing habits into harmony with them to preserve the human machinery as a harp of a thousand strings kept in harmonious action under the noble powers of the mind. Such humbling is kept through close communion with God, unity, much time seeking heavenly wisdom and prayer, holding Bible evidence for every point, holding truth as it is in Jesus, and meeting conflict with the sword of the Spirit rather than condemning words.
The filling comes just in proportion to the emptying, when the soul-temple is purified in soul, body and spirit. The old mold and superscription of nature, whatever the temperament and hereditary and cultivated tendencies, cannot be retained, because Christ died to give His own mold and superscription; pride, self-sufficiency, self-importance, self-esteem and stubborn will must be crucified and self renounced, with one's own way overcome and the will bent into perfect conformity with the will of God. The rubbish must be cleared from the door of the heart and the heart opened through self-examination, repentance, confession and earnest prayer, through surrender of personal way, will and plans to let God plan, and through falling on the Rock and being broken. Just as soon as the emptied nature is presented to Jesus and His cause, He supplies the vacuum by His Holy Spirit and gives of His fullness, the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness filling all chambers of mind and heart, so truth enlightens the mind and sanctifies soul and spirit, the soul sees the Lamb of God, God's will becomes its will, and it is changed from glory to glory as a new bottle for the wine of the kingdom and the oil of grace and a vessel unto honor prepared for the Master's use.
Its answer requires awake, watchful prayer, earnest travail for souls, earnest heart searching, and earnest prayerful seeking for God, not by casual interest but with religious life marked by grace and the decided working of God's power with human effort in going after the lost. It requires searching with every spiritual muscle stretched, with patient, persevering, diligent seeking that taxes intellect and patience and the whole man, and even then an infinity remains beyond. It calls for complete consecration with the will exercised to say I will be a Christian and I will know this love, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and resolute whole-hearted effort rather than desires and good purposes that stop short, with confession, repentance and humility as preparation for immortal life. This knowing cannot be manufactured but comes only through the Spirit of God, giving power to become sons of God and more than conquerors, so that living in the warm rays of the Sun of Righteousness His compassion, grace and power subdue the heart and His melting love softens it to receive power, for the joy of the Lord is strength.
Knowing comes by lifting up the Man of Calvary and letting the mind dwell on the beauties of His character until beholding changes into the same image, producing living, acting faith with all the Christian graces that speaks His praise and tells His power. It comes by beholding Christ, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, which deepens and broadens the conception of His love, and makes His character increasingly clear. It is grasped by prayer in the home and by thinking more of Christ and His rich grace in God's Word, where His life stands as holy, uplifting purity and life-giving light, so riches of grace are received and love for Christ does not fade. It is obtained through daily work in co-partnership with Christ, overcoming uncertainties by faith, refusing to talk of Satan's great power and instead talking of God's great power to bind up human interests with His own, talking the language of Christ with no impatient speech, and so becoming a savor of life unto life.
United with Christ by living faith as branches of the living Vine and members of His mystical body of which He is the glorified head, believers are loved by the Father as He loves Christ. The vitality of God's love circulates through every part of human nature to abide there as it dwells in Christ Jesus, transfused through the soul that believes through His merits. By that union feeble, finite, sinful human nature is restored to healthful growth and the life of the Vine becomes the life of the adopted, grafted branch, nourishing the soul and freeing it from spiritual weakness, pride, vanity, selfishness and whatever deforms character, inspiring gratitude, while selfishness proves this love is not known.
It is a day-by-day living experience through connection with Christ, going forth in His Spirit with His mind as human agents cooperating with the divine to bear to the world the message of God's love, that Christ is Advocate, that the bow of promise encircles the throne, and that the Lord waits to be gracious. It advances step by step in the divine life with ever clearer understanding, coming very near to God bringing more grace that enlarges capacity to apprehend and enjoy greater light and creates intense longing to know the fullness of that infinite love. It is a progressive knowing of God and beholding of His glory that changes character from stage to stage, beginning with only first rays of early dawn and continuing learning daily in Christ's school until reaching the full noontide of perfect gospel faith, a knowledge of highest value for time and eternity.
