Chambersburg Bible Church

Paul challenges the Ephesian believers “to know the love of Christ” and to “be filled with all the fulness of God.” This challenge speaks directly to our sanctification, the process by which we become more and more like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This process is not achieved through our own doing, but through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, only if we are willing to humble ourselves in submission to the will and work of Christ in our life.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3:17-19Ephesians 3:17-19
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  

Notice the root of sancitification – “love” – it is the Love of Christ which draws us to salvation, if we only accept him. Sanctification can then begin in our lives! Think about this… if our relationship with God is rooted in his love first and grows through the knowledge/understanding of that love, our daily relationships with our family, friends, and neighbors will not grow unless they are rooted in love! Food for thought.

Other Passages:

• 2 Corinthians 5:142 Corinthians 5:14
  14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  
  
• Philippians 2:12-14Philippians 2:12-14
  12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. ¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  
  
• Colossians 3:15-16Colossians 3:15-16
  15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  
  
• Ephesians 3:20Ephesians 3:20
  20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  
  

Christ’s disciples often approached him with various questions regarding their relationship with Him and with questions regarding spiritual living. In this passage, we see them asking Christ about increasing their faith. Often we call out to God, looking for his movement in our hearts to increase our faith in His Word. Christ did not directly answer that question in this passage, but rather provided an illustration to teach that once redeemed by the Master, we are to be in the business of serving Him. This is the exercise of our faith, and our growth comes out of our service.

We are saved through faith (by grace alone) and therfore walk in faith (through grace) in our daily lives. Colossians 1 admonishes us to serve the Master who redeemed us from the slavery of sin. We must not be satisfied with giving God a prominent place in our lives, we must give him the preeminent place in our life.

Luke 17:5-10Luke 17:5-10
5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. ⁶ And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you. ⁷ But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? ⁸ And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? ⁹ Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. ¹⁰ So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.  

Mid-week Minutes is a weekly summary of Pastor’s Bible Study from the mid-week Prayer Service.

The book of 2 Peter puts a distinct emphasis on the knowledge of God. The word “knowledge” occurs in our English translation 13 times alone in this short epistle, and throughout, Peter indicates that the knowledge of God is more than just a mere intellectual understanding of some spiritual truth about God. Rather, Peter teaches that this knowledge of God is one that is life altering. When we come to know God, our lives are radically changed.

Read through this epistle this week and pay close attention to Peter’s references to the knowledge of God and evaluate your own life to determine if that knowledge has impacted your heart and life!

2 Peter 1:112 Peter 1:11
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  

Mid-week Minutes is a weekly summary of Pastor’s Bible Study from the mid-week Prayer Service.