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"That ye may be in strength to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, to know also the love of the Christ that is exceeding the knowledge, that ye may be filled-- to all the fullness of God." [Ephesians 3:18-19, Young's Literal Trans.].

             There is a pre-requisite that is essential to our being able to grasp the tremendous scope of these various dimensions, and it is found in the previous verse just before the passage we have given. "That ye, being rooted and grounded in love..." Oh, that God would so purge out all the prejudices, the pre-conceived ideas, the narrowness of concept which has plagued our understanding through the years, until the sweet spirit of divine love shall enwrap us. To be rooted and grounded in love, so that this love permeates all of our considerations and ponderings. Then shall we be in the right position to begin to comprehend, with all the saints, the dimensions set before us.
             The word "comprehend" used here comes from the Greek word "katalambano" and means TO RECEIVE THOROUGHLY. We shall illustrate this with a few scriptures, beginning with that which is in a negative sense, and then proceed to the more positive aspects.
             John 12 :35, "Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness COME UPON you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth." These words "come upon" are from the same Greek word as "comprehend," lest the darkness would thoroughly receive you. We need to walk in the light while it shines upon our pathway, for if we do not follow on, into more light, we will find ourselves slipping back into the shadows, and then the light that is within becomes darkness, and how great is that darkness. When the darkness COMES UPON you, to thoroughly receive you, from thereon you know not whither you go, stumbling, faltering, blindly groping around. (Editor's note: Irrespective of the "groping" because of the darkness, or the depth of your personal "hell," it should be remembered that "...if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." [Psalm 139:8]. His word is sure, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Here is another opportunity for the child of God to be "an overcomer" and as pointed out in the prior chapter, "The Law of Circularity," the holy Spirit, The Spirit of Christ, are joined with them to assist in the accomplishment of "coming into the Light." [Hebrews 13:5] End of note).
             There are those who like to be in the shadows. But a shadow has one of two fates: either it is dissipated by the light, or else it becomes swallowed up into total darkness. Shadows are transitory. Not only is this true in the natural realm about us, but it is very true in spiritual things. We have many blessed types and shadows in the Scripture, they point to the reality of things to be revealed. Either one progressed on into the reality and fulfillment of what those types and shadows portend, or else those very types and shadows will become darkness to you, as you find yourself with a form of godliness, but without its power. All of the rituals, forms, ceremonies, etc. which once held great meaning, will become a meaningless routine if you do not follow through to their consummation in the reality of what they signify.
             Now, into a positive illustration, Paul instructs us, "so run that ye may OBTAIN (receive thoroughly)." [1 Corinthians 9 :24] . Don't run in such a manner that you come trailing in, last position, but give yourself to the race in such away that you might receive the full prize, obtain all. We desire to receive more than just the "in part" portion of this present age, we would taste of the very powers and glory of the age to come. Run in such a manner that you will receive it thoroughly.
             Or, again, Philippians 3:12. "I follow after, if that I may APPREHEND that for which also I am APPREHENDED of Christ Jesus." With the words "apprehend" also meaning, to receive thoroughly. How do you want to receive of Him ? Surely more than just the fringes! He shall receive us completely into His fullness, and we would thoroughly receive all of that for which He has purposed for us. Here is a union greatly to be desired, to so completely receive of Him, while He so completely receives us into Himself, that we have that ONENESS which is spoken of in John 17:23, "that they may be made perfect in one." For "he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit." [l Corinthians 6:17].
             One more illustration, for we would show the intensity of this word "comprehend," this time reading Acts 10 :34-35, "Of a truth I PERCEIVE that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him."
             Peter has just passed through a most unusual experience, as alone on the house top God had given him a vision, with a very important message which would utterly change his concept of thinking in certain areas. The voice declared, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." [Acts 10:15]. So later when three men came to Peter to ask him to come to Caesarea, to minister to the household of Cornelius, he was prepared to go. Later when Cornelius told Peter of his own experience, and how God had sent a messenger to him with the good news that his prayer had been heard, his alms remembered before the Lord, and that he was to send to Joppa for Peter, all of this, together with Peter's own experience, convinced Peter that God was indeed no respecter of persons. He PERCEIVED, he thoroughly received it as a truth, a fact to be honored and acted upon.
             Between the time of Peter's trance, and the outworking of it in his personal experience, a changing process took place in Peter's thinking, and he was able to COMPREHEND a new dimension in the outworkings of God.
