Ephesians (Written)

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

…from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, Ephesians 3:15

In this verse, an immediate question arises. “Is ‘from whom’ speaking of the Father, or of Jesus?” Here is the previous verse included with this one –

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named…”

There is a subtle play on words in the Greek. “Father” is pater and the word rendered as “family” is patria. This may indicate Paul’s connection between the two. However, it is through Christ that son-ship is realized. He is the Son of God, and through Him we are included as sons. Thus, the naming of the family does seem more likely to be from Christ. If so, the play on words is showing the connection to Christ, the Son of the Father, and to the family who derives its name from Christ as well. It is hard to be dogmatic though. Either way, Jesus Christ is fully God, and so it doesn’t change the overall intent of what is being said.

Whether from God, be it Father or Son, “the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” What this means is that all of the saints, alive now or having passed on, share in the same family privileges. This includes Jew and Gentile, male and female, and without distinction to color, creed, or culture. Any and all who have called on Jesus are brought into the family of God through the work of Christ and are so named. A good example of this is the bringing of Ephraim and Manasseh as co-equals into the family of Jacob –

“And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.” Genesis 48:5

Such is true with any who are “in Christ.” They are named by God as family members because of His work.

Life application: Although we must speak against heretical doctrine, and correcting bad doctrine is also a necessary part of our allegiance to the Lord, we need to remember that those who are truly saved are members of our one family. Let us endeavor to treat them as such.

Lord God, Your word says that because of the work of Christ Jesus, all who believe in Him are brought into one family. All are named in this single household, and yet we too often tear one another apart over little issues which have no bearing on our standing in this family. Help us to not act in this manner, but to be willing to overlook the faults of others who bear Your name. It’s a hard sell in today’s world, but grant us wisdom to act faithfully towards our fellow family members. Amen.

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 3:14

This takes us right back to verse 3:1, which said –

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—“

Prior to that, from verse 2:11 – 2:22 was a discussion on how the Gentiles had become partakers with the Jews in the commonwealth of Israel and were, like them, being built up into a holy temple in the Lord; “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Immediately after those words came his first “For this reason.” After that, he wrote from 3:2 until 3:13 about how this was previously a mystery which was now revealed through him. With that parenthetical thought now complete, we are given the second “For this reason.”

As an emphasis as to how overwhelming it is that he has been granted this high honor, he says, “I bow my knees…” The use of these words show a solemn type of prayer which indicates great humility while being awed at the work of God. It is certain that Paul wasn’t bowing his knees as he either dictated the letter to a scribe, or wrote out the words himself. Therefore, the term is used in place of the emotion and act.

From this verse, some scholars conclude that kneeling is, “The usual, and the proper posture of prayer is to kneel…  It is a posture which indicates reverence, and should, therefore, be assumed when we come before God. It has been an unhappy thing that the custom of kneeling in public worship has ever been departed from in the Christian churches.” Albert Barnes

There is no reason at all to come to this unfounded conclusion. Paul elsewhere writes that we are to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is without a doubt that he did not expect the saints to stay on their knees at all times and simply pray their life away in that position. Rather, there are different positions one will assume at different times. One may pray as if speaking to God as a friend while driving their car. The same person may stand atop a mountain and raise his hands in a prayer of exultation at the majesty of God; shouting out with joy at the marvel he beholds. He may also fall to his knees in awe and in acknowledgment of his unworthiness of such a high honor being bestowed upon him – as Paul is doing here. Or he may fall flat on his face in a prayer of absolute mourning, anguish, or pain.

Paul’s use of “I bow my knees” reflects his overwhelmed state at what has been granted to him, and the immense implications of what it means that the Gentiles will also share in the blessings of what God has done through Jesus Christ.

He finishes the verse with, “…to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” His overwhelmed prayer of what he has written about is directed to the first Person of the Godhead. He has chosen this form of address because it is through Jesus that the Father/son relationship is made for us. As He is the Father of Christ, we now too share in the son-ship of the Father because of Christ. For this reason, the prayer is made directly to Him. It is Christ upon whom the household of God is erected; a household of which we are a part.

