by Timothy W. Burnett
To know in this verse meant to learn from experience. God wants the church to experientially learn and perceive His love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not only so, but this kind of love which surpasses all knowledge is based on a condition of being rotted and grounded in the same love.
This kind of love cannot be shown except we have Christ in us. Jesus Christ is alive and in heaven. When people are filled with holy spirit and get born again, they have the fullness of the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ sealed inside. This is a fantastic state to be in. With this, we can now begin to demonstrate that wonderful and powerful love that ultimately originates in all of its fullness from God the Father.
Ephesians 4:11-16 provides more information about love in the church of God.
"And he gave some, apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints. For thw work of the ministry. For the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
"That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head even 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."
To increase meant to grow. The body of Christ is designed to grow spiritually unto the edifying of itself in God's love through Christ Jesus. This kind of growth and edifying is directly tied to each member's walk by the spirit of God.
Growing and edifying in love is also related to speaking the truth in love. We are not to be young children who are easily tossed about from one teaching to another by cunning and crafty people. Every time a blast of doctrine different from the truth hits us we should be ready to stand firm and speak the truth in love.
"Be therefore followers of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor." (Ephesians 5:1-2). In the name of Jesus Christ, we can be living sacrifices by serving God and speaking the truth in love."
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