Ephesians 2:4-10
I think this answers the question about what it means when it says "the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" (1:18b) I think it's talking about the saints (us) being the inheritance of God. Here's my reasoning: By grace, God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms in Christ so that he might display the imcomparable riches of his grace, expressed to us in his kindness in Christ (that's a lot of with and in Christs! 2:5b-7). In other words, all the saints are the evidence or display or God's rich grace and kindness expressed to us in Christ Jesus. Because of the common phrasing, it seems like these two statements are connected (as well as the statement calling us God's possession - 1:14).
The phrase "heavenly realms" appears a few times in this book: 1:3 - we've been blessed in the heavenly realms, 1:22 - Christ is seated in the heavenly realms, 2:6 - we are seated in the heavenly realms, 3:11 - we are evidence of God's wisdom to the rulers of the heavenly realms, 6:12 - our struggle is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Paul is very aware of the eternal implications of our actions here in time. What we do on earth does echo in eternity (thank you Gladiator!). He is also very confident of eternity, talking as if we are already seated with Christ in heaven and as if the display of God's glory is already complete. I think Paul gets this confidence from 1:13-14 - the Holy Spirit guarantees our inheritance. It's a sure thing!
Finally, Paul says that we have been saved to be God's workmanship (the Greek connotation is "work of art"), created to do good works. We are not just useless paintings hanging on his wall. We are functional art, created to display God's glory, the incomporable riches of his grace and mercy. We are on display for all to see and marvel at. Our role is to point to the glory of our Creator - not just the rulers of the heavenly realms but the people here on earth as well. God has painted or sculpted us with his image and, now that we are redeemed, the image of God has been (and is still being) restored in us. We are to bear that image in the cosmic art gallery to the glory of God.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
What Does It Mean?
I can't leave Ephesians 1 behind... there's so much there and I love Paul's prayer!
A couple of questions:
- does anyone have any ideas on what Paul means when he says "that you may know... the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people" (v. 18)? Does that mean that the inheritance God gives us (our treasures in heaven) will be people? That kind of goes along with what the woman said last night from Psalm 2:8 "I will make the nations your inheritance" but I'm not sure that's what it means. Any ideas?
Does v. 23 really mean what it says? Are we, as the church, truly the fullness of Christ (the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways)? Any clues to what that actually means?
My lovely NIV study Bible is not very helpful on either verse... They never are on the truly interesting verses.
I'll get back to Ephesians 2 tomorrow, I promise!
A couple of questions:
- does anyone have any ideas on what Paul means when he says "that you may know... the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people" (v. 18)? Does that mean that the inheritance God gives us (our treasures in heaven) will be people? That kind of goes along with what the woman said last night from Psalm 2:8 "I will make the nations your inheritance" but I'm not sure that's what it means. Any ideas?
Does v. 23 really mean what it says? Are we, as the church, truly the fullness of Christ (the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways)? Any clues to what that actually means?
My lovely NIV study Bible is not very helpful on either verse... They never are on the truly interesting verses.
I'll get back to Ephesians 2 tomorrow, I promise!
It's Alive!!
Ephesians 2:1-5
The contrast here is incredible: we are the body of Christ - the "fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (1:23 - something I can't wrap my mind around. We, as the followers of Jesus, somehow are seen by God as the fullness of Jesus here on earth? I don't think that we have a clue about the way that God sees us. Sure, we may believe that we will become the fullness of Christ when we reach heaven but God sees that as a reality now! I think this is part of the hope to which he called us - v. 18. It's no wonder that Paul prays that our eyes would be enlightened to this!). However, Paul reminds us where we came from: dead in our transgressions and sins. This is not about us realizing our full potential as human beings or anything like that. We had no potential! Paul makes it really clear that this is about the grace of God: we deserved nothing except God's wrath because we gratified our own selfish cravings and desires and were capable of nothing because we were dead in our sin but God made us alive in Christ and raised us up to realize our potential as the Church (and in Christ it is already realized somehow...).
Look at all the attributes of God in just three verses (3-5): wrath indicating God's justice and holiness; great love; rich in mercy; grace. Paul not only had a great understanding of the individual attributes of God's character, he also had a great understanding of how they fit together.
