Filled to the Fullness of God
… and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19 (NIV)
The fourth petition Paul asks for his readers is that they be filled up to God’s fullness: ‘that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God’ (3:19). In Colossians Paul wrote that not only did Christ’s fullness dwell in Christ but that we ourselves have come to fullness (Colossians 1:19; 2:9,10). Here in this letter Paul emphasises that we still have room for growth. We are to go on being filled with the Spirit (5:18), and the church, although already carrying the fullness of Christ, is ‘to grow up into him’ until it reaches His fullness (4:13-16). This growth into fullness is Paul’s prayer for the church here. The NIV’s ‘to’ in ‘filled to the measure of all the fullness of God’ is the Greek preposition ‘eis’ which means we are to be filled, not ‘with’ the fullness of God, but ‘unto’ God’s fullness. God’s fullness or perfection is the standard or level we pray to be filled to (cf. Matthew 5:48 being perfect as God is perfect; 1 Peter 1:15,16 being holy as God is holy). Another way of expressing Paul’s prayer is that we become like Christ, which is God’s purpose and promise (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2) because Christ is Himself the fullness of God. Yet another way is that we attain the fullness of love of which Paul has just written. Then Jesus’ own prayer would be fulfilled (John 17:26 ‘in order that the love you have for me may be in them’). While Paul’s prayer points to an ultimate heavenly perfection, we must not walk away from its contemporary challenge. God expects us to be growing daily toward that final fullness, as we are being transformed into Christ’s image from one degree of glory into another (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Then, as your spiritual strength increases, you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences – the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement, beyond academic knowledge – this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Ephesians 3:19 (The Passion Translation)