Life #12 - Do You Measure Up?

Crown of Thorns 015

To maintain all that we inherit from Jesus, even his zōē-life, we are exhorted to conform to his image (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). His image is that of a full-stature Son—not an infant, a child, or a teenager. When we come “to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”, then we know that the church has grown up “in all things into Him” (Ephesians 4:13, 15).

To be a “perfect” human being is to be tĕlĕiŏs (tel’-i-os), complete in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc; of full age. Even the apostle Paul labored to present us “perfect”, tĕlĕiŏs, complete—and only “in Christ Jesus” can that ever be our reality (Colossians 1:28).

Jesus is the one who “…abolished death and brought life and immortality [incorruption] to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10), so the difficult way which leads to life is to arrive at Christ’s fullness.

·         God planned for it (Romans 8:29).

·         Jesus made it possible, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

·         The Holy Spirit does transforming work in us (2 Corinthians 3:18).

·         We do our part by works of faith as the Spirit and Scripture give guidance.

The way to life is difficult and the Lord admits that few will find it. However, the full statured Christ in us will not fail. If we’re up for the challenge.

 ======================================================================

Scripture quotations from New King James Version (NKJV) unless otherwise noted; Greek definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – perfect #5046; This blog addresses Life #4 – To Live is Christ, item1; excerpts from our book to be released next year.