ephesians 3:19 the message

It is not something extraneous that acts on God as a motive, but His own love flowing out from Himself according to His holy nature, and in perfect consistency with His character and ways. How rich and glorious Who can comprehend all that it implies? Update. Then he adds the great exemplar and spirit of it all, according to the forgiveness with which God met us in Christ. It ennobles our nature. Another plan discloses itself. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once .named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking [even light words dishonour the Christian, as being contrary to Christ], nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 3:19The Apostle's many-linked prayer, which we have been considering in successive sermons, has reached its height. That by revelation God made known to Paul the "mystery" ( 3-4 ) a. He consequently is the lone God and Father of all," not merely of all believers, for this is a mistake of its force, but of all absolutely; just as we were told in verse 15 of that same chapter, that of Him every family in heaven and earth is named. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. Christ is not darkness but light, and puts all in the light; He makes us to be children of the light, that so we may be able to judge ourselves, not discerned by man as such, but capable of discerning whatever claims our attention. They figured that the Messiah would usher in the kingdom age immediately and the Old Testament prophets did not really see this age of grace, when God would be drawing from among the Gentiles the body of Christ.They really didn't understand all that they saw or all that God revealed to them. That judgment had fallen on Him necessarily and unsparingly; but in the face of everything calculated to hinder, God's power broke up the last stronghold of the enemy. Is He not satisfied with giving us a nature like His own? Accordingly, when all was complete in the communication of God's plans in the Bible, there was one subject that was left a blank. For if God, He is as such not less truly God than the Father; for there can be no difference as to Godhead. Ephesians 3:17(NASB) Verse Thoughts Once again - superlatives and fullness flood this passage in Ephesians, identifying the body of believers, " which is the church," as the temple of God. There are some things we can only grasp with effort. Ephesians 3: 16- 19 Have you ever felt unloved, unwanted and rejected? Ephesians 3:16-19 is one of my favorite prayers in the Bible. Ephesians 3:18-19. 14-19 My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. Our having put off the old man, and our having put on the new man. There was counsel, but besides there was intrinsic glory altogether independent of any plans of conferred honour. Then we hear the particulars, and in a very orderly manner. It is not so much a matter of knowing as being-laying our hands on what God has for us and by faith making it a vital part of our lives." There are some things we can understand easily. The earth is their sphere; it is there that Israel looks to be blessed, and the Gentiles somewhat farther off, but all in the ordered blessing of the Most High God. That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel ( Ephesians 3:6 ): The glorious mystery of God now revealed. Israel's was at best a mere creature relationship, though, no doubt, having a special place in creation. All other combats are outside the calling of a Christian. It is thus seen to be founded on the great facts and standing privileges mentioned at the end of Ephesians 2:1-22; but it is the desire that the saints should know God's present power to an indefinite extent working in them in spiritual enjoyment, through the Holy Ghost's power, giving us to have Christ the definite and constant object of the heart. The moral order of this is exceedingly beautiful. They might otherwise think themselves more or less superior. This is the mystery:". The first thing is to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Given for the benefit of his readers 2. * To us, to be called children of God is more intimate than to be styled His sons; but it would derogate from the Lord. What is the value of any other unity? Ephesians 3:19(NASB) Verse Thoughts. There is a certain spiritual competence supposed, a due preparation not only of heart, but also of knowledge; or, as the apostle said, "we speak wisdom among them that are perfect," Here no lengthy exposition would be wanted about it, because they were not so infantine as to suppose that the truth of God depends on the number of times that a thing is asserted. CHAPTER 3. Such strength is "according to the riches of His glory" 4. I could have been famous and I could have been great. Then we have in the centre of this chapter no longer the unity or the gifts differing, but the moral walk of the saints. The best value in digital Bible study. We dwell with God; walk with God; live with God; commune with God; are like God. And what had God done now? It soars to the very Throne of God. That is, he looks at the inner source, not merely at the glorious results. 