Measuring the Immeasurable

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Ephesians 3:18

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

I. THE PREVIOUS TRAINING REQUIRED FOR THIS MEASUREMENT.

1. He would have their spiritual faculties vigorous.

2. He would have the subject always before them.

3. He would have them exercised in the art of measurement.

(1) We must love Him ourselves, if we would measure Christ's love.

(2) We must, by experience of His love, be confirmed in our own love to Him, or we cannot measure His love.

(3) We must also have a vital grip of Christ. We must be rooted as a tree, which takes many a hold upon the soil.

(4) We must settle down on His love as our foundation, on which we are grounded, as a building.

(5) We must also show fixedness, certainty, and perseverance in our character, belief, and aim; for thus only shall we learn.

II. THE MENSURATION ITSELF.

1. This implies a sense of the reality of the matter.

2. It includes a coming near to the object of our study.

3. It indicates an intimate study, and a careful survey.

4. It necessitates a view from all sides of the subject.

5. The order of the measurement is the usual order of our own growth in grace. Breadth and length before depth and height.

(1) The breadth. Immense.

(a)  Comprehending all nations. "Preach the gospel to every creature."

(b)  Covering hosts of iniquities. "All manner of sin."

(c)  Compassing all needs, cares, etc.

(d)  Conferring boundless boons for this life and worlds to come. It were well to sail across this river and survey its broad surface.

(2) The length. Eternal. We wonder that God should love us at all. Let us meditate upon —

(a)  Eternal love in the fountain. Election and the covenant.

(b)  Ceaseless love in the flow. Redemption, calling, perseverance.

(c)  Endless love in endurance. Long suffering, forgiveness, faithfulness, patience, immutability.

(d)  Boundless love, in length exceeding our length of sin, suffering, backsliding, age, or temptation.

(3) The depth. Incomprehensible.

(a) Stoop of Divine love, condescending to consider us, to commune with us, to receive us in love, to bear with our faults, and to take us up from our low estate.

(b) Stoop of love personified in Christ. He stoops, and becomes incarnate; endures our sorrows; bears our sins; and suffers our shame and death.

(c) Where is the measure for all this? Our weakness, meanness, sinfulness, despair, make one factor of the measurement. His glory, holiness, greatness, Deity, make up the other.

(4) The height. Infinite.

(a)  As developed in present privilege, as one with Jesus.

(b)  As to be revealed in future glory.

(c)  As never to be fully comprehended throughout the ages.

III. THE PRACTICAL RESULT OF THIS MENSURATION. "That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Here are words full of mystery, worthy to be pondered.

1. Be filled. What great things man can hold!

2. Filled with God. What exaltation!

3. Filled with the fulness of God. What must this be?

4. Filled with all the fulness of God. What more can be imagined?

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