Jul 2016 - Christ revealed

CHRIST REVEALED

Ephesians has been called "The Alps of the New Testament," "The Grand Canyon of Scripture," and "The Royal Capstone of the Epistles," not only because of its grand theme, but because of the majesty of Christ revealed here.

Chapter 1: HE IS THE REDEEMER - In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favour. (1:7).

He is the One in Whom and by Whom history will ultimately be consummated, and He is the Resurrected Lord Who not only has risen over death and hell, but Who reigns as King, pouring of His life through His Body, the Church - the present expression of Himself on Earth.

Chapter 2: HE IS THE PEACEMAKER Who has reconciled man to God and Who makes possible reconciliation of man to man as well, and He is the Chief Cornerstone of the New Temple consisting of His own people to be indwelt by God Himself - Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the Chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit (2:19-22).

Chapter 3: HE IS THE TREASURE in Whom life's unsearchable riches are found: To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favour, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out] (3:8).

He is also the INDWELLER of human hearts, securing us in the love of God - May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love; that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it] (3:17-18).

Chapter 4: JESUS IS THE GIVER of ministry gifts to His Church - That is why the Scriptures say, 'When He ascended to the heights, He led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to His people' (4:8). He is also the VICTOR Who has broken hell's ability to keep humankind captive - Now this, 'He ascended'; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One Who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things (4:9-10).

Chapter 5: HE IS THE MODEL HUSBAND, unselfishly giving Himself to enhance His Bride - His Church: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (5:25-27).

Chapter 6: HE IS THE LORD, MIGHTY IN BATTLE, the Resource of Strength for His own as they arm for spiritual warfare: In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God's whole armour [the armour of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God's complete armour, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place] (6:10-13).

In short, Ephesians discloses awesome blessings of grace - For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent ] - [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favour and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (1:5-6), and awesome dimensions of spiritual authority over evil - Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] (3:20).

But this awaits the believer's first accepting the disciplines of unity, forgiveness, and walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. With this, relationships at every point must be in order, the idea being firmly established that true spiritual power flows from true obedience to the divine order in relationships and personal conduct.

As with Christ, the Holy Spirit is revealed in widely varied ministry to and through the believer. In 1:13, He is the Sealer, authorizing the believer to represent Christ: In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit.

In 3:5 He is the Revealer, enlightening the heart to perceive God's purpose - [This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit.

In 3:16 He is the Empowerer Whom Christ gives to strengthen us within - May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

In 4:3 He is the Spirit of Unity desiring to sustain the bond of peace in the Body of Christ: Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

In 4:30-32 He is the Spirit of Holiness Who may be grieved by insistence on carnal pursuits: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamour, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

In 5:18 He is the Fountain, from which all are to be continuously filled: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.

In 6:17-18 the Holy Spirit is the Giver of the Word as a sword for battle and the Heavenly Assistant given to us to aid us in prayer and intercession until victory is won:
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

[NEW SPIRIT-FILLED BIBLE, Thomas Nelson Inc., 2002].