One thing theologians like (especially Reformed theologians) is precision. Our theological statements must have fine points on them so that we are not accused of drifting into heterodoxy or heresy. There are several bloggers out there who will call you to task if you don’t say things just right or if you don’t say everything there is to say about everything every time you say anything.
Then there is Paul. When he prays for the church in Ephesus, he uses imprecise language when he states his desire for them. He wants them to be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3.19). What does that mean?
Everything he prayed for them up to this point was a precondition for this primary request. He prayed that God would grant them that, according to the riches of his glory, they might be strengthened with might through his Spirit into the inner man. The “inner man” here is Christ himself, the one “into” whom we, the church, are to grow up (Eph 4.15). For the church to be filled with the fullness of God, we must be strengthened by God to mature into Christ-likeness.
In order for us to be filled with the fullness of God, we must also have Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith, being rooted and grounded in love (Eph 3.17). Christ “dwelling in our hearts through faith” means that our hearts are to be completely consumed with Christ. His will must be our will. His affections must be our affections. His agenda must be our agenda. To have our hearts means that he has our complete allegiance.
When he has our hearts in this way, then we can be on the lifelong journey of comprehending the incomprehensible love of God in Christ Jesus. In communion with the saints, we experience and explore the width and length and depth and height of the love of God. With our brothers and sisters we join in the eternal loving and blessed communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, giving and receiving love.
All of this Paul prays so that the Ephesians will be “filled with all the fullness of God.” As they move to maturity, have hearts consumed with Christ, and experience the immeasurable love of God then they will be filled with the fullness of God. At this point Paul is at his most imprecise. Words cannot capture what he wants for them. His desire cannot be neatly packaged into a precise proposition and achieved formulaically through moving certain pieces here and there, planning this activity, or even preaching the right sermon. There is no mechanism to bring God’s people into this fullness. It is a matter of God granting them his riches (Eph 4.16) and them responding to his grace by living in his love.
But, again, what exactly is “being filled with all the fullness of God?” I suppose that we can’t say anything “exactly,” but it is better explained with an analogy, I think, than any other way.
Have you ever been in family gathering where everything was just right; where there was uninhibited laughter, no suspicions, comfort, and peace; where everyone loved and enjoyed the presence of everyone else? Can you describe that? I can’t. Sure, there are things that you can say about it, but the experience of this fullness, this my-heart-is-about-to-explode-with-joy moment in time is beyond words. No one sat down to say, “Okay, we’re going to plan to filled with love and joy, and this is how we are going to do it.” It happened because the people who were gathered together shared the same love. That can’t be manufactured or meticulously planned. Every person there must come with that heart disposition that desires to be with these others and share life with them.
This, I believe, is what Paul is praying for. This is what he desires for the church; this ever-growing communion of love, peace, and joy. This family that shares the same love for the Father, centered in Christ, and empowered by the Spirit. This is what we should desire and strive for in the church as well. It isn’t too much to ask, for the God from whom our whole family in heaven and earth is named is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we ask or think (Eph 4.20). So, pray with me that God will grant our churches to be filled with all the fullness of God.
