The dimensions (breadth, length and depth and height) of the love of Christ Ephesians 3:14-19 Nimes 04-10-19
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In the New Testaments accounts of divine superfluous generosity to man, we understood to have been given, not only the knowledge, but the power to enjoy the love (Ephesians 3:19) and the peace (Philippians 4:7) of Christ which the scriptures says they both surpasses all understanding to be with us. To start with, these are the two major things that Christ brought to us from heaven to earth, namely his love and peace for mankind. Is it not written that we are justified by his faith to have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom we have access into this grace wherein we now stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God? Romans 5:1-2. The truth is wherever love is, peace is unavoidable and inevitable: little wonder are these two things listed as the first and second order of priority fruit of his Spirit (Galatians 5:19) and they are the most urgent spiritual need on earth even as Christ was announced as goodwill (a disposition to kindness and compassion –these are different branch of love) to mankind and peace on earth! Luke 2:14.
 
Secret things belongs to God but because of his Christ love toward us, he chose to give us the knowledge and understanding of the most important and the greatest of all the secrets on this cosmos part of the creation before we finally enter into the unimaginable and inexpressible eternal joy and glory to see him as he is and to be like him forever in our union with him throughout all eternity. This is the power of love, it open up in all transparency and honesty, even as Christ sent his Spirit of truth to give us good understanding of his love which surpasses all knowledge and understanding: as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, and the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God know no man, but the Spirit of God.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13.
 
If there is anything which is truly without border, it is certainly the love of Christ which is far beyond the understanding of the worldly, sensual, carnal and the ungodly men in the church: though they are abusing it to adulterate it with the love of the world and with the lusts of other things: but their misconducts shall never defiles the pureness of the purity of that love, except that they are showing themselves unworthy of it, shamelessly showing themselves an enemy of God, portraying themselves as spiritual adulterers and adulteress (James 4:4) for all that such greater love of Christ has done, and is doing and will continue to do throughout all eternity for those who shows themselves grateful and worthy beneficiary of such undeserved and unmerited wondrous love.
 
