Christ's Fullness

Christ’s Fullness:

In the previous blog we looked at the problem of benefits from Christ apart from ongoing perseverance and intimate identification (i.e. baptism) in/with God.  Many Protestants today look at the idea of “working out” our salvation as equating it with a “works based” salvation, which is a false assumption.

In Philippians chapter 2:12-13 Paul wrote, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

In this short passage of Scripture we have a great picture of Paul’s crystal clear Trinitarian theology.  As discussed previously, our water baptism by immersion is a picture/symbol of the reality of regeneration in Christ.  There are no magical properties in those waters.  The miracle is that when we surrender our lives to the Lordship of Christ – only then are we able to walk in newness of life... something that requires our ongoing, daily, perpetual focus and devotion.

Getting wet in baptismal waters is not a “one and done” ritual that provides one with Hell Insurance.  It is a symbol demonstrating the truth of Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Baptism/identification in Christ = obedience.  “…continue to work out your salvation…”

Baptism/identification with the Spirit = presence/power. “…working in you… the power…”

Baptism/identification with the Father = will/authority.  “…what pleases him.”

Therefore it is through this intimate identification/baptism in the will of the Father, the obedience of the Son, and through the power of the Spirit that the Church is built up into unity through the gifts that Christ “personally gave to Himself” – i.e. the apostles (modern day missionaries and church planters), the prophets (modern day preachers), the evangelists (people who share the Good News of Jesus), and the pastor/teachers (people who shepherd the flock by cultivating and watching over it).

Within the Western church today we have jettisoned 75% of the gifts that Christ “personally gave Himself.”  Large congregations gather across the U.S. to hear flamboyant, charismatic, and entertaining preachers (calling themselves pastors) - meanwhile there is little if any involvement in mission or church planting, virtually zero personal evangelism, and the rapid extinction of the teaching role (vanishing Sunday School, etc.).

Scripture tells us that numbers (numerical growth) are NOT the measure of the fullness of Christ, but the application of those gifts (missionaries/planters, preachers, evangelists, and pastor/teachers), which Christ bestowed upon His Bride (the Church), for the purpose of reaching “unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son” (Eph 4:13).

Unity in faith does not mean that we all check a box that says we agree with a doctrinal statement that we’ve probably never stopped to actually read.  It does not mean that we mount a Jesus-fish on the back of our SUV. It does not mean that we show up to church on Sunday only to receive, but never invest or contribute “in love for the proper working of each individual part.”

Unity means perseverance in the difficulties, the challenges, and the joys of Christian community and fellowship.  It means extending grace and love – while challenging, edifying, and rebuking in LOVE when necessary.  Unity is our individual and collective intimate identification with/in the Holy Trinity: The Father’s will, the Son’s obedience, and the Spirit’s presence & power.

When that kind of unity happens through the application of 100% of Christ's gifts to himself (missionaries, planters, preachers, evangelists, and pastor/teachers) then Scripture tells us, “...we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching.”

In unity we become the mature Body of Christ, which is THE exclusive measure of Christ’s fullness.

Blessings,

-Kevin