Ephesians 4:15 NIV Grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
In your new life, God has provided the potential for constant growth into the knowledge and likeness of Christ. We are given several indications of what is possible in Christ.
- Jesus said He was the true vine and we are branches in Him, (John 15). He said if we abide in Him, we would bear much fruit.
- Jesus is the living cornerstone and we are living stones that are being built up into a spiritual house, (1 Peter 2:4-7). The language indicates a process of development into this holy temple and spiritual house.
- We are told that Christ is the Head and the church is the body that is growing up into Him, (Ephesians 4:15). We are not only connected to Christ, we are also growing up into Him in all things.
- The Psalmist said those who delight in the law of the Lord shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in season, and whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper, (Psalms 1:1-4).
We want to discover the full potential of what God has made possible for us in our new life in Christ. God has brought us into a vital connection to Christ who is the source of our new life. Growth, development, and fruitfulness are a direct result of personal participation and fellowship in Christ. These illustrations will help us know what God has made possible for us in Christ.
John 15:5 NKJV “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Jesus is showing the relationship we have with Him. Our vital and living connection produces great benefits by abiding in Jesus, the true vine. The heavenly Father has provided everything that is necessary for us to flourish and grow in Christ. He prunes away what does not grow and bear fruit. He nurtures and waters us with the Spirit and Word. God wants the full impact of the life of Christ to flow through you. When we abide in Christ, His influence, presence and anointing will be manifest in our lives. Think about the impact Christ has on our lives.
When we “abide in Christ,” we gain what is in Him.
- We are clean in Christ.
- We are consistent in Christ.
- We are free from condemnation in Christ.
- We have abundant and new life in Christ.
- We are strong and resilient in Christ.
- Every spiritual blessing comes down to us through Him.
When we maintain this abiding relationship, the possibilities are as limitless as Christ’s power and resources.
John 15:7 NKJV If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
When we are vitally connected and united to Christ, we have free access to heaven’s rich resources.
Our growth and development is revealed in our relationship with Christ the Cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV Now, therefore, you are… members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Throughout the Scriptures, the house of God is the place for the manifest presence and glory of God to abide. God has established this holy temple upon Jesus Christ the true foundation. Notice these words: “Grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” God has determined that we should be fitted together with Christ. When this happens, we become a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Do you understand what God is saying about your new life in Christ? God is establishing and building us together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
2 Chronicles 7:1 NKJV When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.
The temple had been built and everything was sanctified and put in place. When Solomon finished dedicating the temple to God, the glory of God’s presence filled the house. Something greater than Solomon’s temple has been established upon Jesus Christ the Cornerstone.
In Matthew 16, Jesus told Peter that His church would be established on a solid rock.
Matthew 16:18 KJV Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Take note of what happens when the church is established upon Jesus Christ and is made to be the temple of the Holy Sprit. Jesus said the “gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The old prophet of God said the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. God has made Jesus Christ our foundation and strength.
1 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
When we are joined to Jesus Christ, our lives are greatly altered. This radical change in us makes us partakers of the mind and spirit of Christ. Standing on a sure and firm foundation gives us boldness and strength. Our strength comes from being joined to Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
When we “grow up into” and are “joined to” Christ, we are enabled to glorify God in our body and spirit. It is possible for the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ to be developed in us, (Ephesians 4:13). We are no longer weak and tossed about, but we are firm, strong and unmovable in Christ.
Ephesians shows the extent of our growth into Christ the Head and the church is the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:15).
Ephesians 4:15-16 NKJV …grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
This demonstration of our growth and development in this new life sets Christ as our head and source of edification. Every part of the body of Christ is knit and joined together and supplies the function that is determined by the Head, Jesus Christ. This growth not only brings believers into new life but also into purposeful function. Each and every part and joint of the whole body shares in the abundant wealth and richness that is in Christ. Watch what happens as a result of the edification or building up of every believer. Each part shares in the wealth and richness of what Christ supplies. When Christ is the head of all things in our lives, His mind and will governs our success and function. This is the goal for every believer to function with the mind of the Lord.
Philippians 2:5 NKJV Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV For …we have the mind of Christ.
As in every illustration, we find stability, purpose, and success in Christ. This process and growth brings us into the full development of what God has planned for us in Christ.
Psalm 1:3 NKJV He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
How can this happen in our lives?
Our new life and growth are dependent on Jesus Christ. We must learn to function and live in the same life and Spirit that was in Christ Jesus. Something must get up inside of us that impacts us with Christ’s NEW LIFE.
Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Our root, foundation, trust and life is in Christ Jesus. We look to Him for wisdom, strength and vitality. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the Alpha – there is nothing before Him. He is the Omega – there is nothing after Him. Our new life starts in Him and finds fulfillment and satisfaction for all our need in Him.
Consider what you have gained in Jesus Christ.
We are supported and held up by Christ. Through Him we have boldness and access to God. In Christ, we have obtained an inheritance and are predestined to enjoy His glory and blessing. We are granted confidence and great reward in Christ. Through His blood we have cleansing and power. Through His work on the cross we have forgiveness and a right standing with the Father. Through the power of the Spirit of Christ we have newness of life and resurrection victory.
Consider the limitless riches that are available to you in Christ.
The riches of Christ are: unending, boundless, fathomless, incalculable and exhaustless. We have come to know that Christ’s blessing, abundance and richness is truly limitless.
Although we can never exhaust or take hold of all that has been prepared for us in Christ, we can taste and see that the Lord is good.
In Christ is limitless mercy, grace and love. Christ is sufficient for your every need. God’s source of supply is in His riches in heaven by Christ Jesus. No trial, test, affliction, trouble or distress can exhaust the depth of richness and blessing that is prepared for us in Christ.
God has prepared the limitless riches of Christ for you. God loves you so much that He has extravagantly expended grace, mercy and love at Christ’s expense.
Jesus spoke with His disciples about our need to fellowship and feast on His richness.
John 6:54-57 NKJV Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
Jesus’ words spoke of the rich benefits of our fellowship and drawing from Him and His life. Every time we receive communion we are caused to focus on this fact. Jesus is the source of our new life. When we abide in Him and He abides in us we gain the blessing and benefit of everything that Jesus is.