What Christ's Love Is
That love is infinite, without measure and without comparison, a boundless fathomless ocean of the Father and the Son that passes knowledge. It is larger, broader and deeper than any human love, and all paternal love coming down through generations and all tenderness opened in human hearts is only a tiny rill beside its boundless, infinite, exhaustless ocean. Human science cannot explain it and human wisdom cannot fathom it, tongue cannot utter it and pen cannot portray it, and even meditating on it daily, summoning every power, and studying it for ages still leaves an infinity beyond. The gift of Christ given so that believers may have everlasting life reveals this immeasurable love.
It is seen in the dignity and glory of Christ prompting the sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for the redemption of a lost world, where He died in shame to purchase eternal life in the Kingdom of Glory. There He bore the sins of the world and paid the price of redemption, though excellent and innocent, and contemplation of that matchless love displayed at Calvary should fill and absorb the mind, soften the soul, refine and elevate the affections, awaken deep devotion and praise, humble the heart, and transform the whole character. His omnipotence has opened channels for this love to flow without measure and His wisdom has devised means to draw every heart. To know its breadth and length and depth and height should awaken deepest gratitude and melody of heart now and fill the saints with wonder and amazement through eternal ages, while Satan blunts the sensibilities of the soul so that men and women remain indifferent to great salvation and lose eternal riches, and after so much has been done that man might be saved it will be a terrible thing to be lost. Renouncing selfishness is necessary to grasp it, and cherishing it brings a love that cannot be repressed, leading to seek truth and divine knowledge, with happiness, joy and peace planted in the heart so that heaven begins on earth.
Though eternally rich, clothed with light and glory and surrounded with hosts of heavenly angels waiting to execute His commands, for our sakes He became poor and put on human nature to sojourn among sinful mortals, that through His poverty believers might be made rich. He willingly laid aside His honor and His high command in heaven and clothed His divinity with humanity in order to become man's substitute and surety, and that love manifested toward us is to be appreciated and permitted to melt the heart and humble pride to the dust. Though human guilt could have separated Him from us, He came to dwell among us with all the fullness of the Godhead and became one with us so that through His grace believers might attain perfection, descending from the highest excellency to the lowest depths of humiliation, with His death of shame and suffering paying the ransom, and no line can measure its depth. God's purpose in giving Christ is to reclaim humanity and bring people into close union with Himself so they may be filled with all His fullness, and through faith and hunger for righteousness human beings can lay hold of divinity. Here is love that no language can express, the great mystery of godliness, which should enliven, elevate and enrapture souls, and which followers should learn to reflect in some degree here in preparation for joining all the redeemed in ascribing blessing and honor and glory and power unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
As substitute and surety He laid down His life for the sheep, taking human liabilities and transgressions and receiving in Himself the full penalty of the law, fulfilling the Father's will and vindicating His justice, for which the Father loves the Son more for giving His life to redeem fallen man. His infinite sacrifice alone could express God's love to man, for Jesus alone knew the height and depth of the love of God and undertook to represent God's character to the world, and it is abundantly provided for all who believe in Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice justice and mercy are reconciled, making it possible for God to be just while justifying the believer, with mercy offering to cleanse people from unrighteousness when they accept the gift and bring their wills into harmony with God's will. Having represented the Father's love, He requires every believing soul to represent Jesus Christ to the world and thus multiply the character of God in life and character, reflecting God's glory.
God loves sinners with a love beyond comprehension while abhorring sin, and Christ's life and death show that God offers abundant forgiveness. That surpassing love is pardon and peace found at the throne of mercy encircled by the rainbow of promise, and the way to it stands open for all who have sinned when they return to Jesus, humble themselves and repent. That broad, deep and full love reaches everywhere, lifts people out of Satan's influence and brings them within reach of God's throne. It makes no distinction by nationality, race or caste, because all people belong to one family by creation and are united through redemption by Christ's blood, which breaks down divisions and opens access to God.
