Seattle, April 20, 2005.
47. KNOWING THE SON. There is no greater privilege extended to mankind than that of having an intimate and very real knowledge of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Be assured that His bride will possess a full and complete knowledge of who and what He is. Each and every member of the body will have the same knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus. A full comprehension of His person is necessary for the bonding together of the bride. Eph. 4:13 Paul expressed his deep hunger and longing for the fulfillment of his hearts desire and that was to know Christ more fully. The things for which he had striven prior to his accepting Christ, he was willing to lose and lay aside that he might gain his purpose in Christ. His goal was the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord. An excellency which cannot be superseded. A knowledge which is the absolute epitome of all that can be called knowledge or comprehension. Eph. 4:13 A knowledge, an understanding that can only come through the avenue of the Spirit. Who will make the Lord Jesus known through the wisdom and revelation of the Word. What is needed to be understood is already recorded in the Word. We need not go outside of its covers to come to a complete revelation of the person and being of the Lord Jesus. Eph. 1:17 Again, it is the Spirit who enlightens, and reveals to our understanding the secrets of His heart. Eph. 1:18 Paul prayed for the church that they might be filled with the knowledge of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. The word is a living word. Every day, like the manna in the wilderness, its revelations are renewed and refreshed to us. Its knowledge has not been exhausted, it is fresh and reviving. Col. 1:9
UNTO A PERFECT MAN. See the shining example set before us and accept the challenge. Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. 4:13 If it was not meant to be, then why even issue the challenge? The fact that in the next verse he placed his words in the here and now show us that there is a dire need to strive for the prize set before us. The word henceforth (v. 14) makes the subject to be something that needs to be accomplished in this life. Verse fourteen is so relevant to our present day and will be even more so in the days to come. The word perfect simply portrays a spiritual maturity that may be reached by all and in particular those who will be in the Bride of Christ. It bears the connotation of Spiritual growth. That growth can only be complete when the church reaches the stature of Christ. Love must be the basis of every marriage. Only love can stand the test and the trials of trying to blend two natures into one. The Lord Jesus will not chose a bride who has not demonstrated a strong, dedicated love for Him by obedience to His Word. Anything short of total consecration to His will and manner of life will leave the individual on the outside of the marriage. His Bride will bear His exact likeness in every way possible. She will come to a full age that is reached only be the washing of the Word and not by longevity as a Christian.