             THE BREADTH. The revelation which came to Peter brought a comprehension of this glorious dimension. Breadth is the distance measured from side to side. It signifies the vast OUTREACH of God's grace, to encompass all. Peter perceived the tremendous outreach of God's grace, that God was no respecter of persons, for the breadth included every nation, kindred, tribe, and tongue.
             "That ye MAYBE ABLE to comprehend, with all saints..." Before we pursue farther into this vast dimension, notice these words "Be able," coming from a Greek word meaning TO HAVE STRENGTH. Some are not able to comprehend, they do not have the strength to grasp such an expanse. The same idea is used in the verse, "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth into life, and few there be that find it." [Matthew 7:14]. While Luke 13:24 gives, "many will seek to enter, and shall not be able." They will not have the strength for it. Often people say, "I would like to believe that, but I just can't." They do not have the quickening, the energizing force of the Spirit within to empower them to be able to receive it, to comprehend it. Furthermore, "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the holy Spirit which is given unto us." [Romans 5:5], and it requires that we be rooted and grounded in this love, if we are to comprehend these staggering dimensions of the workings of God.
             The outreach of the grace of God is to encompass ALL MEN. " And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." [John 12 :32].
             "ALL THE ENDS OF THE WORLD shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee." [Psalm 22:27].
             "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, ALL THE ENDS OF THE WORLD: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by Myself, the Word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto Me EVERY KNEE shall bow, EVERY TONGUE shall swear." [Isaiah 45:22-23].
             Paul is so blessed with this promise, which he realized was to be fulfilled through Jesus Christ, that he quotes it with real amplification. "That at (Greek, IN) the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." [Philippians 2:10-11].
             This word "bow" also should be examined, for this is not a severe coercive action, but rather one of deep worship which arises from the heart. The particular Greek word which is used here denotes real worship, for Paul also used it when he spoke of how be bowed his knee before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [Eph. 3:14].
            Bow to confess that "Jesus is LORD." And "no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Spirit." [1 Corinthians 12 :3] .Yet He hath promised, "I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh." [Joel 2 :28] , and thus all men, inspired by the holy Spirit, shall bow in worship to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord-sovereign Lord, the only God to be worshiped.
             Oh, to have the strength to be able to KNOW this, to  receive it fully, to comprehend it with JOY. Peter's revelation caused him to perceive it, that God is no respecter of persons, that He will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
            THE LENGTH. Discovering that the breadth, the outreach goes from one end of the earth to the other, to include all men, then what is the length ? We find that in our particular dictionary the definition for the word "length" is divided into nine parts, and five of these deal with TIME.
             Now we need to comprehend the extent of time, the PLAN OF THE AGES through which this purpose shall be fulfilled. The "time" element is one of the hardest things for people to grasp in the dimensions and operations of God. We scarcely can understand the normal length of a man's natural life. Our hours merge into days, our days into weeks, our weeks into months, our months into years, and already we are befuddled to really grasp such a length. Then when the stretch of years is lengthened out to include an age or two, on into the eons before us, it merely becomes words without meaning, the natural mind cannot fully grasp it. (Editor's note: The Prinzings' statement above, "The "time" element is one of the hardest things for people to grasp in the dimensions and operations of God, " is very true and the "infant in Christ " oft times relates God to our time factor concept. God our Father and His Christ are spirit and are not subject to limitations: i.e. time itself. Christ Jesus is ALL, He is the "Alpha and Omega,"  the beginning and the end: He is also everything in between, nothing was left out in the total act of creation. Later in this chapter Prinzing states, "All time is in the hand of God, both past and future. All is alike unto Him, for He dwells in what can be rightly termed "the eternal present," and thus He can just as easily deal with past or future").
             There is a length in God's purpose which covers the span of the ages. A  length which says, "He must reign until..." [1 Cor. 15:25], and keep reigning until all enemies are subdued under His feet, including the last enemy, which is death. Then shall The Son deliver up the kingdom to the Father, that God might be all in all. This very length of "until..." keeps the majority of Christendom totally baffled. To know that our God controls all of the time element, and He can measure it out, lengthen it, or shorten it according to His desire in fulfilling His purpose.
             "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." [Hebrews 11:3]. This word "worlds" is the Greek word for AGES, "aion." The Wuest Expanded translation makes this clear: "the God-appointed ages of time were equipped and fitted by God's word for the purpose for which they were intended." (Editor's note: We recommend A.P. Adam's writing on the this subject "aion," which can be book marked at The Spirit of The Word, chapter 10.1 Definitions: " WORLD, AEON.").
