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Looking at Christianity there would seem to be degrees of the Christian life. That, however is not the case as far as the Word of the Lord is concerned. The goal of the Apostle Paul was the excellence, the surpassing greatness (NIV), of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord. Phil. 3:8 What he envisioned spiritually was the fullness of the life of Christ, as the Son of the Father, being manifest in him. The call of the Spirit of Christ in calling the world to repentance is that His very own glory and virtue might be made known in its completeness in them. In order to accomplish this glorious work in His prized possession, by the gift of His divine power, He has imparted unto His true church all the elements of His life and godliness. 2 Peter 1:3 This would elevate those who are really His to an understanding and a participation of things spiritual which is far above nominal Christianity.
Life in the hereafter, life eternal is assured to those who know Him. Not those who know about Him but those possessing the knowledge of the redemption which is found in the Lord Jesus alone. John 17:3 In order for mankind to understand Him they must have received of His Spirit. All who are born of the Spirit have received of His spirit but most definitely not the fullness. Even those who have been baptized with the Spirit have only received the earnest, the beginning, of their inheritance. Eph. 1:13-14 There is so much more both in this life and that which is to come. How can we ever come to a complete knowledge of one who is infinite.
The Comforter whom Jesus would send, one like unto Himself, was to show the disciples things to come as well as teaching them the things pertaining to the Lord Jesus. John 16:13-15 Therefore we find Paul praying for the Ephesian church that in receiving the Holy Spirit, He (the Spirit) might impart unto them the spirit or gift of wisdom and revelation that they might possess a full knowledge of the Lord Jesus. All that we need today to know about the Lord is recorded in the Word of the Lord. Heb. 10:7 The understanding of the Word will come through the revelation of the Spirit. Even the mysteries found in the book are opened to those who seek to do His will. Paul stated that his knowledge of the mysteries came by revelation. All revelation must agree with the book, the Word of the Lord. Eph. 3:3 As a matter of fact, all that he knew and understood of the gospel he had received of the Spirit of the Lord by revelation. Gal. 1:12 There is a great need in the body of Christ today for a deeper understanding of the Word, not an adding to it but an adherence to its precepts.