It is God's benevolence, compassion, mercy and care still flowing earthward though sin is increasing in volume and prevalence. It is seen in God sparing a rebellious race that tramples His prostrate law and His Sabbath under foot, when He could justly come forth out of His place to punish their iniquity and sweep them away by a flood as in Noah's day, but He spares them because of the covenant made with Noah. God calls people to receive this love and to impart it to others, with no thread of selfishness in their work, because unsanctified self misrepresents and greatly dishonors Him. It is also seen in Christ ascending to prepare mansions and promising to come again to receive His people to Himself where He is, so believers expect the soon coming of the Lord.
Growing Knowledge Through Eternity
As the Bible is studied and the life of Christ and the plan of redemption are meditated upon, these great themes open more and more to understanding and grow brighter and deeper. Meditation on the unfathomable riches enlarges the soul's capacity to comprehend more of salvation's glory, and as the heart is converted and obeys God understanding continues to grow. Though a person meditates every day of life, searches the Scriptures diligently, and summons every power to comprehend the Father's compassion, there remains an infinity beyond, for tongue cannot utter it and pen cannot portray it. That love may be studied for ages and even eternity itself can never fully reveal it, yet diligent use of every means of grace brings ever-deepening understanding as God enlightens the mind through the Spirit.
Coming very near to God and advancing step by step in the divine life brings more grace that enlarges the capacity to apprehend and enjoy greater light of that infinite love in breadth and depth. This creates intense longing to know the fullness of that love and brings clearer understanding of God's ways and the glorious plan of redemption, the extent and limitation of accountability, and the weighty truths of God's Word, where self is nothing and Jesus is all and in all. Humble, contrite seekers see as much of divine compassion as they can bear, in proportion to their appreciation of Christ's sacrifice as propitiation for sin. Even a glimpse of that love reveals the glory God has in reserve for those who endure testing, seek only His glory, and remain loyal to heaven's truth.
Even angels desire to look into these truths, and pure angels always find in the plan devised by Christ for the redemption of depraved man enough to hold their interest and to call forth profound thought and deepest admiration through eternity. This is a profitable theme for meditation alongside study of one's own depravity and unworthiness of the rich gift of grace, dwelling on themes worthy of more than a passing notice. God alone gives this deep knowledge to those who search His Word with contrite hearts and pray for wisdom and a fuller grasp of its depth and breadth, and He designs the plan of redemption to come to them as latter rain because they are fast losing connection by trusting and glorifying man. Its height, breadth and depth cannot be fully explained in this life and eternity will be needed to comprehend them.
Even the redeemed will not fully comprehend the plan at first, for its length, breadth, depth and height are only dimly grasped in this life. Through endless ages immortal minds will seek to understand it with wonder and adoration, constantly discerning new depths and new truth unfolding, and knowing ever more clearly what salvation cost. The cross will forever remain their praise and joy, shown in Christ's willingness to redeem a world that did not love Him at the cost of His own death. This mystery cannot be explained in words alone but is made known through a Christlike character.
With all saints believers comprehend as living truth the dimensions of the love that passes knowledge when Christ as ascended Teacher advocates that spiritual power be given them. The promised Comforter enlightens minds that were befogged so they no longer say they cannot comprehend and no longer see through a glass darkly. Through the abiding presence of Christ by the Holy Spirit as pleader and guide they gain practical knowledge of the only true God and of Jesus Christ, grasping that love even though it surpasses knowledge. In the strength of One mightier than all enemies of God and man they receive power to overcome spiritual foes as they trust in Christ and commit themselves to His keeping, as the good work begun in them is carried on until the day of Christ Jesus. This knowledge works transformation of character, recreates the soul in the image of God, and imparts divine spiritual power to the whole being. In that strength followers are to be in human nature what Jesus was, living the pure and noble life He lived in keeping His Father's commandments and always doing what pleases Him.