I’m perfectly sure that no one with the good and perfect understanding of their present worth and esteem in God’s sight because of the love of Christ as the apple of God’s eyes: for the honor and respect that should be shown in the consciousness and constant appreciation of the love: for the inestimable cost and price of this unconditional love shown from eternity before the world was made, but is now revealed and given as a covenant (a covenant of love) to man through the blood of the everlasting covenant, shall by any means trifle to lose such in exchange for anything or anyone as the Lord himself declares that whosoever love his father or mother more than him is not worthy of his love or of heaven: and whosoever love husband or wife more than him is not worthy of his love or of heaven: whosoever will love to save his life more than Christ love shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for the love of Christ, the same shall save it unto eternal life. Matthew 10:37-39. Let us therefore, for the sake of such powerful, wondrous, life-giving and mighty love which is stronger than death, and of which many waters or troubles of life should not quench, should Christ become the centre of all our affections, desires and expectations and as all the world for us: foremost, let us set our love firmly upon the love that is sweeter than wine, that is, upon the love of Christ (Psalms 91:14) and every other things under the love of Christ, and in this shall we not be heartbroken when every other expectations, desires and affections shall failed us: when our loved ones shall departs to the world beyond: when our heart is overwhelmed with seemingly insurmountable challenges, unfulfilled responsibilities, disappointments, scorns, mockery, humiliation of unfulfilled dreams and promises, and the enemy is whispering to the ears to end or take your own life as the best solution: but sadly to say, many so called Christians and pastors are falling under this trick and evil persuasion from the gates of hell: when evil men and women and the world seek to break your heart for whom they are as covenant breakers: in all these things, if Christ is not the centre of your affections, expectations, outcomes and desires, then you’ll be offended in him, and you shall fail in the days of adversity and fret yourself to do evil, and your love shall wax cold for the increasing of iniquities in the world, because you are not rooted and grounded in the love of Christ and has not known the power of this love which is beyond the understanding of man. It is the most precious and greatest gift from heaven, the source and strength of your continual satisfactions, safety, contentment, present and eternal unending joy, and only those who are in this love can do all things through Christ that strengthens them. Note: though the love of Christ is unconditional before the world was created or man was made: it was covenanted by the blood of his cross: whatever is covenanted is on mutual agreement with responsibility of parties involved, except that the love of Christ is given and established on better covenant with better promises, if we will keep his commandments to abide and continue in his love.                                                  
You can just take the whole world, but let me rest in this love and in its embrace, it will suffice me as God’s present and future unspeakable gift prepared for our glory before the foundation of the world, that the revelation and manifestations of Christ love is exclusively accessible and confirm in them that are of a steadfast heart and spirit before God; for the witness and confirmation he has given concerning Christ as the sole mediator of man by raising him from the dead to be our faithful high priest in things pertaining to God; that our sole focus, pursuit and interest should be on the unfailing love of Christ crucified: that we may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes natural comprehension of human perception or imagination in its pureness, spirituality, sacrifices or labor of love which is eternally compensable and physically rewarding through the process of the changes it wrought upon the believer’s life, both in this present state of our walk in the Lord, for the transformation effects and changes wrought by such love which does not give any room to be unequally yoked with the outsider unbelievers or those of the natural blood relationship in the flesh, than to show them this particular love of Christ without compromise (Hebrews 7:26) and to be content, and to reckon, and to express with great gratitude for the newly found family (Ephesians 3:15) as with those we shall be spending eternity together, if we shall endure and overcome to the end: to admits the true brethren in the Lord, born of water and of the Spirit of the living God, and are serving God day and night in Spirit and in truth as our true father, mother, sisters and brothers (there came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.And he answered them, saying, who is my mother, or my brethren?And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, behold my mother and my brethren!For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Mark 3:31-35) striving together for the truth of the gospel that we might be filled together with all the fullness of God.
 
As New Testament believers, we are called to be filled with the fullness of Christ: it should therefore be understood and agreed upon that there is the measure and fullness of God made available for us as people in union with Christ in whom all the fullness of Godhead bodily dwells or exists. By the way, it is through the fullness of Christ we have all received, and grace for grace (John 1:16) to live in the abundant life given as a gift of his love in this present world before we enter into our final spiritual Canaan of eternal life and rest as the reward of the travail of his love when he offered up himself for our sins: but let us know that we must follow after the example of Christ love by seeking, living and walking momentarily in it according to the measure of our present understanding of this love as we strive to grow in it to the end that we might be established and made perfected in his love.
 
Believer’s understanding of the incomprehensible love of Christ is unfolded in his union with the saints in light (Colossians 1:12) in whom God has qualified him to be made accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:16) so that he should be a partaker together therein of all the blessings of the kingdom and of the inheritance with the rest of God’s saints: yea, the Lord loved his people, and all his saints are in his hands, and they sat down at his feet, and everyone shall receive of his word. Deuteronomy 33:3. Note: because we are sanctified by the blood of Christ (Hebrews 10:29), we are purposely called into the kingdom to be saints (Romans 1:7) even as God who has called us with his holy calling is holy; he stipulate and mandate holiness as the sole condition, necessity and obligation to enter heaven and to dwell in heaven with him (1Peter1:15-17 ): that we should purify and cleanse ourselves from all the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, even as he is pure (1 John 3:3): progressively and increasingly perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1) in our diligent and careful separation from those believers with the form of godliness, but are denying the power thereof: filled with divers lusts, worldliness, lasciviousness and uncleanness (1 Corinthians 5:13) and to do away from the corruptible men and women in the church who are corrupting the incorruptible word of God, and are not speaking according to the things that are written in this book of the law of the Lord because there is no light in them. They are not the saints in light, if they are not walking and living in every conversation as the children of light! How can we be true ambassadors of the love of Christ if we are not upholding the integrity of his word –the truth? And this is love that we walk according to his commandments. This is the very commandment you have heard from the beginning that you must walk in love. Isaiah 8:20. 2 John 1:6.
 
