How can the believer experience fullness or perfection?

An individual member cannot be separated from the community, nor the community from the member. All progress in the life of the community collectively edifies each member individually, and all true progress in the life of each member edifies the community. Therefore, when we hear the expression, “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13), we should not understand this as referring only to the Church as a community, or only to the members of the Church individually — it is rather encouragement for the community as a whole and for each individual member to strive to attain this noble and lofty state.

The apostle wants us, out of our own free will, to strive unceasingly with the power of grace on that path. When we hear this, let us not despair, remembering the words of Abba Serenus : “Nor should we be drawn away from being intent on this watchfulness through a dangerous despair, for … ‘the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force’ (Matt. 11:12), for no virtue is acquired without effort.”³²⁹ In discussing perseverance in striving, Abba Theonas³³⁰ explains that God does not force us to climb to the lofty and noble heights of goodness, but through His advice He inspires us to strive to attain perfection by our own free will.

Having filled us with longing to ascend the lofty heavenly mountains to reach “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,” the apostle now warns us of the obstacles, urging us to strive unceasingly, like young children who are in need of continuous growth, despite the difficulties that we might face. He says, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the

328 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 11 (NPNF I/13:105).

329 St. John Cassian, The Conferences 7.6 (NPNF II/11:365).

330 St. John Cassian, The Conferences 21.5 (NPNF II/11:504–505).

cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Eph. 4:14–15). The Lord Christ works in people who are, in a sense, immature children; He supports them and nurtures them until they become spiritually mature people; and instead of weakness, He grants them strength. In other words, every member in the Church lives in continuous motion without ceasing, moving towards fullness and perfection, growing in love — that is, in Christ who “did not please Himself” (Rom. 15:3), but loved all, sacrificing His life to raise up the Church. St. Paul compares the Church to a ship in the middle of the sea of this world. If all its sailors do not work together in one spirit, they become like children who face many troubles, and who are therefore unable to withstand the wind and the waves, and so perish.

St. John Chrysostom believes that the apostle here is speaks of the Church as a single structure: if everyone does not work together in building it, it will collapse and everyone will lose their lives. He comments on this passage saying, “‘That we may be no longer.’— The word, ‘no longer,’ shows that they had of old been in this case, and he reckons himself moreover as a subject for correction, and corrects himself. This is why, he says, there are so many workmen: that the building may not be shaken, may not be carried about, that the stones may be firmly fixed. For this is the character of children, to be tossed to and fro, to be carried about and shaken … He comes to this figure of speech to point out how great is the peril in which doubting souls are.”³³¹

The apostle describes, here, the danger of life without a unity of faith and purpose. He likens the workers to children who are amusing themselves, each in his own world, carried away by the winds of false teachings, falling under people’s deceptions, and deviating into error. He emphasizes the importance of following a path of unity where love binds everyone together under the guidance of the one Head, Christ. He likens the Church to the body, in which the members grow together through their unity in Him and receive their edification through His work within them (Col. 1:18). The whole body grows together without any member losing its own identity, but with every member participating according to its measure: each receives as much growth from the Head as it is able to bear. Thus, St. John Chrysostom says, “For the souls of men being dependent upon Him as members, His provident care, and supply of the spiritual gifts according to a due proportion in the measure of every single member, affects their increase … So that each must not only be united to the body, but also occupy his proper place, since if you shall go beyond this, you are not united to it, neither do you receive the Spirit.”³³²

Through unity of purpose, we are blessed with love that connects us together to the Head, so that He works within us, within each according to their circumstances and as is appropriate to them, for the building up of the whole body. Therefore, we are not merely a community

331 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 11 (NPNF I/13:105) amended.

332 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Ephesians 11 (NPNF I/13:105).

that works together, but members of one another in which the Head works with love; each according to the gift that His Holy Spirit grants.