228. Fullness of Christ
Ephesians 4:13d…unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
The equipping of the saints builds up the body unto the fullness of Christ, at least unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. In this life the church is building up the body so that it will come close to the fullness of Christ, but it will still only be a measure. We must wait for the Second Coming to be full of Christ forever. The promise is a measure now, but it will be fullness later.
The Church will not be completely whole because sin remains in it. Sin, Death and the Devil are continually diminishing the fullness of Christ in the body. As long as the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments administered according to it there will be a body of Christ on earth. As long as the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments administered the body will grow closer to the fullness of Christ. As long as individual believers hear the Gospel and receive the Sacraments each one will come closer to fullness. We are “full” of Christ right now, but Sin still remains in the flesh to prevent us from becoming full and whole. Nevertheless, the promise can be believed and maintained by constant exposure to the Word of God.
It is enough for us to have Christ living in the heart; it is more than enough to come closer and closer to the fullness of Christ ruling in us. Daily repentance and faith in the Gospel draws us closer and closer to being Spirit-filled. Sin and Self and Flesh are too rampant within to keep us from enjoying the fullness all the time. But the promise of a measure is enough to encourage us to keep going and growing.
Whether one is a weak or a strong Christian he has a certain stature. The believer is always able to stand up strong, stand for something, and stand against Evil; there is a measure of the stature.