Ephesians 1:1-10
The key words are: predestined or chosen, in Christ (or through Christ), the idea of abundance (riches of God's grace which he lavished on us, blessed with every spiritual blessing), the idea of God's eternal purpose/plan (chosen before the creation of the world, his will which he purposed in Christ).
The main point is that God has a plan which he is accomplishing through Christ and through his choosing us for adoption through Jesus. That plan is to bring all things to unity under Christ. Paul's showing his hand a little bit - we'll learn later that the unified (Jews and Gentiles) Church displays the wisdom of God to the heavenly realms.
Here's what I like about Ephesians: learning all the things that we have in or through or by Jesus. In this passage alone we have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing, chosen before the creation of the world, adopted as full heirs, freely given grace, redeemed... all in and through Jesus.
The second thing I really like about Ephesians is the high view of the Church. We are very quick to see the faults of the Church, to complain about politics, hypocricy and beauraucracy but we need to keep in mind (I need to keep in mind) that the Church is Christ's bride and God's idea and just like I don't stand for people criticizing my wife and really don't like them criticizing my ideas, I don't think Jesus appreciates my attacks on the Church. The Church is the plan of God - it is his eternal purpose to bring all things to unity under Jesus. This is the key to understanding Ephesians: Paul is not talking to individuals saying "I have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing" but "we, as the Church, collectively have been blessed in Christ." When he says "you" try to remember that this is the plural, not the individual.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Some really good thoughts Jer. Lots of good insight. About the church I don't like to criticize the church either, but sometimes I wonder if the church is on the right track. Sometimes I wonder if we are just doing church instead of being the church that Christ called us to be. Sometimes I feel that we just go through the motions or rituals of services and dont actually be the church. God wants are hearts, not are rituals. I don't think that church is bad, I also believe it is God's chosen method, I just can wonder sometimes about our methods thats all, not meant to be a slam on the church, I am included in this.
Post a Comment