This prayer does not in any way negate praying to or through Christ as is seen elsewhere in the NT. However, the terminology of the direction of our prayers should be based on the substance of the prayers. The substance of Paul’s words of this verse are specifically shaped to be addressed to God, “the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” because of what they are referring to.

Life application: Let’s not get legalistic in our prayer life.

It is the most wonderful honor, O God, to come to You and know that our prayers are heard. We know this because Jesus is the Mediator between us. Through Him, we have full and unfettered access to You. Thank You for allowing your people to come – whether with arms stretched out in praise, knees bowed in awe, or faces flat in humility. Whatever our state at the time, because of Christ Jesus, You are pleased to hear and respond. Thank You. We praise You in His magnificent name. Amen.

Monday, 22 August 2016

Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Ephesians 3:13

Paul now makes a petition for strength. All translations state it as a request for strength for his readers – “I ask that you do not lose heart.” However, the scholar Bengel, says that “the nominative of the finite verb is naturally the subject of the infinitive which follows.” For this reason, he says it should read, “I ask of God that I may not faint.” He is a lone voice in this and it seems to then not agree the words of verse 16 which are yet ahead.

However, if he is speaking of himself, the word “Therefore…” is referring to the “grace of God which was given” to him of verse 2, and which he continues to refer to after that. If he is speaking of his audience, the word “Therefore…” is referring to the mystery which has been revealed to them; that they are now “fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” referred to in verse 6, and which he continues to refer to after that.

It is difficult to be dogmatic about this. Either way, Paul is petitioning for strength so that either he or the Ephesians “do not lose heart.” The word is ekkakeó. It is a word which indicates “to be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted” (Strong’s). In classical Greek, it also means to be cowardly, but this is probably not the intent here. Rather, Paul is using it in the sense of being “dispirited.”

It is used only six times in the New Testament, once by Jesus in Luke 18:1, and five times by Paul. Whether he is referring to himself or the Ephesians, he notes that the losing of heart is on account of his “tribulations for you.” His work was on behalf of the Gentile people and despite his present imprisonment, this situation could actually continue to be a source of benefit. He then expressly states that this benefit is “for your glory.”

Here, he either means that their not losing heart because of his suffering was for their glory, or that his sufferings were their glory. This, because they actually bolstered his teachings as he was willing to suffer for the very thing that he had proclaimed to them. He had been given a high office in the household of God, and yet he suffered in chains because of it. His ability to suffer in this way, and not lose heart (either him or them), was (or became) a marvelous example to them as well.

Life application: When we see people suffer for the sake of Christ, and yet they remain steadfast in their proclamation of Him, it strengthens us. As this is so, we should then be willing to stand firm in our proclamation of Christ as well, thus giving others this same confidence. Let us not draw back in our time of testing!

Lord God, should a time of testing of our faith come about, grant us the ability to stand fast in it and be willing to suffer loss, suffer persecution, or even suffer death without faltering in our witness of Christ Jesus. Help us to never bring a note of discredit upon His glorious name through our own failings. And so stand with us and embolden us should that day come. This we pray that You will be glorified and others will be edified through our faithful stand. Amen.

Sunday, 21 August 2016

… in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:12

The words in this verse are similar to verse 2:18 –

“For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

Paul is bringing the practical application of what has occurred back into focus. In 2:18, he was speaking of the fact that Gentiles, along with Jews, “both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” Now he simply says “we.” He has been describing the mystery which defines his apostleship, which is bringing in of the Gentiles to God through the work of Christ. It is the “fellowship of the mystery” that he spoke of in verse 9.