Changed Lives Sharing Love
Contemplating matchless love shown at Calvary fills and absorbs the mind, softens, touches and melts the soul, refines and elevates the affections, awakens deepest gratitude, devotion and praise, humbles the heart, and completely transforms the whole character into Christ's image from glory to glory, so that pride and worldly attachments cannot flourish while Calvary stays fresh in memory and it is sin to be calm and unimpassioned on this theme.
Seeing that love for sinners while they were still sinners awakens love for God and melts and subdues the stubborn heart, for love not force expels sin and turns pride into humility and enmity and unbelief into love and faith.
Soundness in faith is solid love centered in Christ as leader, keeping believers sound as they are strengthened by the Spirit within, have Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, are rooted and grounded in love, and together with all saints grasp its vastness unto God's fullness.
That sound love guards against both a hard, sharp, critical, faultfinding, judicial spirit that climbs into the judgment seat to condemn, seek first place and hurt hearts, and a false sentimental religion just as dangerous.
Pressing together daily in Christian love and seeking God wholeheartedly restores unity so believers are not separated from one another and from Christ.
For fellow workers this means leaning heavily on the Mighty One and laboring for unity and for love, thereby becoming a power in the world, with truth received in the heart enabling love for one another like Christ's love.
Those so filled bear God's likeness as His counterpart and are elevated, pure, one with Christ and complete in every grace, looking on every fellow person as God's own purchased possession, keeping their own souls in God's love, and not lording over His heritage.
That love is the crowning grace pervading the whole person, giving the will a new motive and bringing every mental and spiritual faculty into its service, so that love for God and neighbor is the whole duty and condition for heaven, shown by keeping His commandments, forgiving those who err, loving one another as Christ loved, and cultivating love continually lest it wither.
Knowing this love by personal experience is needed to use God's light rightly and to stand amid the perils and trials of the last days.
Teachers and workers need that converted, personal knowledge to tell the story of faith, present the essence of true faith, and show needy souls how to accept Christ, trust Him as personal Saviour, and follow His steps.
Telling souls about this love beyond knowledge is a privilege, part of the word to be given where called for to willing hearers and eager longing souls and to people everywhere needing help.
Making it known to lead others to Christ is holy work begun on earth by every soldier of the cross pushing forward not in self-sufficiency but in meekness and lowliness, not seeking pleasure or convenience but asking what can be done, a work that does not cease with this life but after brief rest in the grave is taken up again in God's kingdom to advance Christ's glory.
When church members live the Christ life and diffuse the influence of the cross as designed and required, missions illustrate the power of Christ's principles, the wonderful efficiency and working of the cross is seen and felt, and the kingdom founded on infinite love, compassion and purity is manifested where perfect obedience brings perfect joy.
It is a message for now because the end is near, laying Paul's burden on the church to do a worldwide work earnestly in a short time, proclaiming truth and the last warning with trumpet voice, showing God's people the transgressions and sins hindering the work, arousing understanding of the true position amid swift coming judgments, resisting Satan's plans to keep God's forces out, taking up the work intelligently and unitedly with one voice in warning and salvation, and turning fully to the Lord for mercy and abundant pardon, for there is no second probation.
That knowledge makes Christ's name the keynote of the heart with thanksgiving, glory, honor and praise to Him on the throne and to the Lamb, removes gloomy groaning service, and makes believers lights diffusing light, hope and faith.
Learning that song here, by bringing truth into daily life, advancing higher with ever clearer understanding, having Christ abiding individually in the soul and opening mind and heart to the indwelling Spirit, prepares for joining the song of triumph with angels and redeemed saints at the change in a moment, and for praising God on earth while looking to the purified earth without sin as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
Being filled is received by turning to the Lord with deep earnest repentance securing forgiveness and enduring strength of might, opposite to forsaking God and depending on own works and righteousness which leaves ministers ignorant of the divine will and a stumbling block.
