Lord, may this glory be expressed among us this morning. Lord Jesus, may You glorify the Father’s name. Bless Your children, build Your church, and shame Your enemy.

The Church is Christ's own Body,
        The Father's dwelling-place,
The gathering of the called ones,
        God blended with man's race;
Elect before creation,
        Redeemed by Calv'ry's death,
Her character and standing
        Of heaven, not of earth.

The subject of the book of Ephesians is the church. Ephesians covers seven aspects of the church, the first of which is the church as the Body of Christ, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. In order for a living person to be complete, he must have a body as his expression. The Body of Christ is the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

The riches of Christ may be likened to all the rich foodstuffs produced in America. These riches are not for exhibition; they are for eating. As we eat of the rich American foodstuffs, these riches seem to disappear into us. When these riches are digested and assimilated by us, they become part of us. As a result, they are no longer the riches, but the fullness. Thus, the husky young American men, who assimilate so much of the rich American foodstuffs, are the fullness of America. By means of this illustration we can differentiate between the riches and the fullness. The riches are the food which has not yet been taken into us. But when the food is eaten, digested, and assimilated, it becomes the fullness. The riches of Christ are all the items of what Christ is. When we digest and assimilate into our being the riches of Christ, these riches become part of us, and we become the fullness of Christ.

What the church does is not as important as what the church is. The church is the Body, the new man, the kingdom, the family, the dwelling place, the wife, and the warrior. What we do does not mean very much, but what we are means a great deal. In such a church as described in Ephesians Christ is expressed. Through such a church Christ, the Person, is lived out. In such a church there is the kingdom of God with rights and responsibilities and the family of God with life and enjoyment. This church is also God’s dwelling place, Christ’s satisfaction, and God’s warrior fighting the battle for His eternal purpose. What a church this is! (Life-Study of Ephesians pp. 1-2, 5-6)

    2.       Please explain the divine transmission of Christ to the church. (See Eph. 1:19 note 2; 22 note 3)

    3.       How do we become the fullness of God? (See Eph. 1:23 note 3)

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