When we consider in Christ for salvation and ask to be crammed with the Holy Spirit, we’re crammed with Christ by His Spirit. What does this mean in point of fact? How does a Christian live out of this truth?
The New Testament describes what the Christian receives upon adoption into the family of God. Paul wanted the church “to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you could be crammed with all of the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19). The Greek word pléroó means “to make full, to finish.”
To be crammed with Christ is to be complete in him. Christians are given this inheritance by which they will know Christ higher. The Holy Spirit helps the Christian to make sensible selections, resist temptation, and grow as individuals and corporately in “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)
Christ desires to live in us, and as we grow in spiritual maturity, we long to live in Him an increasing number of. Although we have now the Spirit of Christ living in us, we actually live in Him, as evidenced by Paul’s use of that phrase 164 times, in keeping with John Stott. “The commonest description within the Scriptures of a follower of Jesus is that she or he is an individual ‘in Christ.’ […] This personal relationship with Christ is the distinctive mark of his authentic followers.” This is a product of sanctification: our growing desire to know and obey Christ. The outward expression of this work in us is the Fruit of the Spirit: a heart that starts to see others with greater compassion, a greater desire, and boldness to share the gospel, a peacefulness within the midst of chaos.
Mark Ross wrote, “‘Mature in Christ’ is just one other way of claiming ‘conformed to the image of Christ.’ This is the top for which believers have been made. We can reach this goal only in union with Christ, as branches united to the vine (John 15:1–11).” Christ’s chief goal was to obey and worship the Father. This becomes our goal, an increasing number of, as we grow into our faith as we walk with Jesus. What is unnatural to us, to obey, submit, and yield, becomes an increasing number of natural despite the hurdles accompanying our sinful nature.
Are We Filled Now?
The Father “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing within the heavenly places’. (Ephesians 1:3). Note the verb tense, which indicates a done deal; not “will probably be blessed with every spiritual blessing,” which might indicate an event to return. Adoptees on this family receive their inheritance immediately, just like the Prodigal Son. The Father gave his wayward son an inheritance, knowing the son would squander it. Christ gave us our gift, bought by His suffering and death on the cross, while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8) This is a present from Him. Believers don’t earn it.
We should not have to attend until we get to heaven or until we get our act together. When people live in Christ, they’ve the entire Spirit – the fullness, not a small piece. We receive Christ’s fullness immediately. He involves dwell inside us, making us more like Himself now, continuing to achieve this throughout our lives.
Since the hurdles mentioned above distract us from our purpose and disturb our peace. Our only hope is to repair our eyes on Christ and absorb his Word, our spiritual nourishment. We have to lean into His power and abandon our insufficient power. How can we realize it is insufficient? When we attempt to live out our purpose (to know God, love Him, share Him with others) in our own strength, we not only have a difficult time in our pursuit, but we also forget our purpose. Our spiritual goals are likely to be obscured by fleshly desire. But we don’t have to go down that road.
What This Produces In Us
We have all we’d like right here and know what it’s for worship. Paul prays “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may provide you with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation within the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17). What he gives us is for our good and HIS glory.
John Piper commented on the wondrous nature of Christ’s fullness in us. For one thing, it’s “the fullness of God – a divine fullness, an infinite fullness.” Secondly, this fullness is “accessible” because Jesus is Immanuel – God with us. “The divine fullness was being mediated to me not only from God, but through God” quite than by His angels, and yet it was delivered in such a way as to bless, to not “drown” us. Jesus’ fullness is just not some type of fable, a wishful whim; it “is rooted in rock-solid reality.” It is just not a vague deity bestowing blessings upon us through positive things like food and clothing; it’s a private, present God blessing us with the enjoyment of His friendship.
Piper’s response was to be overwhelmed by gratitude and joy. We can know God because His fullness got here to be with us and continues to be with us through the work of the Spirit. We can access the God who could decide to destroy but prefers to accumulate. He is constructing us up, His children, into the likeness of His Son. Christ testified to God’s goodness, reliability, and love, so we also can lean in on the fact that sustained Him to and upon the cross.
We must be so powerfully impacted by the truths John Piper laid out that we fall on our knees because the proper response to such mercy and charm and lavish love is worship. And this certainty also needs to give us such peace that, when others are falling apart, our calmness is noticeable. Not indifference or disregard but serenity, which acknowledges suffering but is just not overwhelmed by it. This peace is just not some type of boast but is of excellent to those that are suffering.
We are filled, but we aren’t finished. We still worry, lose our temper, and behave selfishly. Why is that? We have free will, and out of that free will, we ceaselessly decide to worship other idols. They vary from actual pagan “gods,” where we engage within the occult, to the idols of self-absorption. No one is freed from idols. We all have them because all of us sin. This is the character we inherited from our forefathers. Romans 5:12 says that “sin got here into the world through one man.” In a way, God is selecting to exchange one inheritance with one other – a corrupt inheritance that destroys, replaced by the fullness of Christ, which saves.
A Finished Work
Christ said, “It is finished” as he breathed his last (John 19:30). He has done all we would have liked him to do, given us every part we’d like, and given us life, His life. When we die to self, having died with Christ, “we consider that we may also live with him.” (Romans 6:8). The way has been prepared for us and is guaranteed. We are stuffed with Him, our Savior, awaiting the day when we will see His fullness with our eyes. That beautiful day is our hope, a hope which the Spirit fortifies inside us. And by that very same Spirit, we’ll know Jesus when He returns in ALL His glory.
Sources:
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/pixdeluxe
LISTEN: The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
Have you ever found yourself in need of an attitude adjustment? If so, be encouraged, as you’ve reached probably the most critical step in receiving one by knowing you’re in need of it. Realizing and recognizing there are unsuitable attitudes in your heart and mind is the breakthrough moment to a latest attitude.
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and don’t necessarily reflect the views or positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
Video stock video and music probided by SoundStripe
The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers and don’t necessarily reflect the views or positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
Stock Footage & Music Courtesy of Soundstripe.com Thumbnail by Getty Images
READ: 10 Sins That Often Go Overlooked in Christian Community