             God planned out every age and the purpose which it should accomplish, allotting enough time to complete each detail, and everything is moving according to HIS divine time-schedule. "When the fullness of time was come" [Galatians 4:4], God sent forth His Son. Not too early, not too late, for the "fullness of time" is in His perfect control.

             Yes, God has a purpose for the ages, and He has the ages fitted for His purpose." According to the purpose of the AGES, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Ephesians 3:11, Young's Literal].
             However, we are not alone in our searchings to understand God's times and seasons, for we read, "The prophets have enquired and searched diligently--what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." [1 Peter 1:10-11].
             The prophecy was most heart-warming, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder." [Isaiah 9:6]. But how little did they comprehend the manner of time, the passing of the years, centuries, between the hour when the child was born, and when THE SON would finally take the reins of the government, when His kingdom would come, and His will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Nor do we yet know the hour of this fulfillment, though we firmly believe that "redemption draweth nigh." And little did they know  the length of the span of time between the sufferings of Christ, with Calvary's dark hour, and when the glory would follow, which glory we are still waiting to see revealed. But we do read, "If so be that we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." [Romans 8:17].  Ah, who even can tell the time lapse between their own periods of suffering, and the victory which follows?
             "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." [2 Peter 3:8-9].
            So long man has reasoned out time schedules according to the carnal mind. And then, sad to say, limited the operations of God to these feeble concepts and the weaknesses of man. Often have we heard them use the allegory, "if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be." [Eccl. 11:3].
             Which might be very true for the "tree," since man has no ability to raise it back up, and cause new life to come forth in that fallen tree. But this cannot be used as an illustration of the final destiny of man, heaven or hell, sealed at the time of one's physical death, according to which direction they fall. Many things are impossible to man, but with God all things are possible.
             "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and  the stock thereof die in the ground; YET through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant." [Job 14:7-9]. There is HOPE because of the resurrection power of our God.
            The times of "falling" and "rising again" are in the Father's hand. And His resurrection power is able to bridge all the spans of time, and fulfill His purpose to bring new life to every creature. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order." [1 Corinthians 15:22-23].
            Yes, to comprehend with all saints the length--the time element, even when we read, " And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you." [Joel 2:25]. Now, when He says He will RESTORE THE YEARS, this is more than just a restoration of the blessings which we might have missed. Restoration itself implies that you had to have it first, then it becomes lost, marred, etc. and must needs be restored.  So these YEARS which have been devastated and marred by the self-will of man, will be restored to us again, and then filled up with His goodness. HE is able to build and fill up all the ages past, as well as the future which shall be filled with His glory. All time is in the hand of God, both past and future. All is alike unto Him, for He dwells in what can be rightly termed "the eternal present," and thus He can just as easily deal with past or future.
             Just because we presently are not able to fully comprehend the LENGTH, the very time operations of our God, let us not foolishly close our minds to the truth. But to say with one who wrote, "Lord, I do not presently understand all of this, but whatever You mean by it, fulfill it in my life according to your plan, not according to my limited comprehension."
             It takes strength, and we need to be rooted and grounded in love, if we are to understand, receive thoroughly, the glorious length of time, in its vast stretch of the ages to come, and the outworking of God's purpose.

             I know not how much of the over--all span of time that the Psalmist was able to comprehend, but he was able to say, "My times are in Thy hand." [Psalm 30:15]. And may God help us to even know this, that we might be at peace with Him in the outworking of His purpose in our own lives.
            THE HEIGHT, and THE DEPTH. Having briefly considered the outreach and the time for its fulfillment in God's purpose, we now come to the next dimensions. It is difficult to speak of one without the other, so we'll take them together, the height and the depth. "The heaven for height, and the earth for depth." [Proverbs 25:3].
             Interestingly enough, it does not give traditions' contrast of heaven and hell, but rather, heaven and earth. Jesus Christ did not come to lead us from hell to heaven, He came to lead us from this earthly, carnal realm, to the Father. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." [John 14:6].
            Rather than being geographical locations, we can readily say that concerning both heaven and hell, they are a "state, or a condition of being." One songwriter beautifully stated it, "Where Jesus is, 'tis heaven there," for he was thinking of that harmony of fellowship and love. However the Psalmist declared, "If I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there." [Psalm 139:8], for God's presence fills His universe. But to be aware of the presence of God, and yet to be out of fellowship and harmony with Him, is indeed a hellish state. And this very earthly sojourn can become very much of a "hell" if we are in rebellion to the will of God.
             Now we come to a scripture which gives the contrast again. "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." [Isaiah 14 :14-15] .