The contrast here is incredible: we are the body of Christ - the "fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (1:23 - something I can't wrap my mind around. We, as the followers of Jesus, somehow are seen by God as the fullness of Jesus here on earth? I don't think that we have a clue about the way that God sees us. Sure, we may believe that we will become the fullness of Christ when we reach heaven but God sees that as a reality now! I think this is part of the hope to which he called us - v. 18. It's no wonder that Paul prays that our eyes would be enlightened to this!). However, Paul reminds us where we came from: dead in our transgressions and sins. This is not about us realizing our full potential as human beings or anything like that. We had no potential! Paul makes it really clear that this is about the grace of God: we deserved nothing except God's wrath because we gratified our own selfish cravings and desires and were capable of nothing because we were dead in our sin but God made us alive in Christ and raised us up to realize our potential as the Church (and in Christ it is already realized somehow...).
Look at all the attributes of God in just three verses (3-5): wrath indicating God's justice and holiness; great love; rich in mercy; grace. Paul not only had a great understanding of the individual attributes of God's character, he also had a great understanding of how they fit together.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Praying the Prayers of Paul
Ephesians 1:15-19a
In this passage, Paul gives an insight into what he prays for the Ephesian church. First, he gives thanks for them (because of their faith in Jesus and love for his followers) and then he prays: that they would know God better, know the hope to which God called them and know his great power for those who believe.
What a powerful prayer! For a while I was praying the prayers of Paul (from this and other epistles) for each of the students in my ministry but for some reason I stopped. I need to pray this prayer more often because it expresses the desire of my heart for my students: that they would know God better, always have in mind the hope to which they have been called and experience the great power that God has for them as they follow him and serve on his behalf here on earth.
The truth is I work hard to make this a reality for my students but Paul has a better perspective: it is God's work (he gives the Spirit of revelation and wisdom to allow us to know him, he enlightens the eyes of our hearts so that we can know the hope to which he has called us, it is his power). Paul worked hard but he also prayed hard. What a challenge for me! I can't forget to pray!
In this passage, Paul gives an insight into what he prays for the Ephesian church. First, he gives thanks for them (because of their faith in Jesus and love for his followers) and then he prays: that they would know God better, know the hope to which God called them and know his great power for those who believe.
What a powerful prayer! For a while I was praying the prayers of Paul (from this and other epistles) for each of the students in my ministry but for some reason I stopped. I need to pray this prayer more often because it expresses the desire of my heart for my students: that they would know God better, always have in mind the hope to which they have been called and experience the great power that God has for them as they follow him and serve on his behalf here on earth.
The truth is I work hard to make this a reality for my students but Paul has a better perspective: it is God's work (he gives the Spirit of revelation and wisdom to allow us to know him, he enlightens the eyes of our hearts so that we can know the hope to which he has called us, it is his power). Paul worked hard but he also prayed hard. What a challenge for me! I can't forget to pray!
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Signed, sealed and delivered
Ephesians 1:11-14
What does it say?
We were chosen in Christ according to God's sovereign plan. The disciples and apostles were the first to put their hope in Christ but we all have been included when we responded to the gospel of Christ. Upon belief, we were given the Holy Spirit who is a guarantee of our final redemption.
What does it mean?
The sovreignty of God comes through pretty clearly here: he had a plan from before the beginning of time and our submission to Jesus was part of that plan. This gives confidence that the plan will be completed: I will be completely redeemed and sanctified. My confidence is that God is in control and, up to this point (and I have no reason to doubt it will be any different in the future) his plan has worked out to perfection and that God has given me the Holy Spirit to live in me as a deposit or seal that I will one day be with him.
What do I do about this?
This gives me motivation to trust God in this lifetime (and not just for the final outcome of my eternal destiny). As Christine and I wait for the social worker to finish her report and as we wait after that for a birth mom to choose us, I can be confident that God has a plan. His timing will be perfect and when we finally get a baby it will be the perfect one for us. God's plan is sure and good and right.
What does it say?
We were chosen in Christ according to God's sovereign plan. The disciples and apostles were the first to put their hope in Christ but we all have been included when we responded to the gospel of Christ. Upon belief, we were given the Holy Spirit who is a guarantee of our final redemption.
What does it mean?
The sovreignty of God comes through pretty clearly here: he had a plan from before the beginning of time and our submission to Jesus was part of that plan. This gives confidence that the plan will be completed: I will be completely redeemed and sanctified. My confidence is that God is in control and, up to this point (and I have no reason to doubt it will be any different in the future) his plan has worked out to perfection and that God has given me the Holy Spirit to live in me as a deposit or seal that I will one day be with him.
What do I do about this?
This gives me motivation to trust God in this lifetime (and not just for the final outcome of my eternal destiny). As Christine and I wait for the social worker to finish her report and as we wait after that for a birth mom to choose us, I can be confident that God has a plan. His timing will be perfect and when we finally get a baby it will be the perfect one for us. God's plan is sure and good and right.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Drinking From A Fire Hose...
