The Church of Jesus Christ is a Family- A Relational study of Ephesians
Our Father of Glory
Ephesians 1:15-23
Remember: Our Father’s will is to adopt us as children unto Himself. In John 17:6, our Lord prays to His Father, “I have manifested (revealed) Your Name to the men whom You have given Me....” What name? Father!!! It is His “Family Relationship” with His Father that He has revealed to us, and in the Gospel of John, Father and pronouns referring to His Heavenly Father occur 121 times. This Relationship is foundational to all the Will and Purpose of the Most High God and it is the consummation of all that we call salvation! John 14:6 “Jesus answered and said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” This unveiling God as Father, this bringing us to Him, is that we might come to dwell in the Wonder of His Goodness!
Eph 1: 12 & 14: All that God purposed in Eternity was for the of manifesting His Glory. All that He chose to do through His Triune Essence by His Unique Triunity, was for the revealing of His Goodness which is His Glory. (Exodus 33:18-19)
In Vs 6, we see that it is His “Good Pleasure” to adopt us as children by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF, now notice, to the PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE, by which HE made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Vs 12: All that He has done to bring Glory to His Grace, culminates in His children being (living for the purpose of) to the PRAISE OF HIS (THE FATHER’S) GLORY!!! While vs 12 implies that Paul is speaking of “first born members of the family (perhaps Jewish members, and or the Apostles), vs 13 & 14 make it clear that the whole family, the “purchased possession”, (perhaps Jew and gentile as chapter 2 makes clear) is to be to the praise of the Father’s Glory. All were sealed “with that Holy Spirit of Promise”. The whole book of Acts chronicles this “sealing” of the whole family, Jew and Gentile as one body.
Vs 15 Paul’s response to the Ephesians “baby announcement:”
Paul had heard of the Ephesians birthing by the Holy Spirit. And he wasn’t just counting on a raise of hands or a few baptisms for evidence. Paul looked for twin evidences of the new birth: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and love for all the saints. Check out these other places where Paul refers to the same evidences--Phil 1:27-2:7; Col. 1:4, I Thess 1:2-4; II Thess 1:3. Paul was looking for the “I John testimony” of true Faith in the Lord Jesus, that which evidences Spirit wrought obedience to our Lord’s command. (I John9-11; 3:14–19) John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that you also love one another. By this all will know (by observation) that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.”
Vs 16-19 The passionate desire of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (and us).
1. Vs 16: He prays to the Source of all things, THE FATHER OF GLORY!!!
Note: All that glorifies, that shows forth the Goodness and Beauty of the Father has it’s source initially & foundationaly in the Father–in His Perfect Will. Remember, the Father is the Bosom of the Love, Will, and Purpose of the Eternally Triune God. “For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever.” And remember (John 17:24) that the Beloved Son is eternally One in the Glory of the Father, and that Glory is foundationally the Love of the Father for the Son. And this “Love Glory” for the Son is what Jesus prays may be in us!!! (John 17:26) And, by the way, the Spirit of Glory, the Spirit of that Love is the One Who sheds abroad that Love of God in our hearts. (Rom. 5:5)
A. Vs17: He asks the Father that He would give to them the “spirit fo wisdom and revelation IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM. This is the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ for: John 14:5 Jesus said, “I am the Way (to the Father), the Truth (about the Father), and the Life (of the Father, I John 1:1-2). No one comes to the Father, but by Me.” See also John 17:3, 6, 20-26; Eph 4:20-21;
1. I John 5:20-21 This is the Gift of the Spirit that the Son gave from the Father.(Jn 14:26-18; Acts 8:20-21) This spirit of wisdom and revelation isn’t found at the tree of knowledge!!! It only grows out of the fruit of the Tree of Life, always and only as the Gift of our Heavenly Father!!!
B. Vs 18 The eyes of our understanding being enlightened. Naturally, we are blind, we need Spiritual eyesight! In order that we may KNOW:
1. “The Hope of His Calling: Eph 4:4-6; Rom 8:28-30, 9: 22-26 Those who have an enlightened understanding live in the Hope of Eternity. They are not “earthly treasure” people. Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount describes their “manner of life!!!