1; John 13-17). "In the first prayer [Ephesians 1:15-23], the emphasis is on enlightenment; but in this prayer, the emphasis is on enablement. It had no limit. But what are difficulties to the Spirit of God? Ephesians 3:16(NASB) Picture courtesy of Wikimedia. Rise to the heights! Phil. Here the prayer is not, as in the first chapter, that they might know the power that had wrought toward them; it is now that their hearts might be in the secret of His grace according to the power that works in them. Whatever we may ask, or think to ask, still God is still able to do more, abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly more. c 4 When you read this you can understand my . What has all the confusion of men to do with the glorious reality that God has established His unity, of which we all form part by the power of His Spirit? Impossible that the new nature could countenance sin; the very essence of it is rejection and exposure of what is contrary to God. We carry our own limitations over into the spiritual realm. We need, but we have, the Holy Spirit who is surely all-sufficient, if looked to. Hence we have those gifts alone which are the expression of the grace of Christ toward the saints that He loves, for ministerial work, for the building up of His body. He goes farther, and says, "Be filled with the Spirit." That I might be filled with the fullness of God. For their experimental acquaintance with the love of Jesus Christ. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. It is not new to us -- we have been discussing and discovering aspects of it all along in this letter. Nothing short of this suffices. and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. It is not only the full extent of glory, but the sole satisfying spring, Christ thus dwelling in our hearts in the consciousness of His love "to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." Consequently here it is not an energy already put forth, but he pleads that Christ might dwell by faith in their hearts. No other study Bible does such a thorough job of explaining the historical context, unfolding the meaning of the text, and placing it within a theological framework. He has forgiven you in Christ; and you are called to do the same. So Paul's insistence that God is now offering salvation to the Gentiles so incurred the wrath of the Jews that they persecuted him or stirred up persecution everywhere he went. So, "a prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. God accepts me. Most wholesome blessedness! Ephesians 3:17b-19. God can do, undo, overdo, extra do, and mega-do anything beyond human comprehension; where man stops is where God starts. Adding to My Library is a great way to keep a list of sermons, programs, and ministry resources in your account. This prayer begins a transition from the first half of his letter, focused on doctrinal ideas, to the second half, where those ideas . This leads toEphesians 3:1-21; Ephesians 3:1-21, in which the apostle unfolds things parenthetically. He had a deep sense of the love of Christ, and he expressed a wish that they should understand it. It is "to the praise of the glory of his grace." Such is the power that has wrought now wrought toward us even while we are in this world. Having thus described God, he ascribes glory to him. Oh, God, help! Features include: NEW: Fresh new page design for enjoyable reading of the Authorized King James text More than 5,700 authoritative and time-tested study notes offer straightforward communication and clear understanding NEW: 48 revised in ... This love is often referred to in the New Testament, and is declared to surpass all other which has ever been evinced; see the Romans 5:7-8, notes; John 15:13, note. It is no use merely taking it up as a name or barren title. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. This is as it should be. How much less me? I do not deny but that a Christian may slip elsewhere. I can't believe it.Jonathan, waking up early in the morning, his mind playing with an interesting thought. It means here, “that you may have the richest measures of divine consolation and of the divine presence; that you may partake of the entire enjoyment of God in the most ample measure in which he bestows his favors on his people.”. Where these are made and kept right, we can then safely follow what God will show us in due time, but not otherwise. Now, the highest being that of the Son, we accordingly are brought into that relationship, though not, of course, in the sense in which He was eternally so. It is not merely that he accepts names given him by God, but God delights in putting him in this place of lordship, and to a certain extent also of fellowship lordship to that which is below him, and fellowship as regarded his wife. The chapter itself is a parenthesis. Not only so, but they had walked according to the course of that which is most of all offensive to God "of this world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience;" for indeed they were, one as much as another, children of disobedience. We become partakers of the divine nature 2 Peter 1:4; in rank we are associated with angels; in happiness and purity we are associated with God! Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end ( Ephesians 3:21 ). Hence it is that righteousness disappears in this epistle. In other words, the Son of God never was made the Son, He is never even called the child ( τέκνον ) of God. Let us remember, therefore, that the certainty of faith is knowledge, but is acquired by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, not by the acuteness of our own intellect. He might have given Himself ever so truly in pity for us; but it would not have been perfection, had He not "given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour." Is not this the meaning of the institution? Take notice how he describes God, and how he ascribes glory to him. He felt his need and that of the work. The tendency is ever to set aside what is personal for that which is corporate. But the divine nature is given to us in its qualities of holiness and love. It shines in full contrast with Israel. Which passeth knowledge - There “seems” to be a slight contradiction here in expressing a wish to know what cannot be known, or in a desire that they should understand that which cannot be understood. And thus, they themselves did not know the things that they were writing about or what their full significance was.Isaiah speaks of the coming Messiah, how that He will sit upon the throne of David and order it and establish it in righteousness and in judgment from henceforth even forever, the zeal of the Lord of Host shall perform this. Thus nature is the subject of verse 4, as relationship is of verse 5. In this sense we may be said to know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge. No one can attain to a full view of it. Ephesians 3:14-19 — New Living Translation (NLT) 14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. It is not a matter of form. Here it is not merely "Grieve not the Holy Spirit." God is working in us now. And there are some things that are so profound that we'll never be able to get our minds around them completely. But Paul justly contends that this wisdom exceeds all knowledge; for, if the faculties of man could reach it, the prayer of Paul that God would bestow it must have been unnecessary. It was grace in its deepest character and in its highest form, and so the apostle Paul was the suited vessel that God employed to instruct others, not merely the one to whom the revelation was made, but by whom the revelation was to be communicated. Thus, he speaks of the “fulness” of the Gentiles, Romans 11:25; the “fulness” of time, Galatians 4:4; the fulness of him that filleth all in all, Ephesians 1:23; the “fulness” of Christ, Ephesians 4:13; the “fulness” of the Godhead in Christ, Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9. There never can be spiritual understanding, unless souls let in this after all plain principle, that the suited good depends on the relationship in which we are placed, whether to God, or to any other. Latest of all, God divulged His wonderful scheme in which the man that came from above, the Son that became a man, the Word made flesh, had gone down to the very lowest in order to make good the glory of God morally in the scene where He had been most put to shame. Ephesians 3:17. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… Secondly, and we shall consider this further this morning, Paul prays that believers would, Ephesians 3:19 …know the love of Christ… 2. That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God - What an expression! Join me in turning to the book of Ephesians, chapter 3. In Corinthians we have this, and properly in its place. Thus, then, Adam acts and speaks. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. The apostle adds that it was now revealed of the Spirit, "That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. One might be altogether a stranger to him that adopts. 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. You become a partaker in the grace and in the goodness of God. To be FILLED with God is a great thing; to be filled with the FULNESS of God is still greater; but to be filled with ALL the fulness of God, παν το πληρωμα του θεου, utterly bewilders the sense and confounds the understanding. Christ is an inhabitant in the soul of every good Christian. Font Size. that all men may see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ ( Ephesians 3:9 ): Now, you notice that all that God has done for us is by Jesus Christ as we have been going through these first two chapters on into the third chapter. It is not merely the love which he showed for the Gentiles in calling them into his kingdom, which is here referred to; it is the love which is shown for the lost world in giving himself to die. Where else had there been anything like that? Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version; copyright 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,   21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. But now appeared something altogether new. And he looked and here was all kinds of pornography all over the walls. It is like those other expressions, of being partakers of a divine nature, and of being perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. Based On: Ephesians 3:16-19 August 17, 2014 Overview: Ephesians 3:16-19 There is something appealing to the human mind about solving a mystery. Never were they to reign; never will they be one with Christ like the saints. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. Hence it was that they might "be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and. The consequence is that we find the Spirit of God, now sent down from heaven, not only putting the saints into relationship with the Father, but, besides, dwelling in them and making them God's habitation through the Spirit. "But to every [each] one is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ." The Message (MSG) Bible Book List. Ephesians 3:15-19. But it is not so with the revelation of the mystery. What could this possibly be? Paul was a man who interceded for others in the body of Christ and often we discover him to be lifting up Christian brothers and sisters in pleading prayer ..earnestly asking the Lord that all who are born from above might mature in the faith, grow in grace and in accordance . The Son is as truly man as God, and as such gives gifts to men. Such an one must have only got the lower end of the line, and not the full truth in its own native purity and freshness from God. This may be referred either to the immediately Ephesians 3:13, That you faint not, c., or, rather, the apostle is here resuming what he began at the Ephesians 3:1, from which he digressed in those which are interposed. We now come to the second part of this chapter, which contains Paul's devout and affectionate prayer to God for his beloved Ephesians.--For this cause. 6]. To us it could be but eternal purpose, to Him eternal being; to us pure grace, but to Him His own indefeasible right. Ephesians 3:14-19 are also one sentence in the Greek text. They only have the "one hope of their calling." Satan is allowed to go on for a little while longer, because God is gathering out the joint-heirs, while the evil develops itself in a new form Man had been shown to be the enemy of all righteousness, and now betrays himself the enemy of all grace. The one was not at all, nor was the other in such sort before. The heavens of heavens cannot contain God. Religion is not a name. The Message (MSG) Bible Book List. It is expressly not against any powers that were living and acting in the world. God so loved the world, c. Christ loved us, and gave himself for us. She loved her with a love that was too strong for Pandy's own good. EPHESIANS - CHRIST AND THE CHURCH Click chart to enlarge Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission. Note, When we draw nigh to God, we should reverence him in our hearts, and express our reverence in the most suitable and becoming behaviour and gesture. "These four requests are more like four parts to a telescope. The angels said, "Wow, can you believe that?" And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Clearly God has a purpose, a settled and glorious plan to gather the whole universe under Christ as its Head. Hey, it is no more difficult for God to heal leukemia than it is a common cold. We read in Revelation 2:4 that the church here had forsaken its first love. [Section 2b has been expanded significantly in order to deal with Ephesians 2:20 more fully.] "He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs" ( Acts 1:3 ), but we have the more sure word of prophecy and so forth, which things the angels desired to look into. The choice of the saints for heavenly blessedness was before the creation of the universe, before the foundation of the world. We measure things by our abilities. Hey, wait a minute. Thus we have had, first of all, the great spiritual reality which is always true of Christians, and of none else. The first is nature; the second is relationship. Ephesians 3:14-19. We must pray and endeavour to know something, and should still covet and strive to know more and more of it, though, after the best endeavours, none can fully comprehend it: in its full extent it surpasses knowledge. God's Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles. (1) They were to be “full of God.” That is, he would dwell in them. That was, of course, something that was withheld even from the Jew. The Message (MSG) Bible Book List. Amen. Observe, The seat of God's praises is in the church. And the apostle concludes the whole of this part of the matter "to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." Hence the apostle Paul, in what is by no means the simplest utterance he has given, writes in few words. Found insideTest its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19 The Message) That bears repeating “... the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.” Or, in our modern day lingo, ... He is the God of Jesus; He is the Father of Jesus. Many have some love to God and to his servants, but it is a flash, like the crackling of thorns under a pot, it makes a great noise, but is gone presently. This place of the Gentiles in the body of Christ and how that God was going to offer freely unto the Gentiles the glorious promises of eternal life and of salvation and of a place in the kingdom of God.Paul said, "I want to write this to you so that you will understand my understanding of the mystery which in other ages was not made known, but it is know revealed by the Holy Spirit to the apostles and to the prophets. That is, there is a creative connection between God and man which is the source of man's moral relations with God, and the reason why man, and man alone of all creatures on the earth, shall live again and give an account of himself to God. