The Fulness Of Christ
In our day the importance and necessity of the church in God's plan is minimized by most men and completely denied by some. For this reason there is an urgent need to define clearly what the New Testament teaches regarding the place of the church in God's plan and its essentiality in the salvation of man.
Paul wrote that God "....hath put all things under his (Christ's) feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:22-23) The word "fulness" in the text indicates something that is or which demonstrates the completeness of someone or something. Since it is declared that the church is the fulness of Christ, the idea expressed Is that the church as it was established according to the divine will shows the completeness of Christ to mankind. In other words there is nothing that God has provided in Christ that is not found in the church of Christ. It must follow then, that if one would be a partaker of Christ he must do so in the church because it is the "fulness of him."
Consider carefully the following ways in which the church is the fulness of Christ, honestly asking yourself whether or not you can afford to refuse to be a member of it.
1. The church shows the fulness of God's blessing for man In Christ. God has provided all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and while the sum of these blessings can be adequately expressed in the term eternal salvation, there are many specific things necessary to its accomplishment. Some of these things are enumerated in the first chapter of the Ephesian epistle. For example, verse 4 states that men are chosen of God and made holy and without blame. Verse 5 deals with the relationship God ordained that those entering into it might be his children. Verse 6 presents the humbling thought that men are made acceptable to God. Verse 7 speaks of redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins. Many other things could be mentioned, some of them from this same chapter, but the point to be emphasized here is that in every case the verses referred to show that the blessing named is received in Christ. Further, since the church is the fulness of Christ, it follows that whatever one obtains in Christ is enjoyed in the church.
This is not to claim that the church itself gives these blessings, but rather that the church is the relationship occupied by everyone on whom God bestows them. The church does not grant the blessings nor does it do the saving, but it is the body of Christ which body he promises to save. Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:23. Thus the church shows the fulness of Christ in that those who are members of it partake of the completeness of his blessings.
2. The church shows the fulness of the authority of Christ. Ephesians 1:19-21 describes the unequaled power of Jesus Christ and declares that by his resurrection from the dead and his ascension to heaven he is "....far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." Further, it must be realized that the authority of Christ is exercised in a specific relationship and that relationship is the church. In declaration of this fact, Paul continues, saying that God "....hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church." (v.22) Jesus Christ has authority to command and does command absolute obedience of the church and of every member in it.
Lest one think that because Christ is head over the church that he then has no authority over those who are not members of it, let it be realized that it is God's will that every person obey the Christ and in so doing become a member of his body, the church. Jesus Christ has the authority to bind his teaching on every creature in all the world and executed the declaration of that teaching beginning with the preaching of the apostles. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16) Moreover, he will judge all men upon the basis of whether or not they obey his commands for he said "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." True, many now reject the authority of Christ but that does not deny that he has all authority. Indeed the time is coming in which they will bow to him. Those who bow to him now in obeying his commands do so as humble servants to be rewarded and shall hear his voice calling them forth in the resurrection to eternal life. However, those who refuse to bow in this life will bow then as conquered foes hearing his voice calling them forth from the grave to damnation. (John 5:28-29)
Thus, as Christ is head over all things to the church, and as he judges men on the basis of their disposition toward his will and toward the church governed by him, the church demonstrates the fulness of the authority of Christ.
3. The church shows the fulness of Christ's purpose, or of God's purpose in Christ which is the same thing. This purpose is summarized by the facts presented earlier from Ephesians 1 showing that God purposed to provide all spiritual blessings in Christ, and that the final result of those blessings should be the reception of eternal life. Ephesians 3 deals with the fact that God's plan for making these blessings available to man was a mystery kept from man before the coming of Christ but thereafter was revealed to the apostles and prophets of the New Testament, and by them to all men. (Ephesians 3:3-5) Consequently, whatever came into existence as a result of that revelation stands in fulfillment of God's plan and is therefore that which makes known the fulness of his purpose. As to what that thing is we are not left in doubt for inspiration declares that "....now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:10-11) So it is that the church by its very existence makes known the wisdom of God who planned it, and the fulness of the purpose of Jesus Christ who gave himself for it that men might be saved in it.
4. The church shows the fulness of the love of Christ. In John 15:13 Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Thus the fulness of one's love is seen in a sacrificial death, the laying down of his life for others. Yet this is precisely what Jesus did for the church, that is, for those who obey his will that they might become members of it. "Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27) Thus the church shows the fulness of the love of Christ because its very existence was provided by the fullest measure of love one can give, the sacrificing of his life.
Truly the church is the fulness of Christ and those who would partake of that fulness must then be in it. We appeal to every person who respects the Bible and who therefore should respect these plainly revealed Bible facts to obey the gospel, being baptized into Christ for the remission of sins. So shall one be saved and added to the church which is the fulness of Christ. (Acts 2:37-41, 47)
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