It comes through new entire consecration and oneness with Christ, claiming the exceeding great and precious promises to partake of the divine nature having escaped worldly corruption through lust, presenting the body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable as reasonable service, and coming up to high privileges to be changed to Christ's image for eternal life in His presence, which the Father requires according to grace and truth given and will not accept less than, so demands must be fully met.
As believers consecrate themselves and obey the holy law, wickedness and selfish ambition are cast out and sacred refining ennobling truth is revealed in life.
It requires conversion manifest in spirit and action with right example in family, school, church and world, for imperfections leading others wrongly evidence deficiency, departure from righteous principles of law, separation from God and lack of the quickening discerning influence of the divine mind on discernment, words and care to preserve the fragrance of the Spirit, and unless converted such should take another calling where they will not act the unbeliever's spirit.
It calls gospel ministers to the aim of making all see the fellowship of the mystery hidden from the beginning in God who created all by Jesus Christ, unto glory in the church by Christ throughout all ages, not by choosing the least self-sacrificing part and contenting themselves with preaching while leaving ministering to others, but by self-denying well-directed personal labor as servants of the people for souls for whom Christ died, falling upon the Rock to be broken and fashioned as vessels unto honor for solid beautiful soul-saving work in all countries.
Christ Himself is the source of divine love His children must receive and impart, pledged at baptism to love brethren as He loved and lived out daily in gospel principles, and tasting it enlarges comprehension beyond full knowledge, makes steadfast and persevering partakers of the divine nature, and fulfills God's eternal purpose that they reveal to one another in a selfish sinful world the love He revealed, a life speaking louder than words.
Arousing strife and dissension proves sanctification through truth unlearned, selfishness being Satan's corrupting fruit, while comprehension begun here opens still more fully in eternal ages.
Making Christ one's dependence brings daily increasing enrichment by His love beyond knowledge, without whom one is helpless to subdue sin or overcome temptation, and asking God to impress His instruction and help carry it out in daily life belongs to this fullness.
God longs to satisfy the soul's desire with peace, grace and love, imparting to all who believe His Word power, efficiency, hope and comfort beyond knowledge, and believers are to show the world they know this source by feeding the mind on it rather than worthless defiling food.
Cherishing this love brings a love that cannot be repressed and leads to seek truth and divine knowledge, and when planted in the heart it brings happiness, joy and peace so heaven begins on earth as lasting heavenly qualities take place within.
Sharing it daily makes human honor, worldly pleasures, contempt and opposition insignificant, leaving no room for selfishness, pride, spiritual coldness, sloth or cowardice.
Renouncing selfishness is necessary to grasp it as seen in Christ's compassion for suffering humanity and Calvary sacrifice, grasping its height, depth, length and breadth.
As self is surrendered and Christ is known by lived experience and abided in, this fullness becomes evident in a life representing Christianity, with grace to share with others, reflecting His character and speaking His praise.
God wants believers to seek Him now while heaven is open and access to grace is open to be filled with all fullness of His love, measured not by desk work but by home, brethren and daily life.
Those filled have faces shining with God's glory reflecting divine rays, talk of heaven, heavenly things and redemption through Christ, reveal belief they will leave earthly sin and sorrow, show the power of truth as shining light, represent truth as in Jesus to pave the way to heaven, while professing truth without representing it brings condemnation in judgment by those rising against them.
Christ's fullness is the measure to grasp for doing much for Him, so wholehearted laborers are neither proud of service nor seek to do as little as possible but weigh efforts by the Saviour's work.
Those filled become living channels of light whose hidden life with Christ in the Spirit, sanctified through truth and conformed to His image, produces visible effects as they walk as children of light.