Has Christ not once prayed unto the Father for the church (believers) to have access into the kingdom of heaven that they might behold the splendour of his glory? Father, I will that they also, whom thou has given me to be with me where I am, that they may see the glory you gave me because you loved me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24): and not only shall we behold his glory, but shall be glorified together with him; first at his second coming, when the trumpet shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise first, and we that are alive and remains shall be cut off to meet the Lord in the air, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to admired in all them that believed in him, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
 
It is no secret that the Father loves the Son before the foundation of the world as one who came out of the Father: the living word spoken out from him, and the head of Christ -God. 1 Corinthians 11:2. It also no secret that the Son loves man created by him and through him above every other created beings (all things were by the word (Jesus) and without him was not anything made that was made, this includes the earth from which man was made from) even when man was yet to be made by the Father from the dust of the earth has this Christ, on man’s behalf and mindfulness of him, has deposited his blood before the foundation of the world for the remission of the sin not yet committed by Adam and his race. This is the love which surpasses understanding, pure and worthy of adoration with eternal praises unto him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever; Amen. Revelation 1:5-6.                                                                                                              
The blood of Jesus should never have been called ‘the blood of the everlasting covenant’ if it were not shed before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) but because it was foreordained before the foundation of the world, ever before the mountains were brought forth, Christ became the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9) to accomplished the works of eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12) which was formalized on earth and accomplished on the cross of Calvary for faith unto salvation unto every man that will believe in him unto eternal life. 1 Peter 1:18-20. 
These are the blessings of the love of Christ: first, to turn us away from our sins, and to give us an inheritance among them that believe that we should be made as the heirs of God and joint- heirs with him of all the riches of God in glory, even the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Are we not for his love’s sake raised from the dust of the earth to become earthly, celestial and eternal royals to reign with him?
Are we not for the sake of Christ love made better than the angels of God? For when he brings the first begotten into the world, he said, let all the angels of God worship him (Hebrews1:6) and by the right and privilege of our faith and union with Christ as heirs of salvation are the angels not assigned to minister to our daily-spiritual and other needs? Hebrews 1:14.
Are we not for the sake of Christ love through the travail of his soul made by God to sit up with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, we that were once dead in sins and trespasses?
Love will do anything good for love’s sake: and this is the love of Christ as shown in his self-abasement to make himself as a servant: and he that was rich made himself poor for our sakes, so that we, through his poverty might be made rich (2 Corinthians 8:9) and that all spiritual provisions and every good gifts, goodness and blessings for our spiritual and moral necessities and transformation process here on earth (2 Peter 1:3-4) should be well taken care of against the corruption that is in the world through lusts as we awaits the final glorification of our physical bodies at death or at his second coming in exchange for the spiritual, glorious and undying-incorruptible body, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens at his second coming. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.                                                                                                                           
There is a grace made available for believer to attain unto the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ, to permit him to come into the unity of faith with other believers in the full understanding of the knowledge of Christ unto a perfect Christian (Ephesians 4:13) for an healthy spiritual life and growth if he as the deer that pants after its water brooks to tap into the immeasurable wealth and riches of Christ given or distributed severally as he will through his Spirit to his universal body, which is the church: if such believer is not indoctrinate, blindfolded and is humbled enough not to confine himself away from the infinite understanding of Christ love to his local assembly and to his under-shepherd’s limit understanding: spiritual things must be compared with spiritual, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little (Isaiah 28:10: 1 Corinthians 2:13): there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
 
Boundless and limitless spiritual resources are made available for believer’s spiritual nourishments and edification for growth, edification, strength and durability through the bond and strength of the unity he’s willing to show and to partake with the like-minded brethren through personal efforts to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, for his broad and increasing usefulness in the kingdom as iron will sharpen iron if nothing is done through strife and envy; but in lowliness should they esteem other better than themselves, and to submit one to another in the fear of God.                                                                          If we seek unity with good and not false brethren (2Timothy 2:22) it will increase our personal revelation of Christ love and promote or bring us into greater dimension in our spiritual life with divers experiences of freshness of the Holy Spirit in the comfort of Christ love shared and received from genuine brethren from him who is seated in heaven as head over his body, the church, even from Christ from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16.
 
