1. The Fullness of the Body of Christ (part 1)
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 1:1-22

2. Introduction
The Body of Christ has a designed fullness that it can experience to a limited degree today and will fully experience this fullness when glorified at the Rapture.
Based upon this overview of our complete salvation, Paul makes 2 requests for NT believer’s during his prayers (of worship) in Eph 1:15-16.

3. Review
All NT believers make up the Body of Christ by virtue of our being placed into our ‘position in Christ.’
I Cor 12:13
Rom 12:5
Romans 12 tells us how to live out our position in the Body of Christ here on earth
Ephesians 1 tells us how and what God has planned for the complete salvation of the Body of Christ
cf Eph 4:14

4. Paul’s Two Requests for NT Believers
Request for a spirit of wisdom and revelation in (the realm) of full-experiential knowledge of Him (God the Father (Eph 1:17)
Request for enlightened understanding to intellectually know…
The hope of his calling (Eph 1:18a)
cf Rom 8:29-30
Called to all 3 tenses of salvation
The riches of the opinion of His (the Father’s) inheritance in the saints (Eph 1:18b)

5. Paul’s Two Requests for NT Believers (cont)
The excelling greatness of his power unto us (Eph 1:19)
i.e., God’s limitless ability to accomplish what He has planned
This power was demonstrated (Eph 1:20-21) when He raised and exalted Christ
This power was demonstrated when Christ was given domination over all things (vs 22)
cf Matt 28:18
To (the benefit of) the Church
See also Rom 8:28, Eph 5:20. I Cor 3:22

6. Conclusion
All that happens in the life of the NT saint is controlled by Christ, the head of the Body, for the good result of the ones loving God and called according to His purpose.