2. “The Riches of the GLORY of His inheritance in the saints” Rom 8:16-17 Have you been in a fellowship of the saints where the Glories of our inheritance in Christ are testified to as the source of strength in the heaviest of trials and need? It is a testimony that the Faith in the Son of God is no “pie in the sky” fantasy. This faith brings Heaven’s resources into the mess of this fallen earth!!!
3. Vs 19 “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe!
Notice when this great power was worked toward us in Vs 20–He worked this power toward us in Christ Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in Heavenly places.” Rom 6:4 (Glory of the Father); Rom 8:11(The Holy Spirit) This is why Jesus said the work of God “is to believe on Him Whom He as Sent!" The Father has already met any need His adopted children could ever have in His Beloved Son Who is seated at His Right Hand of Power and Glory. We can be confident the He Knows what we have need of before we ask Him (Matt. 6:8) and has already met that need in Eternity in His Son. That’s why Phil 4:19 isn’t just a pipe dream–“My God shall supply all your need according to His Riches IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.”
C. Vs 21-23 These verses basically present the theme of the book of Hebrews. Hebrews “fleshes out” the “HOW” of this working in time. It is a foundational book on how God brought to pass in history His Will and Purpose from Eternity. Heb 7:11-19 ( The great power to us is manifested in Christ’s Resurrection, His victory over the minister of death and the deliverance of His children from the fear of death. (Heb 2:14-15) That is what is meant by the the power of and endless life. Not just now, but forever (age that is to come).
1. Vs 22-23 He is the Sovereign Head in all things to the church, the Church, which is His Body, His fullness (I can’t comprehend this). He fills it with His own fullness! See Colossians 1:19 & 8-10 Beware of following some man who is an empty cup! Beware of ever thinking of any building as a church. He dwells in His Adopted Family, not in temples made with hands! (Acts 17:24)
Ephesians 1:15-23
Remember: Our Father’s will is to adopt us as children unto Himself. In John 17:6, our Lord prays to His Father, “I have manifested (revealed) Your Name to the men whom You have given Me....” What name? Father!!! It is His “Family Relationship” with His Father that He has revealed to us, and in the Gospel of John, Father and pronouns referring to His Heavenly Father occur 121 times. This Relationship is foundational to all the Will and Purpose of the Most High God and it is the consummation of all that we call salvation! John 14:6 “Jesus answered and said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” This unveiling God as Father, this bringing us to Him, is that we might come to dwell in the Wonder of His Goodness!
Eph 1: 12 & 14: All that God purposed in Eternity was for the of manifesting His Glory. All that He chose to do through His Triune Essence by His Unique Triunity, was for the revealing of His Goodness which is His Glory. (Exodus 33:18-19)
In Vs 6, we see that it is His “Good Pleasure” to adopt us as children by Jesus Christ TO HIMSELF, now notice, to the PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE, by which HE made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Vs 12: All that He has done to bring Glory to His Grace, culminates in His children being (living for the purpose of) to the PRAISE OF HIS (THE FATHER’S) GLORY!!! While vs 12 implies that Paul is speaking of “first born members of the family (perhaps Jewish members, and or the Apostles), vs 13 & 14 make it clear that the whole family, the “purchased possession”, (perhaps Jew and gentile as chapter 2 makes clear) is to be to the praise of the Father’s Glory. All were sealed “with that Holy Spirit of Promise”. The whole book of Acts chronicles this “sealing” of the whole family, Jew and Gentile as one body.
Vs 15 Paul’s response to the Ephesians “baby announcement:”
Paul had heard of the Ephesians birthing by the Holy Spirit. And he wasn’t just counting on a raise of hands or a few baptisms for evidence. Paul looked for twin evidences of the new birth: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and love for all the saints. Check out these other places where Paul refers to the same evidences--Phil 1:27-2:7; Col. 1:4, I Thess 1:2-4; II Thess 1:3. Paul was looking for the “I John testimony” of true Faith in the Lord Jesus, that which evidences Spirit wrought obedience to our Lord’s command. (I John9-11; 3:14–19) John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that you also love one another. By this all will know (by observation) that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.”