First, Christ is the word of God, the good news (for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16) preached in the form of the gospel presented as Savior and salvation to save sinners and the world at large. The love of Christ is the redeeming love known and shown from eternity ever before the foundation of the world or the creation, fall and the expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 5) that God has not withhold his Only begotten Son to die for us, but that he demonstrated his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us to redeem us from all our iniquities and to purify unto himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good works. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, take, eat; this is my body.And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink you all of it:for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.Matthew 26:26-28.
 
(2). It is the transforming love (nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians3:16-18) of Christ: that the good news is transformed into spiritual milk for the new convert, and the repentant sinner is now a spiritual babe who is spiritually unskillful in the words of righteousness until he is weaned from the spiritual breast feeding on milk. 1 Corinthians 3:2.
 
(3). Christ has begun the good works in his saints and he’s committed to finish it to the end as the author and finisher of thereof: it is therefore the nourishing, cherishing and preserving love of Christ (Ephesians 5:29) and the Lord shall deliver them from every evil work, and shall preserve them unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen. Proverbs 2:8. John 10:27-29. 2 Timothy 4:18.
But they cannot and should not stay forever as spiritual babes, but in the process of time, they should leave behind them the elementary teachings about Christ (Hebrews 6:1-3) which is to feed continually on milk and to go onto perfection, not desiring the milk anymore, but long to be fed with strong meat as it should reasonably be expected from the natural perception of a mentally matured person who can have their senses exercised to discern good from evil, and right from wrong, if they are not in the class of dull hearers and slow learners, and of the itching ear believers, ever learning, never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth. Hebrews 5: 13-14.
 
(4). That this word of God, the good news, the spiritual milk and the strong meat is now presented as a rod to chastise, reprove and to correct the sinners, adamant, carnal, rebels and those that murmur in the church with all authority and scriptures, for those who are truly love by Christ shall he chastise and correct by his word and by other disciplinary circumstances and situations to make them partakes in his holiness. 1 Corinthians 4:21. 1Timothy5:20. Note: all his yokes and burdens are the yokes and burdens of love and his commandments are not grievous: but those who are in the church and not willing to receive instructions to be instructed by the instructions in righteousness from the scripture given by the inspiration of God which is profitable for correction, rebuke, exhortation and instructions in righteousness are the haters of Christ who will not have him rule over them; but will seek to use and take advantage of his love: thus their deeds testify against them as the children or seeds of Satan in their worldly lusts and all ungodliness against the grace that brought salvation. Titus 2: 11-14.
 
(5). That the word of God is now given as a spiritual hammer that break the rock of disobedient, bulldoze rigidity and other strongholds into pieces for those who have grown from spiritual babes to become faithful and steadfast brethren in the word of God: the word is now make like fire in their mouths to consume all uncleanness and evil plantations which the heavenly has not planted in others as they speak it forth with power and authority as delegates of his love. Jeremiah 23:29.
 
(6). These faithful brethren of the Lord are grounded and rooted, not only in the love of Christ and in his faith without respect of person, but they are deeply rooted and grounded in the word of God, and they are not inexperienced spiritual believers, toss and fro by every winds of doctrine, by the sleight of men, by the cunning craftiness of flattering false love of Christ preachers, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. They don’t run away from the truth neither do they strive against the priest for the word sent from above to straighten and to do them good before God: though it is sweet in their mouths, but bitter in their stomachs: for it must be acted upon in a lively faith for the blessedness it procure for the doers thereof: this is the little part of the manifold wisdom of God to be taught by the church unto the principalities and powers given by Christ love unto his beloved church. Jeremiah 15:16. Ephesians 3:10.
 
