Lesson 42 July 27, 2003

Review:

1. The first petition emphasizes the enabling and empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit with the result we are strengthened for the tasks at hand in life. 3:16

2. Christ is increasingly at home as you grow and mature in the faith. 3:17a

3. We're working on the 3^rd petition where Paul prays that believers would be rooted and grounded in love 3:17b

Back to Eph 3:17

What is it that we are to be rooted and grounded in here? in love.

- This love is not some emotional love that these believers might have for Christ but speaks of God's love, Christ's love for them, for us!

D.G. Barnhouse: Says there are several gifts that are ours as a result of this position that flow to us as a result of salvation.

1. We have a life that cannot be forfeited.

2. We have a relationship [position] that cannot be abrogated.

3. We have a righteousness that cannot be tarnished.

4. We have an acceptance that cannot be questioned.

5. We have a standing that can never be disputed.

6. We have wealth that can never be depleted.

7. God has with Christ freely given us all things. Rom. 8:32b

- Paul demonstrates that he knows this love and its personal nature when he says, "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." Gal 2:20b

- Also Rom 8:35-39

At some time we need to learn to take God at His word! He means what He says!!

3:18 That we may be able to comprehend… and to know (:19a) is very strong, emphatic.

#1. to comprehend katalamba,nw [complimentary inf.] to take down or to hold down;

The idea here is that we might be highly capable of intellectually grasping, of mentally laying hold of and understanding along with all the saints what is the breadth, length, height, depth of the love of Christ.

#2. and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge;

- to know ginw,skw it is often used to indicate a personal relationship between the knower and the one being known, which involves the influence of a body of knowledge;

- the body of knowledge that brings about this intimate, personal relationship is the Word in you

The vastness, the scope of the knowledge of Christ that is in view is indicated by the 4 fold description of it.

Question: How can we fully know and comprehend what surpasses or excels knowledge?

a. This speaks of the fact that the natural man cannot fully comprehend or have an intimate knowledge of Christ; only one with the spiritual provisions received at salvation is able to comprehend; to others, the unbeliever its all foolishness.

b. There is an incomprehensibility of the infinite by the finite, us, apart from revelation, inspiration [into the book] and then illumination by the Spirit to the believer.

c. There is also the aspect that the knowledge of Christ and His love is inexhaustible! always more to learn, to know of the infinite by the finite.

Paul slips in a phrase here that's so easy to miss when surrounded by so much that demands our attention and awe;

Being able to comprehend, to know the love of Christ is not to be done in isolation but in a community; "with all the saints"; su.n = with, in association with;

3:19b Petition #4 The climax! The completion of the sequence!

"that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."