Vs 16-19 The passionate desire of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (and us).
1. Vs 16: He prays to the Source of all things, THE FATHER OF GLORY!!!
Note: All that glorifies, that shows forth the Goodness and Beauty of the Father has it’s source initially & foundationaly in the Father–in His Perfect Will. Remember, the Father is the Bosom of the Love, Will, and Purpose of the Eternally Triune God. “For thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever.” And remember (John 17:24) that the Beloved Son is eternally One in the Glory of the Father, and that Glory is foundationally the Love of the Father for the Son. And this “Love Glory” for the Son is what Jesus prays may be in us!!! (John 17:26) And, by the way, the Spirit of Glory, the Spirit of that Love is the One Who sheds abroad that Love of God in our hearts. (Rom. 5:5)
A. Vs17: He asks the Father that He would give to them the “spirit fo wisdom and revelation IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM. This is the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ for: John 14:5 Jesus said, “I am the Way (to the Father), the Truth (about the Father), and the Life (of the Father, I John 1:1-2). No one comes to the Father, but by Me.” See also John 17:3, 6, 20-26; Eph 4:20-21;
1. I John 5:20-21 This is the Gift of the Spirit that the Son gave from the Father.(Jn 14:26-18; Acts 8:20-21) This spirit of wisdom and revelation isn’t found at the tree of knowledge!!! It only grows out of the fruit of the Tree of Life, always and only as the Gift of our Heavenly Father!!!
B. Vs 18 The eyes of our understanding being enlightened. Naturally, we are blind, we need Spiritual eyesight! In order that we may KNOW:
1. “The Hope of His Calling: Eph 4:4-6; Rom 8:28-30, 9: 22-26 Those who have an enlightened understanding live in the Hope of Eternity. They are not “earthly treasure” people. Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount describes their “manner of life!!!
2. “The Riches of the GLORY of His inheritance in the saints” Rom 8:16-17 Have you been in a fellowship of the saints where the Glories of our inheritance in Christ are testified to as the source of strength in the heaviest of trials and need? It is a testimony that the Faith in the Son of God is no “pie in the sky” fantasy. This faith brings Heaven’s resources into the mess of this fallen earth!!!
3. Vs 19 “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us who believe!
Notice when this great power was worked toward us in Vs 20–He worked this power toward us in Christ Jesus when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in Heavenly places.” Rom 6:4 (Glory of the Father); Rom 8:11(The Holy Spirit) This is why Jesus said the work of God “is to believe on Him Whom He as Sent!" The Father has already met any need His adopted children could ever have in His Beloved Son Who is seated at His Right Hand of Power and Glory. We can be confident the He Knows what we have need of before we ask Him (Matt. 6:8) and has already met that need in Eternity in His Son. That’s why Phil 4:19 isn’t just a pipe dream–“My God shall supply all your need according to His Riches IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.”
C. Vs 21-23 These verses basically present the theme of the book of Hebrews. Hebrews “fleshes out” the “HOW” of this working in time. It is a foundational book on how God brought to pass in history His Will and Purpose from Eternity. Heb 7:11-19 ( The great power to us is manifested in Christ’s Resurrection, His victory over the minister of death and the deliverance of His children from the fear of death. (Heb 2:14-15) That is what is meant by the the power of and endless life. Not just now, but forever (age that is to come).
1. Vs 22-23 He is the Sovereign Head in all things to the church, the Church, which is His Body, His fullness (I can’t comprehend this). He fills it with His own fullness! See Colossians 1:19 & 8-10 Beware of following some man who is an empty cup! Beware of ever thinking of any building as a church. He dwells in His Adopted Family, not in temples made with hands! (Acts 17:24)