In his love for the universal church, Christ set up some gifted and able men such as the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as blessings to his church. They are commissioned through grace and power and with pure doctrine and undiluted word of God for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of faith of the Son of God so that the disciples of Christ should be made perfect as their master: but unless we prayerfully come out of the shell of our local churches of denomination barriers by not forsaking the assembly of other brethren as the manner of some is, we can never discover the breadth, length and depth and height of his love to benefit immensely from the vast riches of Christ to his universal body for the perfecting of the saints to present each of them as a chaste virgin before his arrival. Luke 6:40. Ephesians 4:11-12. 2 Corinthians 11:1-2.                                                                                                      
 
Is there any church or denomination operating fully and completely under the anointing of these five-fold ministers for the work of the ministry? I don’t think so as far as the bible is concerned, except we’re not sincere with ourselves (1Corinthians 1:2): if the brethren’s heart is not united in love, but they are afraid, suspicious and in competition and comparison with other churches or gospel ministries and ministers: if the under-shepherds by his pride feel low or threatens by the presence and anointing of other fellow workers or ministers of the gospel who are not false teachers, then they are not helping themselves, neither the flocks of God entrusted to them: but shall be guilty of unlawful, wicked and selfish restriction, lordship and dominion over God’s heritage they deprive of their potential in Christ to attain to the full riches of complete understanding of access to the mysteries of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:1-3.
 
There are greater dimensions of spiritual growth, grace, power, love and other spiritual blessings to attain in Christ Jesus if we have love and hunger for the truth and are willing to defend it sincerely even as we live daily for it and to speak it in love, that we may grow up unto him in all things which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15. Note: though there are gross doctrinal errors from vain talkers today in the church’s world, and they are making it difficult for men and women who are well instructed and made wise through the Holy Scriptures and sound doctrine to worship anywhere or anyhow because they cannot and should not risk to worship anywhere just for the sake of unity (false association) of brethren or of faith for religious show, display and association which can destroy the good things in them (Amos 3:3): if men cannot add up to the growth of the good things we already attain in the Lord, neither should they be allowed to spoil or defiles it with their false doctrines. If the food we eat does not help us to grow better, it is called malnutrition and is unhealthy for our livelihood and existence which should not be taken anymore –beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. Nonetheless, the Lord will not suffer himself to be left on earth without faithful witnesses and remnants for the work of the ministry: it is therefore our duty to pray and ask the Lord to direct and connect us with the faithful brethren scatter all over the world –Jewish or gentile believers in Christ Jesus. Luke 12:1-3. Acts 10:25-28.
 
Christ came to show us all things from the Father so that our spiritual walk should be pleasing unto God through the quickening power and anointing that teaches into all truth. 1 John 2:26-27. If any don’t know as they ought to have known or have not received as they ought to have obtained, it is because they have not yet acknowledged and called wisdom as sister and to call understanding as kinswoman (proverbs 7:4): they are not hunger and thirsty after righteousness as it should be that they should be filled. Note: the love of Christ is the love of the Father: as my Father has loved me, even so have I loves you, continue you in my love. Those who love much are those having true sense of the innumerable sins they were forgiven and are magnetized forever in sincerity to Christ in this bond of love, captured by it, they bind themselves as long as they live to it and no one can pluck them out of his hand, because the Father who has given them to Christ is greater than all: therefore, nothing shall separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; neither they shall not love their lives as to shrink from death: they are lost in this love of Christ which compel them, that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. This is the spiritual, mental, moral and physical impacts of the captivating love of Christ in the full understanding thereof, and in the steadfastness of spirit to obey God without any condition (better or worse, good or bad day) that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 2 Corinthians 5: 14-15.