For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Ephesians 3:14-19
The preceding passage in Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus is one that I've read time and time again. I've prayed it for myself and for others and I've picked it apart as much as I'm able at this point in my life; it is one of my favorite passages of Scripture. I've also been enjoying the writings of John Owen, most recently, The Glory of Christ. In it, Owen says this about God and the burning bush in Exodus:
"The fire in the bush which was there only temporarily, was a type of him in whom 'the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily', and that for ever (Col 2:9). The eternal fire of the divine nature dwells in the bush of our frail nature, yet our frail nature is not destroyed. So God dwells in this bush, with all his goodwill towards sinners." (p.30)
When I read that I trembled at the very thought of God actually dwelling in me. He dwelt in me today, all day! Did I even consider that today during worship, during conversation, hanging out with friends? The God of Glory dwelling in me, a sinner, is a thought that is more than sobering--all of this at the cost of Christ's blood, a thought that humbles in a very grinding way for me.
While Owen's words caused me to tremble they also made me think about Ephesians 3, where Paul prays that Christ dwell in the hearts of believers, through faith (3:17) that we might be filled with all the fullness of God (3:19).
Undoubtedly, Christ does indwell Christians already but Paul seems to be praying for the indwelling of God in believers in a way that provokes things in their hearts. I read that, coupled with Owen's words and think that it can't be enough to simply understand that Christ dwells in me, understanding does almost nothing for me. I have to (we have to) know in a way that compels us, convicts us, moves us and enlightens our eyes. This has to be an understanding that produces something. How about, "strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge"? Why an understanding of God in us in that way? Clearly, the reason Paul prays that we understand this way is because, by knowing in this way, we will be filled with all the fullness of God (3:19b)!
To know Christ and His love is to be filled with the fullness of God! So, my prayer when I read both Owen's words and Paul's was and is this, "God, through faith in Your crucified and risen Son, You dwell in me. Strengthen me with power through your Spirit and give me grace to know, realize and enjoy, the love of Your Son in a way that fills me with your fullness."
Marveling at the harmonious paradox that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
