He said, "It's not like you to be shy." And so the ESV Study Bible comments that "The inheritance here is not the Christians inheritance but his (Gods). It is reserved in heaven for you. In either case Pauls point is clear: redemption and its accompanying blessings are so profound that we must have supernatural help to understand them. All you need to know about EPF higher pension scheme Why? 1:18). (1Pe 1:3-5-See notes 1 Peter 1:3; 1:4; 1:5), Comment: Our "living hope" guarantees our inheritance, our protection until the revelation of our the final aspect of our salvation - glorification - when Christ returns "in the last time", Hoehner explains the relation of hope and calling -The genitive that follows (, calling) could be a genitive of source, hope has its origin in his call or more likely a subjective genitive hope produced by his calling (cf. Blessing upon blessings! To which is added another, and that is redemption; the author of which is Christ; the price, or procuring and meritorious cause of it is his blood; a branch of which is forgiveness of sins; and the whole is according to the plenteous and free grace of God, Eph 1:7, the entire plan and scheme of which is the produce of abundant wisdom and prudence, Eph 1:8, and is no other than the mystery of the will of God revealed in the Gospel, according to his sovereign will and purpose, Eph 1:9, which lay hid within himself until the fulness of times, or the Gospel dispensation, in which Christ being sent, has gathered all together in himself, Eph 1:10, through whom the saints enjoy the inheritance they are adopted to in predestination, which is the effect of an unfrustrable purpose, and a wise counsel and will, Eph 1:11. Lawrence Richards has a pithy comment stating that "One way to build our own prayer lives, and to direct our intercession for others, is to model our prayers on those found in Scripture. Thats why Jesus said no one can snatch you out of the Fathers hand (John 10:29). How did God respond to Pauls prayer to remove his thorn in the flesh? He will occupy and keep thee. (The Wealth, Walk and Warfare of the Christian). (John 13:7). The heart is the seat of emotions in some cultures, but in the Greek culture it was not. Lastly, in the text mark the union of the new life to Jesus. 1:31; 2:10, 19, 21; 3:1; 10:13, 33; 11:2; 23:4, 11; 28:6; 29:2; 30:15; 33:11, 13; 37:3; 40:9f, 26, 29, 31; 41:1; 42:13; 44:12; 45:1; 47:5, 9; 49:4f, 26; 51:9; 52:1; 58:1; 61:6; 62:8; 63:1, 15; Jer. This earnest prayer reveals the infinite importance of knowledge as a foundation for walking worthy in this Christian life. Maybe youre saying, Is that ever true! One might think of ischus as God's latent power. His faith that God will strengthen me properly transcendent and immeasurable, and passes thought and desire and knowledge. Note that Paul writes to living saints (not dead ones), people who have put faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:7+so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians He has riches untold. Moth and rust cannot consume, nor thieves break through to steal. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? And so he prays that these saints might be able to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth (Eph 3:18) of the great truths in chapter one, so that they might be enabled by the indwelling Spirit and the riches of God's grace (DOCTRINAL TRUTH IN CHAPTERS 1-3) to order their steps so that they "walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called." It always has the meaning of an effective power which does things and which any man can recognize." Sometimes the passing enticements of this world seek to blind our eyes to the riches of the glorious inheritance that we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus said thats the way the Kingdom is. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? 19:25; 47:6; 63:17; Jer. Ephesians 1:18 (NASB) Verse Thoughts All believers have been called by grace, out of darkness into His glorious light. But the antidote to these dangers is not to remain ignorant. 19:8; 2 Ki. Mighty strength in our inner being, "through His Spirit" (Ephesians 3:16-note). Paul would have us appreciate our dignity. Paul accomplished his work for the Lord through the strength the Lord supplied, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me (Col. 1:29). 2:916). The Greek tense is aorist imperative which speaks in context of a request in the form of a command and speaks of urgency and need) my eyes, that I may behold (careful, sustained, and favorable contemplation - LXX translates with katanoeo from kata = down + noeo is literally to the the mind down on and speaks of giving very careful consideration to some matter, think about very carefully, consider closely. Resurrection Power. This expression was often used metaphorically for faith (Pss. (Twenty-First Century Biblical Commentary), MacDonald - We have seen that the source of spiritual illumination is God; the channel is the Holy Spirit; and the supreme subject is the full knowledge of God. . These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might- Paul piles on the words in an attempt to describe the indescribably surpassing great power that is now available to every saint. (SeeThe Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!). A. Jesus used the word in this sense when He said, Many are called, but few are chosen (Matt. Another English word dynamite, is derived from dunamis and since dunamis is used by Paul to describe the "power of God", some have suggested that the gospel is "Gods dynamite". Proper understanding of spiritual truth is not dependent on having a keen intellect but rather a tender heart! On the way home, the father asked the boy why he didn't reach his own hand into the jar. Ephesians 1:1920is discussing Pauls earnest desire for the Ephesians to attain knowledge regarding the power of God toward the believer. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. In Ephesians 1:3-14 Paul had just summed up what their calling involved. Is not this the secret of any grace or wealth there is in Christian lives? So the dynamo of Christian living is within the believer because God is within the believer. And God's surpassing power is available to believers because we are in Christ and He is in us, these "positions" picturing an immutable union, a oneness, a solemn and binding covenant relationship. Gods power is awesome! (see note). 