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. Paul was the chosen witness to fill up that blank. Accordingly not only does he enforce the truth first presented in the end of chapter 1, the church which is the body of Christ, but he also still more qualifies it as a "new man," and as "one body;" because, in treating of the two objects of grace, and component parts of the church, Jews and Gentiles who believe, he shows that God does not purpose to form two societies of these saints, but one body. To walk so close to the Lord, to live in such communion with Him, to walk so in His presence and in His love and all. He gives us the gift of sound, so that we can enjoy . Scripture reveals that the great business of life is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever. In this paradigm-shattering work, John Piper reveals that the debate between duty and delight doesn't truly exist: Delightisour duty. For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads. Instead Paul shows us how to pray so that we will enjoy the love of our creator, our saviour and our Lord. PAUL'S PETITIONS IN PRAYER. "I bow my knees unto the Father." That Christ may dwell in your hearts — May be always present with you, and may reside continually in you, by his purifying and comforting influences, so as to direct your judgment, engross your affections, and govern all your passions and tempers. A MYSTERY ONCE HIDDEN, NOW REVEALED (1-7) 1. The prisoner, beaten, scourged, buffeted, stoned. Not only were they called in time as we have been, but they were chosen in time, which we were not. It was not a question of the flesh: how could this be trusted? They really wrote of things that they did not completely understand. God’s plan of uniting all believers in one church in and through Christ displays to people and to angels his great wisdom (9-11). Not a word is said of sending Him into the world, or of His life and labours there, any more than of our doing this or being that. But as long even as he is merely in conflict with his own nature, he can hardly be said to be on Christian ground at all. It is the mystery of Christ; and this is what secures the blessing in its fulness and purity for the church of God. He believes also that only by God’s power will he be fruitful in that work (7-8). Found inside[95] CRYSTALLIZATION-STUDY OF EPHESIANS God's Eternal Purpose, His Eternal Economy (Message 5) Scripture Reading: Eph. 3:3-5, 8-11; 1 Cor. 1:30 I. God's eternal purpose is His eternal economy, His administrative plan, to distribute ... And God should and will be praised thus throughout all ages, world without end; for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of praise from his church. Reach out and experience the breadth! "Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." A similar expression occurs in another Epistle: the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7), No man can approach to God without being raised above himself and above the world. We thank you in Jesus' name, Amen. But it is more likely that the word γνωσις, which we translate knowledge, signifies here science in general, and particularly that science of which the rabbins boasted, and that in which the Greeks greatly exulted. It is revealed, God didn't reveal it to them, except, as it took place within the church. Hence it is said, "One Lord," which is precisely that which is owned in the common creed of Christendom. It is not again a simple question of a new nature, but of a new man: the first Adam, with all remedial or corrective dealings in him disappear, and one new man comes before our view. Besides, there is love, the activity, as well as, the moral qualities, of His being. As He is outwardly called on, so there is everywhere the "one faith," which does not mean (alas! This is huge (Ephesians 3:18-19) Published by Lionel Windsor on May 17, 2019. Found inside – Page 188Romans 8:34 , THE MESSAGE . 61. See 1 Corinthians 15 : 19,25-26 . 62. Romans 8 : 38-39 , THE MESSAGE . 63. John 3:19 , NRSV . 64. See 1 Corinthians 4 : 5 ; Job 12:22 . ... 72. Matthew 7:12 , THE MESSAGE . 73. Ephesians 3 : 17-19 . 74. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,   16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;   17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,   18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;   19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. And to know the love of Christ - The love of Christ toward us; the immensity of redeeming love. "The four words seem intended to indicate, not so much the thoroughness of the comprehension as the vastness of the thing to be comprehended." This only we know, that the love of Christ surpasses all knowledge. Out of all the commentaries I've purchased or read for Ephesians I would rate FF Bruce highest, Stott second and O'Brien third. "Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end." He might have been pleased to choose none; but if we are to be brought into His presence at all, it is impossible to be there without having the divine nature, in a moral sense (and, of course, one only speaks of this). I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. Interrupting himself, Paul makes mention of God's grace ( 1-2 ) a. Certainly not in the first man Adam. This one is the true Father. (Ephesians 1:1) It was pre-eminently for this that he had been chosen as an apostle; and he represents his apostleship not here as a question of calling, but "by the will of God:" everything in this epistle flows from the will of God; "to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.". Than these nothing less becomes those so blessed.

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