The goal of the Christian life is to become more and more like Christ. This is the aim of what Paul writes to the Ephesian church. His aim is that we would become more and more like Christ as we sit securely, walk obediently and stand firmly.

Sit, walk, stand. These are the three major themes of Ephesians. We are to sit securely in our identity in Christ. We are to walk faithfully and obediently in accordance to the commands of Christ. We are to stand firmly in our war against the power of Satan, sin and the world. And as we sit securely, walk faithfully and stand firmly, we become more and more like Christ. More and more filled with the fullness of Christ.

Look at Ephesians 3:14 – 21 paying special attention to verse 19…14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in Heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The goal of the Christian life is to become more and more like Christ. Therefore the goal of everything we do as a church family is to help one another become more and more like Christ. But what does it mean to become more and more like Christ? How will we know if we are pursuing the right goal line?

The goal line that Paul prays for in verse 19 is that we would “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” This verse is the apex or the mountaintop of all that Paul has been praying for in these verses. It is the goal that every piece of his prayer has been leading to all along.

He doesn’t pray that we would become successful. He prays that we would become fruitfully filled with the fullness of God. Praying for goal lines takes discipline. God’s Word will rearrange your goal lines. Praying God’s Word will fill you with the fullness of God. What goal line are you praying for? How have your goal lines been rearranged? Is it your goal to become more and more like Christ?

Observation, Application and Prayer

  1. Scripture: Briefly review Philippians 1:9 – 11; 3:12 – 14; 1 Peter 1:14 – 16 and Psalm 1:1 – 3
  2. Observation: What observations did you notice in the sermon notes, sermon passage and supporting passages?
  3. Application: What application points were you challenged or encouraged with?
  4. Prayer: Spend some time in prayer together as a response to this study.