Riches come through community, not individualism

God does not reveal the unsearchable riches of Christ to individuals.  Christ is only revealed through his body.  The ministry of one man, for years and years on end will only give a tiny glimpse of God's greatness in Christ.  In contrast, many members, rooted and grounded in love and grace toward one another, will provide a collection of glimpses, resulting in a more full manifestation of Jesus Christ.  This was the prayer of Paul for the Church in Ephesus.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
(Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)

Something that jumps at me in this passage is how Paul prays that Christ will dwell in your hearts.  Your representing a plurality of hearts which he thereafter calls you (singular) representing the one body made of many members.  It is this singular body made of many members that may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


If we sit, week after week, under the ministry and teaching of one man, never seeking the unified diversity of the whole body as it ministers to one another, how can we expect to know the love of Christ or to be filled with all the fullness of God?  Without every one of us walking

... in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV)

with this understanding:

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. (Ephesians 4:7 ESV)

how can we expect to get here?

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
(Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV)

I'll dare say it again.  God does not reveal the unsearchable riches of Christ to individuals.  We must not continue seeing ourselves only as helpless, hungry, needy sheep (which we are) but also as Christ filled, Holy Spirit empowered, children of the Most High God called to walk as such in love and truth toward one another.  It is as a body, complete with all of its members at work, that Christ is revealed.