“For if through the offence of one many be dead, MUCH MORE, the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Romans 5:15
The Bible is a very encouraging book. It takes us first of all beyond the things of earth, to that which is in heaven. And then it reveals to us, as the Spirit takes the great truths of the gospel, God’s eternal way by which man can know the God of heaven. Even though the idea of God on His throne, Eternal, Holy, absolutely good and holy, is beyond what words could adequately express, and our capacity too small to grasp the enormity and wonder of His Person, yet God has come to us in Christ to reveal the things of God to us. The purpose of this is that we might truly know Him, even though our knowledge will always be small in comparison with His greatness. One of the most remarkable aspects of knowing God is His perspective on where He desires to bring every individual, every believer, in that knowledge. Man’s problem in this pursuit is one where the sin nature, and the context of the world’s system, ways, and mentality, obscure the vision of God as we perceive Him in the Scriptures. In addition to this is our adversary, the devil, is always seeking to steal all truth from mankind, so that man cannot believe God. God can only be known by faith in Him according to the truth of His word. It is as the Holy Spirit takes the eternal truths of God, strengthening us to believe them, that Christ becomes not only real to us, but our experience. His life, by the power of the Spirit, dwelling in our own, is revealed to, in, and through us. It is as we, again according to the Scriptures, walk on the two feet of surrender and faith, that the Father reveals the things of Christ by the Spirit to us. With the increasing knowledge of God, Christ, and His ways, one grows in the knowledge of Him, being transformed into His image. But, what about the “much more,” that measure of Christ that we are to know? How much is it, and how can we believe God for its fullest revelation to our hearts?
The meaning of the concept of “much more” can be expressed by the word “fulness.” When we see John the Apostle on the isle of Patmos, exiled for his faith and testimony, He writes that he was “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” (Rev. 1:10) It was as he was worshipping the Lord, that he was filled with the Spirit of God. What does this mean with regard to the much more? John was filled, or sovereignly strengthened by the Spirit of God to the point where faith could receive the Revelation of the glorified Christ. Paul called the Spirit who ministers to the believer in this manner, “…the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ).” (Eph. 1:17) John’s eyes and ears were opened that day to hear the voice of God, behold to a limited, but over-whelming extent, the glorified Christ. He then, being led by the Spirit, was able to receive what the Lord wanted him to write down and send to the seven churches of Asia. Before this moment, John knew the working of the Spirit of God. However, at that moment, God took him beyond what he could normally ask or think, to reveal the things of God to him.
Before Jesus was baptized, He was constantly filled with the Spirit. But when the Holy Spirit came upon him at His baptism, the Father took Him beyond that which He knew before as a boy and young man. He had been brought to fulness with regard to the Father’s will, purpose, and power. He was called to the abundant measure of the Spirit.
The believer today is called to know “abundant,” and “abounding life in Christ. Faith in His faithfulness is key.
Dear Father, Fill us with Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.