. . . until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . .
Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)
In Ephesians 4:12, Paul tells us that Christ gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. And He did it for a very specific reason. To equip the rest of us for the work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ.
The goal of this equipping is that, as the church, we would be unified in the faith, unified in our relationship with Christ, mature as believers, and attain the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. This passage in Ephesians goes on to say that, as we attain these things, we will no longer be children, susceptible to being deceived and led astray.
The Stature of Christ
The expression “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” is an interesting one. ‘The measure of’ implies comparison—comparison with the ‘stature of the fullness of Christ’. How well do we live up to that standard? It should be our goal, and the goal of our leaders, to move us ever closer to that standard.
‘Stature’ is often used of height. I remember when I was a freshman in high school, I became taller than my mom, and later passed my dad in stature. But here, rather than comparing myself to Jesus’ height, the comparison is to who He is—the fullness of Christ.
While I will never attain divinity, I should seek to model my life after Jesus. To follow the example he set and to love like He did. Rather than comparing myself to other people, I should compare myself to Jesus, making it my goal to grow in Christlikeness—into the fullness of Christ.
But this is not just about my individual attainment to the fullness of Christ. This is a call to corporately attain to that measure. For us as the church, the body of Christ, to be like Him. How well do we measure up?