Together, both Jew and Gentile are joined into one fellowship. In this state “we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.” The Greek word for “boldness” indicates especially a boldness of speech. This boldness then surely includes several aspects:

• Boldness to call on Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, for salvation
• Boldness to make our prayers known to God through Him, not fearing that they will be hindered or obstructed in any way
• Boldness to speak of the marvelous riches of Christ to others
• Boldness to proclaim our salvation, understanding that is an accomplished fact

The second, that of unhindered prayer life, is probably where the stress most fully lies though. This is because of the next words “and access with confidence.” Our prayers are unhindered and there is with them the confidence that we have free and unfettered access, even with a sure confidence, to the throne of grace. This is reflected in the words of Hebrews 4:16 –

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

These marvelous privileges are ours simply “through faith in Him.” By trusting in the finished work of Christ, we may now enter the Most Holy Place where God dwells. And we may do it without any sort of hindrance at all. In Israel of Old, only the high priest, and only once a year, could gain this type of access. However, through the torn body of Christ, which is represented by the torn veil in the temple in Jerusalem, we have full and unfettered access.

Life application: The prayers of God’s people now pass through Christ and immediately into the presence of God. There are no obstructions at all because Christ has opened the way back to full and unfettered access to Him. What was lost in Eden is realized in what Christ has done. Our fellowship is intimate and it is immediate. Let us never assume that our prayers are unheard. Each one is heard because of what Christ has done for us.

Lord God; Heavenly Father – what was once only seen in type and shadow is now realized in full in the person of our Lord Jesus. In the past, a veil stood between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place where You met with Your people. In the tearing of Christ’s body, which is that true Veil, we now have complete and unfettered access to You. Today, we will use it to praise You. And so hear our praises, O God. Hallelujah for what You have done. Glory, honor, strength, and might belong to You! Hallelujah to You, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 20 August 2016

…according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, Ephesians 3:11

The verses of this paragraph are a continuous thought and should be kept in that context. To fully grasp what is said here, uniting it with the previous verse will help –

“…to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The “wisdom of God” is made known to the “principalities and powers in the heavenly places” by what is occurring in the building of the church. Paul now states that this “wisdom of God” is “according to the eternal purpose” of God. The idea is that from the eternal state itself, God had a plan to reconcile all things to Himself. That plan is being worked out in the stream of time which He created.

What we see as random and often even chaotic, is completely known to God. It is further not out of control at all. An example of this is Joseph being sold by his brothers. They intended evil, and Joseph certainly did not understand his plight, but God had already figured it into the plan. Each step is a part of “the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus is the focal point between the eternal state and what occurs in the stream of time. This is why Paul could say in 1 Corinthians 10 that the Rock which followed Israel was Christ. He has always been there, working out His plan. However, the word for “which He accomplished” carries a sense of ambiguity. It could mean either being “ordained” or being “worked out.”

In other words, Scholars debate whether this is saying that God’s eternal purpose was “ordained” in Christ Jesus or whether it is “being worked out” in Christ Jesus. The latter is probably the true sense. God’s purpose was ordained from the eternal state. However, Christ is the means by which all was created and by which all is being worked out.

This seems the most likely because the word for “purpose” is prosthesis. It means “a setting forth.” It is the word used to indicate the show-bread (the consecrated bread) of the temple in Jerusalem, such as in Matthew 12:4. What is occurring is according to God’s presentation of His eternal purpose as if the setting of the showbread; Christ Jesus the Lord (who is God) is the One to work out that purpose within the stream of time.

Life application: There may seem to be random, and even chaotic, events in the world around us, but God has it all under control. Don’t lose heart if the world continues to come against You. God’s plan includes your eternal security if you are in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Lord God, Your word tells us that You have an eternal plan which is being worked out in the stream of time. All things are known to You and nothing is either random or chaotic. Instead, each thing that occurs is being directed by You and is completely under control. Help us to remember this when things appear otherwise. You are God and You are to be trusted. Grant us peace to accept this as we face the uncertainties of life. You have our eternal destiny completely under control. Thank You for this reassurance. Amen.