             The word "hell" that is used here is the Hebrew word "sheol" meaning "the unseen state." It was also used in referring to the grave, which would be just a few feet into the earth. Our old English word "hell" is a derivative from the Saxon "hillan" or "helan," or from "hell," a cavern, which anciently denoted the concealed or UNSEEN PLACE of the dead in general. In parts of England men still say, "I plan to hell my potatoes," meaning to bury them in a hole or pit, that is, a covered place. And formerly a lover would take his sweetheart into a "hell" to kiss her, that is, into a place where others could not see. Thus we can understand how far we have come even in changing this word hell from what it once stood for, until now, by popular usage it has come to mean a place of torment.
            Tradition says that God is in His heaven, the Devil is in his hell. But the Word declares that God's presence is everywhere, and for us right now, most importantly, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." [Psalm 24:1]. Regardless of our present state or condition, we are HIS creation, and while we have been placed in this "low estate," subjected to the bondage of vanity for a time, yet it is with the hope that ultimately we shall be raised up again into a more glorious state in fellowship and harmony with our Creator.
             "Now that HE ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up, far above all heavens, that He might fill all things." [Ephesians 4:9-10].
             We would ascend, but is it not a spiritual principle that "the way up is down?" And thus even Christ first descended, "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him." [Philippians 2:7-9].
             "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." [1 Peter 5:6].
             Now the negative approach is from height to depth, but the positive is from the depth to the height. "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." [Psalm 40:2].
             Then notice how Paul refers to all of these dimensions in one rich passage of scripture. Beginning with the fact that we are already low, in the DEPTH, dead in trespasses and sins, carnal, earthy, now "He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenlies (that's the HEIGHT) in Christ Jesus. That in the ages (LENGTH) to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus ( the BREADTH, grace to all men)." [Ephesians 2:6-7].
            And then we come to this most blessed principle of spiritual equation. "The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." [Revelation 21:16]. Specially this is applied to the New Jerusalem, which is a typology figure for the bride, the Lamb's wife. But we believe that God's fundamental rules apply to all of His operations, and so we rejoice, for it indicates that God does not sacrifice quality  for quantity.
             It matters not how far the outreach must go to include all men, unto the ends of the earth, He will not sacrifice the quality of redemption so that He might take them all in. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." [Hebrews 7:25]. Salvation is TO THE UTTERMOST, to the full, and it shall be for ALL.
            Redemption is also equal the length, so that while it may require the ages to come, to reveal the bountiful measures of His grace, yet time does not weaken or lessen the quality. The recipients of His salvation in the far off distant ages will find it just as transforming and glorious as we do today. In fact the glory thereof shall increase with the length, inasmuch as the manifestations of His triumph will have spread from the first fruits to ever-increasing numbers of His creation, till the whole has come to know Him as their all in all.
            And when one considers the height-beyond the beyonds, which leaves our mind grasping for boundaries, still HIS is the fullness "that filleth all in all." [Ephesians 1:23]. Breadth, length, height, depth, these have given us four dimensions, but Paul goes on to tell us of the FIFTH DIMENSION, for He says, " AND TO KNOW ALSO-THE LOVE OF THE CHRIST."
            The LOVE of the Christ which surpasses knowledge. This tremendous fifth dimension actually encompasses all of the other four, and that is what makes them equal. His love enwraps the whole, and the quality of that love is not diminished by His dealings with us here on earth, nor is there a higher quality for operations in the heavenlies. He does not have one kind of love for a sinner, and another kind of love for a believer. HIS LOVE IS THE SAME TOWARDS ALL REALMS!
            "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." [Romans 8:38-39].
             Now what is the result of our comprehending such a tremendous scope? Why did Paul desire that we have strength, to comprehend with all saints, these glorious dimensions? So that "you may be filled through all your being unto all the fullness of God-that is, may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself." [Ephesians 3 :19, Amplified].
             If God were not GOD of the whole universe, in its great outreach, then how could I be sure that He could be totally God, to fill all of my being? Perhaps I would be that one unfortunate creature which would miss out on His mercy and grace. But to comprehend that every dimension, regardless of how expansive it might be, the whole is covered by the Love of Christ, then I know that being contained within this circle, I am to be a receiver of His salvation which is TO THE UTTERMOST. Love decreed it, Love shall fulfill it, until I am filled and flooded with its reality. Every creature shall know the joy of this marvelous, boundless grace.

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⁽¹⁾ Prinzing, Ray and Doris REDEMPTION---ALL IN ALL. Boise, Idaho, P.O. Box 5822

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