Hey, Ben and Graham - I'm really looking forward to blevo-ing with you guys! I hope this is a good experience for you!
Ephesians 1:1-10
Paul sure packs a lot into these verses: the blessing we have in Christ, predestination, redemption, grace, end times, the mystery of Christ... Ben wasn't kidding when he said Ephesians was pretty rich! It's like trying to eat everything at an all you can eat buffet!
I can't read Ephesians without marveling at all the things we have in, through and by Christ. Even in these few verses: I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, chosen in Christ, adopted as his son through Christ, given grace in Christ, find redemption in Christ, and find purpose or meaning in Christ. I also can't read Paul without being overwhelmed by the grace of God, described here as glorious grace freely given and the riches of God's grace lavished on us. There's a word we don't use very often: lavished. I like the imagery - it's more grace than I can ever use. It's a waterfall of grace. It's fire hose of grace.
The grace of God as seen in Jesus, who could have come to condemn us all because he had every right to do but rather came to redeem us and rescue us from the curse of sin, amazes me. The grace of God as seen in my life also amazes me - that God would choose me to be his son, first of all, and then give me the privilege and responsibility of the ministry he has called me to... amazing! That's a grace that is lavish! And the best part is that I still feel like I'm just wading on the edges of an ocean of grace - there's so much more to discover.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
Ephesians 1:1-10
Paul sure packs a lot into these verses: the blessing we have in Christ, predestination, redemption, grace, end times, the mystery of Christ... Ben wasn't kidding when he said Ephesians was pretty rich! It's like trying to eat everything at an all you can eat buffet!
I can't read Ephesians without marveling at all the things we have in, through and by Christ. Even in these few verses: I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, chosen in Christ, adopted as his son through Christ, given grace in Christ, find redemption in Christ, and find purpose or meaning in Christ. I also can't read Paul without being overwhelmed by the grace of God, described here as glorious grace freely given and the riches of God's grace lavished on us. There's a word we don't use very often: lavished. I like the imagery - it's more grace than I can ever use. It's a waterfall of grace. It's fire hose of grace.
The grace of God as seen in Jesus, who could have come to condemn us all because he had every right to do but rather came to redeem us and rescue us from the curse of sin, amazes me. The grace of God as seen in my life also amazes me - that God would choose me to be his son, first of all, and then give me the privilege and responsibility of the ministry he has called me to... amazing! That's a grace that is lavish! And the best part is that I still feel like I'm just wading on the edges of an ocean of grace - there's so much more to discover.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!
Friday, March 2, 2007
Bossing Around Rich People
1 Timothy 6:17-21
I think most people would agree in theory that wealth is more uncertain than God but in practice, I think we generally trust money more than God. Paul tells Timothy to command those who are rich not to depend on their riches but to do good with them. In fact, Paul says that unless they share and are generous, they won't really experience the abundant life (he calls it the life that is truly life). Again, this goes against conventional wisdom: to truly enjoy life, I just need a bit more.
Here's my question: have we gone to soft on issues of wealth and status in the Body of Christ? We call people to account on all kinds of things like adultery, fornication, homosexuality. We judge politicians on their stand on such moral issues as same sex marriage and abortion and yet we say nothing (or very little) about the use of money and the treatment of the poor. If we are truly going to major on the majors, as Pastor Ian has been known to say, shouldn't we be speaking about money a lot more and shouldn't we avoid soft-selling the message of the Bible?
In the end, grace! Grace because none of us deserve God's blessing. Grace because none of us can earn eternal life or the favour of God. Grace because we are going to keep missing the mark. Grace!
I think most people would agree in theory that wealth is more uncertain than God but in practice, I think we generally trust money more than God. Paul tells Timothy to command those who are rich not to depend on their riches but to do good with them. In fact, Paul says that unless they share and are generous, they won't really experience the abundant life (he calls it the life that is truly life). Again, this goes against conventional wisdom: to truly enjoy life, I just need a bit more.
Here's my question: have we gone to soft on issues of wealth and status in the Body of Christ? We call people to account on all kinds of things like adultery, fornication, homosexuality. We judge politicians on their stand on such moral issues as same sex marriage and abortion and yet we say nothing (or very little) about the use of money and the treatment of the poor. If we are truly going to major on the majors, as Pastor Ian has been known to say, shouldn't we be speaking about money a lot more and shouldn't we avoid soft-selling the message of the Bible?
In the end, grace! Grace because none of us deserve God's blessing. Grace because none of us can earn eternal life or the favour of God. Grace because we are going to keep missing the mark. Grace!
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