Greetings, marks. People react badly when I speak critically of the modern church, but in all honesty I think we are a long ways off just yet from what Paul was talking about in this passage. It is prophesied that we will get there, but let me tell you what he was describing here for starters.
The Greek actually reads, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the recognition of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." What he's talking about is recognizing Christ in full manifestation in the church, i.e. everyone coming into the recognition of Christ manifesting Himself through the entire church in His fullness, in all power, authority, wisdom and revelation, with every gift in full manifestation. This is why Paul adds at the end, "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." He's talking about Christ's body edifying itself and increasing itself through the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as described in 1 Corinthians 14:26-28. This will be impossible until the full manifestation of the supernatural gifts are restored, and even then the church will have to master not quenching the Holy Spirit, something that happens whenever churches give themselves over to strife in doctrinal matters instead of keeping the peace of Christ in the bonds of love, and letting the peace of Christ "referee" (i.e. or rule) among them.
We are a long ways off from what he was talking about here still, but Joel 2:28 promises that the gifts of the Spirit including prophecy will eventually be fully restored to the body of Christ in the end-times, and I believe they will eventually walk in the unity of the faith on a level never even dreamt of during New Testament times.
How long it takes until we get there is anyone's guess, but I don't see it happening quickly (unfortunately).
Blessings in Christ,
Hidden
Hi Hidden,
We may not be as far if you only consider the true church, and not the what I call apparent church, or what Sir Anderson called Christendom.
"Epignosis", Upon Knowledge, deeper knowledge, recognition is good, I like that! Realization is another way I see this translated.
I'm of the mind that faith will continue to diminish in the last days, to where Jesus even asked, Will the Son of Man find faith when He returns?
I'd love to be wrong about that!
Just the same, I take this instruction and intent to be for us, here, now.
Definitely the answer is Christ is all, and in all. But in the meantime, is there anything we can do?
Much love!
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