They are faithful handlers of the Word of life imbued with the Spirit to exalt the standard and lift up Jesus everywhere, entering heartily into the work instead of standing back questioning, doubting and speculating, and not merely preachers.
That love is to shape words and influence in clear notes of faith, hope, courage and love of God.
Through Christ there is certainty where eternal realities feel uncertain, enabling knowledge of God's love beyond knowledge amid life's unsolved problems, as clear moral perception grows to understand godliness.
God is not a tyrant delighting in suffering of the condemned but loves His creatures with love beyond understanding and desires their salvation in His kingdom.
He gave Christ and all heaven's resources to restore the fallen and lift them toward the divine image, further expressed in churches and sanitariums.
When that immeasurable love is experienced, the value of missionary work is better understood, the lack of true engagement is seen, religion is brought into home life with cooperation with God in the home circle leading to exclamation over what He has wrought, for He never fails but does exceeding abundantly above all asked or thought.
Those sensing this golden chain binding finite humanity to the infinite God, which no science can explain nor wisdom fathom and the more felt the more amazing, become meek, lowly, trustful, believing and cheerful in assurance of His love, knowing Jesus lives and reigns as Redeemer and Sin-bearer pardoning when asked and holding fast to the hand strong to save, for He loves more than earthly father or mother her suffering child and gave Christ to express it, not wanting gloom and despondency.
This love is received aright only when entire affections are placed on Christ, who paid infinite price for redemption.
Thinking more of Christ and His rich grace in the home brings riches of grace and keeps love from fading, as contemplating highest-value subjects in God's Word where His life stands as holy uplifting purity and life-giving light opens this love to the heart.
It is the privilege of rejoicing in a whole Saviour saving from all sin, longing to be more like Jesus and reflect His lovely image, a knowledge of perfect love's length, breadth, height and depth not to rest without until fully possessed and increasingly filled.
Jesus made ample provision to satisfy the hungering thirsting soul with pure love expanding capacity for higher attainments and increased knowledge of divine things not satisfied short of God's fullness, requiring disciplined mind educated to love purity and spirituality and will exercised to be wholehearted, not stopping with desire and good purposes but determinedly carrying them out to grow in grace and experimental knowledge of truth.
Those filled value rich faith and deep experience above earthly treasure, have Christ as life within, and show inward piety, the mind of Christ and pure wholesome spiritual life without grieving God's Spirit, as answer to Paul's prayer.
Knowing it belongs with returning to wholehearted love for God and neighbor through confession, repentance, humility and prayer, as preparation for immortal life where all done and said should promote Christlikeness.
It comes by being strengthened to take hold of God's power by faith in Jesus even when feeling is lacking, as Israel prevailed when Moses lifted hands, with mind drawn to God and heaven and His righteousness and truth worked inside, following on to know the Lord whose going forth is sure as morning.
The heart opened to receive Christ's attributes increasingly comprehends His riches, and this growing knowledge and fellowship, begun amid persecution as reward and heritage, fills with God's fullness, for Christ Himself is the servants' reward, sympathy, riches and righteousness from the Lord, bringing into sympathy with Him, knowing His love and power and possessing unsearchable riches.
Words seeming barren to an unrenewed heart become like God's garden to a renewed converted soul with Christ dwelling by faith and the Spirit enabling grasp of breadth, length, depth and height.
Believers are to use every means of grace, advance rather than stand still, live sincere and without offense, and bear fruits of righteousness until Christ's day, gaining understanding diligently as spiritual knowledge and growth.
Abiding in Christ brings realizing sense of God's love, supping with Jesus and He with us, feeling at home with Him, promises flowing in, peace like a river and wave after wave of glory rolling in until nothing is seen but Jesus, beyond language because beyond knowledge.
It makes one with Christ with life hid in God, gives assurance of appearing with Him in glory when He who is life appears, strong confidence to call God Father, belonging to the Lord in life or death, and likeness in temper representing Christ by His Spirit.
