(17) “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ – the Father of glory – may give you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation – in the Knowledge of Him: (18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened – that ye may know what is the Hope of His calling – and what (are) the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints; (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of His Power to us—ward – who Believe – according to the working of His Power – (20) which He wrought in Christ – when He raised Him from the dead – and set Him at His own right hand – in the heavenly places(!);(21) Far above all principality and power and might and dominion – and every name that is named, not only in this world – but also in that which is to come(!): (22) And hath put all things under His feet – and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the Church – (23) Which is His body – the fulness of Him – that filleth all in all!” [Eph.1:17-23]
This is the capstone text to what was presented last month titled as – “Celebrating Our Lord’s Resurrection”. The context of this very section of holy scripture is what the apostle Paul declares as being that which – he specifically prays for – where the Ephesian believers are concerned. Paul supplicates God – the Father of glory – to graciously give unto them – the Holy Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in (lit.) the “Full Knowledge” of the Lord Jesus Christ! (see: 1Ti.2:3-4) Who has quickened and opened the eyes of their spiritual understanding – enlightening them to know what is the Hope of His Holy calling into their eternal salvation! All of this constitutes – the riches of the glory of His inheritance of grace in all of His saints. Praise His Name! And this – he is inspired to declare – is the exceeding greatness of His Power unto all of us – who truly and genuinely – Savingly Believe in Him!
In fact, what is revealed here is also – the profound truth that – it is He who owns and bestows upon all His eternally saved ones – the Power to Repent and Believe on Christ! Repenting and Believing on our Lord Jesus Christ – is Not an exercise that we are capable of performing! No! That, too, all comes from God – alone! And, this wonderful text declares it to have all been completely worked out by God – for us – when – by the glory of God the Father – He raised up Christ Jesus from among the dead! (see: Ro.6:4) The same Omnipotent Power – that God the Father wrought upon His Son – our Substitute/Savior – when He gloriously raised Him up from being among the dead – and set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places – that same almighty Power – is what He blesses us with – in order to cause us to truly Believe in His Savior Son – so as to be Eternally Saved-by-His grace! All praise unto the wonderful Word of His Grace!
This is why the apostle Paul was inspired to write unto the Galatians – in Ga.2:16 – these words: “knowing that a man is not justified – (lit.) out of performing – the works of the law – but through the Faith of Jesus Christ – even we (the apostles) have believed into Jesus Christ – that we might be justified – out of the faith of Christ – and not out of the works of the law…”!
Hence – does Paul go on to inspiringly explain in no uncertain terms – what he says from vs.20:
“I have been crucified – with Christ – nevertheless I live (here again, is a reference to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus) yet not I – but Christ – liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh – I live (lit.) In the faith of the Son of God – who loved me and gave Himself for me!”
Gal.3:26 dogmatically declares: “For ye are all the children of God (lit.) through faith in Christ Jesus!” Let us praise and glorify Him…Forever!!
— John Carpenter
