The gifted men that were given to the called out people of God were given until certain things were accomplished. The first is until we attain to the unity of the faith. The second was “until we all attain to the Knowledge of the Son of God.”
We attain to the knowledge of the Son of God who loves everyone and is not willing that any any perish. He shed his blood to “purchase for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). This knowledge of Christ is not so much being informed about him as it is having a relationship with him. Such a relationship would ultimately lead to two end results.
- “unto a Perfect Man” (Mature)
The King James translated “full-grown” with the word, “perfect.” Some may mistake this as a reference to perfect knowledge of all things. Others think these words describe flawless perfection. If we interpret this passage in this way, we will apply the passage to some time in the future. Familiar words in a public study of this text are, “I’m not perfect or you?” This is not the meaning of the text. Paul is talking about a time of completeness or maturity as a body of Christ that involves the merging of Jew and Gentile into “one new man”.
2. “Unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ”
That goal to which the knowledge of Christ and the unity of the faith is pointing is completeness or fullness. The two phrases, “maturity” (completeness) and “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” are not two separate ideas but two ways of explaining the same thing for we are complete when having the measure of the stature of Christ. Completeness is measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ. Paul uses the word “fullness” or some form of it in the letter to the Ephesians and Colossians. Notice the examples:
(1) Ephesians 1:23 reads, “…which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all” (ASV). The Amplified Bible has it, “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills and completes all things in all [believers].” In the body of Christ is the full measure of Him who completes and fills with Himself. In keeping with the promise of the Holy Spirit, whom the Father would send in Jesus’ name, the body is the fullness of Christ. The Holy Spirit would take from Christ and give it to them. Jesus explained to His apostles,
“He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you. All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you. (John 16:14-15, ASV)
Jesus also tells them that he has things that he will not tell them because they were not able to bear it. But, when the Holy Spirit came, he would guide them into all truth. The body is the fullness of Christ from the standpoint that every Spirit-guided member completes a loving service for the good of the whole body.
(2) Ephesians :18-19 speaks of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge – “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” He continues in verse 20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” The body was the plan and creation of God that provided confirming powers of the Holy Spirit until the mission was completed.
(3) Colossians 1:19 in NIV reads, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” In other words, Jesus has all the fullness of God in him. The next example illustrates the same emphasis.
(4) Colossians 2:9-10 reads, For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
The body of Christ is made up of members who have been gifted by the Spirit that equips all toward edifying one another. Every joint supplies a needful part in the body through these Spirit guided men and spiritual gifts granted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands. When the “one new man” was created from both Jews and Gentiles, the miraculous gifts that were granted to them would have have served their purpose. This body, being the fullness of Christ, would put aside what was once necessary during the immature stage.