God’s plan – Ephesians 3
This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,9 and to make everyone see[c] what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[d] God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. 13 I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
Prayer for the Readers
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family[h] in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
What does the passage say?
V. 1-6 Paul re-emphasizes how important it is for the church to welcome and treat the Gentiles, non-Jews, equally. The culture might allow them to discriminate each other, but according to Paul, the Gospel doesn’t support such act. The cultural mindset embedded in the people are not allowing the people to live in the true promise in Jesus.
How does this passage speak to us?
V. 7-13 Then Paul shares how his purpose in life is to share this ‘Simple Gospel.’ The Gospel Paul share is simple. It is a gift shared with everyone. Since we received it freely, we should share it with others freely.
V. 14-21 Paul continues to pray for the church, so it may continue its work of sharing and living in this ‘Simple Gospel.’
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love. may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 4:17-19 NIV
What does this mean to me/us
While I was reading this passage, a song started playing in my mind. It wasn’t a Christain song. It was Bee Gee’s ‘How Deep is your Love.’
I had to look up the song and look into the lyrics, and I was surprised. It says, “You’re my savior when I fall.” The Chorus asks this questions.
How deep is your love, how deep is your love
How deep is your love?
I really mean to learn
‘Cause we’re living in a world of fools
Breaking us down when they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
Do we understand how deep and wide and long and how high the love of Christ is? If we truly understand it, why are we acting like the believers in Ephesus?
The theology of being the chosen ones made the Jewish people covered by this deep love. They didn’t consider the people as God saw them; all equal in God’s eyes.
Are we, as people of God, doing the same thing as the Jews? How can we truly understand the depth of God’s Love today?
What does this MEAN to you?
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