28:19; Acts 17:3031). The practical application of this is that your salvation does not rest on your choosing Christ, but rather on His choosing you. (Ephesians 1:19) We are bidden to follow our Master in his up ward track, and to sit with Him, in daily happy experience, where He is already seated at the right hand of God. Note however that Paul did not pray for power to be given to believers. energy) of the might (kratous, power that overcomes resistance, as in Christs miracles; this word is used only of God, never of believers) of Gods inherent strength (ischyos) which He provides (cf. Paul is praying "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes . Don't miss out on this "once in a lifetime" opportunity! 18:23, 24.; 32:18, 19.; Josh 17:4; cf. Eph 1:21+ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Observe that the power which raised Christ from the dead was glorious. Wiersbe draws a fitting application of Paul's great prayer for our great need - "The greatest power shortage today is not in our generators or our gas tanks. Why is it important to know what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe? ANSWER -Ephesians 1contains Pauls amazing prayer for the believers in Ephesus. Hes not interested in the world. Surely not. The succession of ideas follows the order of conversion--first, "calling;" then acceptance to "inheritance;" lastly, "inward working of divine power" in the accepted. Well, if you're in Christ, and Christ is at the right hand of God, where are you? 19:23; Cant. A ministry that is College-trained but not Spirit-filled works no miracles. (A Day's Journey: 365 Daily Meditations from the Word), Jon Courson- And what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. 1:18. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:12). The new has come, Now I have resurrection power living on the inside I have total trust in You. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. Having been enlightened rests on the observation that you cant see in the dark and implies that the addressees used to live in mental darkness but that at conversion they were transferred into the realm of mental light, so that now they can see what the Spirit reveals to them (Eph 4:1718; Eph 5:8; Colossians 1:13). 2:14; 1 Pet. 8:32) assures you that He wont withhold lesser things, and consequently youll not tend to worry about earthly needs. In fact, the Greek word translated church in the New Testament means a called-out assembly. The call to salvation involves conforming us to the image of his Son. His election and call to salvation are part of an eternal plan for us that guarantees our inheritance in heaven: And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:2930). I feel now that I want to serve God, if He can use me, instead of making the goal of my life the making of money. Compare Peter's opening blessing for his readers in his second epistle Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge (epignosis) of God and of Jesus our Lord 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge (epignosis) of Him Who called us by His own glory and excellence. That's my prayer, that you'll understand it: "the exceeding greatness of His power" (Ephesians 1:19). It is from from which we get theocracy, the rule of God; autocracy, absolute rule; democracy, the rule of the people; and plutocracy, the rule of the wealthy. Is it not in the resurrection of those who were dead in trespasses and sins from their spiritual stupor and separation from God, releasing them from the shackles of sin and subservience to Satan and setting them free in Christ? Although the participle follows the hinaof Eph 1:17, it is awkward grammatically in the clause. ), "What I do you do not realize (eido- know beyond a shadow of a doubt) now, but you shall understand (ginosko- understand by your experience) hereafter. How might Pauls response influence you when you face difficulties? What a tragedy when believers do the same thing with the riches they possess in Christ, failing to really possess their possessions! The eyes of your heart will be enlightened! Paul always uses the word call to refer to this effectual call of God that actually saves the one called (Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians [Eerdmans], p. 75). 20:27) (Deut. 4:16; Phil. Just before His ascension Jesus assured the disciples, You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you (Acts 1:8), an enduement every believer receives at the time he is saved. Or the funds to go on the radio. 2:9; 2 Thess. (2Pe 2:11+). Eido/oida is distinguished from ginosko(epiginosko, epignosis - the other major NT word group for knowing) because ginosko generally refers to knowledge obtained by experience or "experiential knowledge". If the Christian message is true, the world is on the way not to dissolution but to consummation. Are you working it out with your tongue, and your brain and your nerves? . But because Israel rejected that call and followed idols, they never flourished in the way God wanted to prosper them. With his natural mind, man cannot understand the things of God. After all, what good is it to have wealth if you are too weak to use it? that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Odes Sol. He needs the Spirit to enlighten him (1 Cor. What we can get from God rather than what we can be to God is our continued concern. Its in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Pe 1:18-19), the Lord's portion has been fully redeemed. For fifteen years the Romans defended their homeland against the brilliant Carthaginianand could never drive him out. When He is seated at the right hand of God, so are we, in Christ. Ephesians 1:17-18 17 But I do more than thank. 1 Kings If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. The church cannot arise and go out as at other times, and this the Philistines well know." (Phillips: Touchstone), Wuest: and what is the superabounding greatness of His inherent power to us who are believing ones as measured by the operative energy of the manifested strength of His might, (Eerdmans Publishing- usedby permission). Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. As we step into the lifts which are attached to so many factories and offices, and expect them to bear us upward, never doubting for a moment that they will do it if only we keep in the line of their ascent; so, if we would keep in abiding fellowship with the Holy Spirit--i.e., if we would not wilfully step out of the range of his blessed help--we should find ourselves mounting with wings as eagles, and going from strength to strength. A calling, invitation; in the NT, always of a divine call. Why is it important to know what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints? Let that motivate you to praise your rich and glorious God for His rich and glorious inheritance! Thus as Christians, we should be filled with hope because we know that God has called us to salvation. The good news is that God's Word does promise riches to the believer. From phos; to shed rays, i.e. Paul wrote (Phil. Where do we find the power to overcome anger, resist greed, offer forgiveness, or pursue sexual purity? God has given us His Word as the manual for our salvation. I just love Jesus. Some even think that studying theology is spiritually dangerous. 1 Peter ", Colossians 1:29 records Paul's testimony: "I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.". When we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others. The Holy Spirit has sealed the believer, providing the necessary down payment to give assurance and security of the eternal destination to the believer (Ephesians 1:1314). But His riches are not in the universes that He possesses, nor in the substance of the earth that is His, but in the saints that He purchased at infinite cost, namely, the precious blood of His only begotten Son (I Pet. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2:9). Represented by Tyndale House Publishers. (See Ro 5:1, 2+). We are not in heaven yet; but we are as safe as if we were. Thank You, Father, in Jesus' name, AMEN. a patrimony or a possession. Jesus answered and said to him (to Peter who was a bit "put off" that Jesus was preparing to wash his dirty feet! God's incomparably great power helps us grow, change, love others. How much divine energy is at my disposal? God's power is made available to us by His indwelling presence. 6:9; 7:9; 8:7; Joel 2:22; Amos 2:14; 3:11; 5:9; 6:13; Mic. Hoehner adds that "According to Aristotle is actual power whereas is potential power. Of course, all these blessings are only for those who meet the conditions set forth in Eph 1:1-2 (ED: THOSE WHO BELIEVE). It is equivalent to "the energy of the strength of his might, which He energized in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at his own right hand in the heavenlies.". They will give us the hope and eternal perspective that we need to endure trials. Vine explains that genuine belief is a firm conviction of the truth, a surrender to that truth and a conduct that results from that surrender. (A Day's Journey: 365 Daily Meditations from the Word). (ED: AKA AS NOT "ABIDING IN CHRIST!" Vincent has a discussion of two related words ischus and dunamis (in his note on 2 Peter 2:11) -. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Therefore, not only do we have an inheritance (Eph 1:14) but He also has an inheritance (Eph 1:18). Or. of each person. (See The Oneness of Covenant), Harold Hoehner -Paul then used three additional words to describe Gods power. Reprinted by permission. Ephesians 1:18-19 - MSG Bible - Bible Study Tools So if youre having problems in your Christian life, if things dont seem to be working as they should, maybe its time to go back and read the owners manual! But glance first at Ephesians 1:17-18. This same power resides in believers because we are in Christ and He is in us. Peering around, he studied Rader. And may I know the riches of my glorious inheritance that is awaiting me and all who trust in Jesus as Saviour. Man can supply the energy, enterprise and enthusiasm for things human. How blessed is God! (Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith). God never has museums. So even though many of the translations are not perfectly accurate to the Gree, they all retain the essence of Paul's desire for the saints to "know" these three things beyond a shadow of a doubt. Glorified in the life that is life indeed. May God not find the whine in us any more, but may He find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings. QUESTION -Do believers really have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:1920)? And because the height of this mystery cannot be easily attained unto. That call became his motivating force. It was everlasting power. You have the reason why there is so little of vivid, vibrant joy in the things of God. Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. For Further Study: Read 1 Chronicles 29:1113. We belong to Somebody. Some take it to mean, the riches of the glory of the inheritance that comes from God and is enjoyed among the saints. In other words, they take it to be a prayer that we would come to know all of the spiritual blessings that God has given to us. True enlightenment continues to elude many because they have denied its source and have turned to gurus and teachers who have no light to give. Therefore, has the meaning of strength, might, dominion, mastery.(Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary), Kratos - 12v -Lk. That having the eyes of your heart enlightened. Salem Media Group. Paul does not want these believers to be like Chief Crowfoot. Take every opportunity in this long, long day youre in to thank the Father for the opportunity to store up treasure which will make you rich for eternity. Listen to his arguments here. Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. synkleronomos is a fellow heir, and kleronomeo means be an heir, inherit. See related in depth study of the Believer's Blessed Hope. He does everything he can to buy the field in which the treasure is buried. No longer bound by sin and darkness (You set us free) POWER FOR EVERY SAINT. To give light to, to illuminate. In other words, if we now have come to believe in Christ, we can know that it took nothing less than Gods mighty power to bring us to that point. Its in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home freesigned, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.
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