The Love of God, the Soil of our Spiritual Growth
The Relationship that is God from all eternity, that Radiance of Union that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One in Essence, distinct in Roles, has ever been the Glorious Eternal Life in which no imperfection could dwell. This Glorious Bond is Eternally Radiated as a Precious Radiant Jewel, each facet blazing with perfect Balance and Glory from the Inner Source that is the Essence of the Godhead. The Father, Son and Spirit ever abode in Perfect Love. Their Relationship was ever Perfect Love.
God's will to show forth His Glory in its fullness, (mysteriously to us) chose to manifest that Glory in creation and redemption. Yes, He foreknew the fall of that creation, but mysteriously and Righteously, He chose to reveal His Glory and Goodness against a dark canvas, the only way certain facets of His Glory could be seen. We know that His Glory is the ultimate goal, for we speak of "three stages" of redemption as Justification, Sanctification, and GLORIFICATION. By glorification we mean that the Redeemed are brought to dwell for all Eternity in the Glory of God Through the Glorious God Man Jesus, in a new heaven and a new earth where the Presence of the Father and the Lamb are the Light. (II Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:22-23)
Impossible to comprehend? In the here and now, the only way to comprehend and apprehend this is by faith. For the very existence of the Justified is by faith and faith alone! (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38) But the path to this apprehension is shown in Ephesians 3:14-21, in the Apostle Paul's prayer. Important to our discussion is first of all, verse 16-17. Paul asks the Father to strengthen them (and us) by His Spirit in their inner man--"that Christ may dwell in your hearts BY FAITH; that you, being ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know THE LOVE OF CHRIST which surpasses (intellectual) knowledge." Now notice the goal of Paul's prayer, "THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD."
So you see, God's means of approaching, comprehending, and apprehending the Love of God is only through having Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith (that's the only ground and root out of which this comprehension can grow, and is the work of the Holy Spirit), and wonders of wonders, such a knowledge of the LOVE OF CHRIST is the means of being FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD. Do you get it? To know (intimate relationship with) the Love of Christ is to be filled with the fullness of God which is the Love of God.! Just a reminder, such a miracle is only possible because in Christ "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete IN HIM." (Colossians 2:9 & 10)
The Relationship that is God from all eternity, that Radiance of Union that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One in Essence, distinct in Roles, has ever been the Glorious Eternal Life in which no imperfection could dwell. This Glorious Bond is Eternally Radiated as a Precious Radiant Jewel, each facet blazing with perfect Balance and Glory from the Inner Source that is the Essence of the Godhead. The Father, Son and Spirit ever abode in Perfect Love. Their Relationship was ever Perfect Love.
God's will to show forth His Glory in its fullness, (mysteriously to us) chose to manifest that Glory in creation and redemption. Yes, He foreknew the fall of that creation, but mysteriously and Righteously, He chose to reveal His Glory and Goodness against a dark canvas, the only way certain facets of His Glory could be seen. We know that His Glory is the ultimate goal, for we speak of "three stages" of redemption as Justification, Sanctification, and GLORIFICATION. By glorification we mean that the Redeemed are brought to dwell for all Eternity in the Glory of God Through the Glorious God Man Jesus, in a new heaven and a new earth where the Presence of the Father and the Lamb are the Light. (II Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:22-23)
Impossible to comprehend? In the here and now, the only way to comprehend and apprehend this is by faith. For the very existence of the Justified is by faith and faith alone! (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38) But the path to this apprehension is shown in Ephesians 3:14-21, in the Apostle Paul's prayer. Important to our discussion is first of all, verse 16-17. Paul asks the Father to strengthen them (and us) by His Spirit in their inner man--"that Christ may dwell in your hearts BY FAITH; that you, being ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know THE LOVE OF CHRIST which surpasses (intellectual) knowledge." Now notice the goal of Paul's prayer, "THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD."
So you see, God's means of approaching, comprehending, and apprehending the Love of God is only through having Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith (that's the only ground and root out of which this comprehension can grow, and is the work of the Holy Spirit), and wonders of wonders, such a knowledge of the LOVE OF CHRIST is the means of being FILLED WITH THE FULLNESS OF GOD. Do you get it? To know (intimate relationship with) the Love of Christ is to be filled with the fullness of God which is the Love of God.! Just a reminder, such a miracle is only possible because in Christ "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete IN HIM." (Colossians 2:9 & 10)