Release from burden and agony, blessing like dew, inexpressible love for Jesus and wave after wave of glory come by longing for full salvation, not resting satisfied without God's fullness, and receiving promises like precious pearls by asking in prayer and trust.
Experiential knowledge of God and Christ's love revealed in Christ comes through diligent prayerful searching of Scripture, with the Spirit quickening understanding and heart lifted in faith, hope and praise.
As received light is shared, understanding grows beyond human wisdom into intellectual knowledge exceeding human wisdom.
Deep knowledge God alone can give may be sought by searching Scripture with contrite hearts and praying for fuller grasp of depth and breadth, into which angels desire to look.
That love in length, breadth and height is among deep things still to be known more fully as God designs the plan of redemption to come as latter rain to those fast losing connection by trusting and glorifying man, given to those searching His Word with contrite prayer and dwelling on themes worthy of more than passing notice.
Christ offers heavenly wisdom and knowledge certain and grounded in truth, unlike conflicting human theories.
This deeper experience is progressive knowing and beholding of glory changing character stage to stage from first rays of dawn to full noontide of perfect gospel faith.
The Spirit's illumination enables grasp of depth, breadth and fullness of God's love beyond ordinary knowledge, giving courage and joy and fitting disciples for mission.
That love is the infinite sacrifice of the Father giving His Son for fallen men to be transformed through obedience into acknowledged sons of God, so deep, broad and high it amazed angels and left the apostle without language, calling church and world to behold it in contemplation and admiration.
Christ's life revealed God's love in compassion, grace, humility, truth and love, which church members must show, and seeing the riches bestowed by giving His Son awakens wonder and greater love, while turning to another master breaks covenant, declares His service hard and love unsatisfying, dishonors Him and brings reproach on His name.
Union with Christ brings into the Father's love resting in Christ and communicated to those joined to Him, nourishing the soul and freeing from weakness, pride, vanity, selfishness and whatever deforms character.
Those sharing the heavenly gift beyond measure must value salvation and everlasting life, remain joined to Him, live by His Word, and resist selfishness, sin, hypocrisy, envy and Satan's devices in Christ's strength lest they neglect salvation, separate from Him and lose everlasting life.
A deep experience of the subject in length, breadth and depth is joined to representing Christ through patience, courage and steadfast integrity.
The love beyond knowledge calls for deep insight into Christ's nature and mystery, not manufactured but coming only through God's Spirit in answer to awake watchful prayer, giving power to become sons of God and more than conquerors.
Living in warm rays of the Sun of Righteousness with love filling the heart brings His compassion, grace and almighty power baffling the foe and subduing heart opposition, softening and preparing to receive His power, for the joy of the Lord is strength unto victory as believers draw near and grow in grace, wisdom and love.
In Jesus are discerned infinite wisdom, justice, mercy and dimensions of love beyond knowledge, and when convicted souls heed truth spoken in love and tenderness, truth frees from slavery of sin and bondage of worldly principles, opening new themes and fields of action.
Beholding Christ's perfection and contemplating His mission, love, grace and truth charms them, meets the great soul-want, ends love of world and worship of earthly treasure, and satisfies in His likeness.
Being emptied of self with life hid with Christ in God opens the heart to depth and fullness of that love, and His fullness as lasting treasure of belonging to Christ and Christ to us is received by coming and continually drinking from the fountain, with self dying that Jesus may clothe and shape in His likeness.
So filled, with every provision made leaving no excuse for weakness and poverty and resting wholly on believing God's words, believers being emptied of self truly represent Christ's promise of water springing up to everlasting life, receiving from Him to impart to others like olive branches emptying golden oil through golden pipes to supply cleansed vessels with light, comfort, hope and love for the needy as co-laborers with Him.
Knowing the love surpassing knowledge is the goal of teaching, leading learners to love God and be firmly bound to truth, possessing this love.