Says a good divine, "It is one of the greatest glories of the Church of Christ, that our mighty Maker, and our Friend, always chooses our inheritance for us." According to Jeremiah 9:2324. The power of God in our lives is the result of being Spirit filled and we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. We, who are God's tillage, must make no bargain with his ploughshare, and withhold no acre from the operations of his Spirit. I askask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of gloryto make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust himendless energy, boundless strength! The church, redeemed by the blood of Jesus, is similarly called: You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10). Are you praying the promises of God for yourself and your family and the body of Christ? Click for additional discussion on some of the aspects of the hope of this calling. We have His "seal" on us, and more accurately within us in the presence of His Holy Spirit. God called the entire nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). (If not it should be - see Jesus' command in Mt 5:16-note! Lots were drawn to discover the will of the gods. 3. the mighty power by which he energizes them.[71]. But their willingness to persevere assured victory, for Hannibal could never conquer them. They will give us the hope and eternal perspective that we need to endure trials. It is according to the working (energeian, energetic power, from which comes the Eng. But this is as impossible to our unaided energy, as for the swallow to follow the majestic flight of the golden eagle, soaring sunward. Inheritance (2817) (kleronomiafrom kleros = a lot + nemo = to distribute) (see study of related Kleronomos) (see second word study kleronomia) is originally a portion which one receives by lot in a general distribution. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. It is but a step from the bosom of the Father to His right hand. Hartzler. It is Christs coming to take His own to be with Himself. Even though He has given humankind the freedom to make choices, His choices have already been made (Exodus 33:19;Romans 9:1018). ", It is power. (Lehman Strauss Commentary Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians- online). 3:20). Now we are drowning in a sea of false religions and New Age philosophies. CD players dont have needles, he said, laughing. It is truth too magnificent for words to describe which is why even Gods own revelation requires illumination of His Spirit in order for believers to begin to understand the magnitude of the blessings of salvation that exist for saints. How can we fail with Him as our Head and with such power at our disposal? In the first instance it means a lot. It was Paul who rejoiced in the confident hope that we have in Christ Jesus and he longed that others too would come to a real understanding of the incomparable riches of His grace which is expressed in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus, and so Paul prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which God has called us - the riches of His glorious inheritance in US - His holy, called-out people. The KJV has a unique and memorable way of translating this verse And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power", Paxson - God would then tell us that in this wonder-working power is all that is needed for the commencement, continuance and consummation of our salvation: that it is all-sufficient for every demand made upon the saint in appropriating his wealth, in walking worthily of his high calling, and in wrestling victoriously against Satanic powers. For less than $5/mo. 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. From a primary elpo; expectation or confidence. Eido/oida is not so much that which is known by experience as an intuitive insight that is drilled into one's heart. It sounds like religious hype. But even though he has reached it, several years must pass before he can understand its value, or compel it to minister, with all its products, to his need. When you buy a new gadget, it comes with an owners manual that tells you how to operate it. Ephesians 1:18-19 Commentary | Precept Austin (Bible Knowledge Commentary), In another note Hoehner writes that "The word kleronomia occurred in Eph 1:14 and basically means property, possession, or inheritance. Hope gives us the assurance that we are going toward something better than this present life. Rom. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that (purpose clause- ask "What purpose?") Second is energeia (working), the energizing force of the Spirit that empowers believers to live for the Lord. Proud member The fact that God exerted such mighty power to save us implies that His same mighty power will keep us. Thus, Love the Lord thy God with all thy strength (Mk 12:30): according to the working of his mighty power (Eph. In referring to those who believe Paul goes beyond the initial act of faith in God for salvation and speaks of a continuing and growing faith. (Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook, 2002 Edition), Robert Gundry -The heart was considered an organ of knowing as well as of feeling. that it might be soon! Verse of the Day , Ephesians 1:18 Treasury of Scripture Knowing, God, My Praise (Study In God - All I Need-19). In that verse protected means to keep or guard and reflects Peters confidence that salvation is inviolable. There is nothing too difficult for him. The Message Compact Bible--soft leather-look, black, The Message//REMIX 2.0, Purple Swirl - Imperfectly Imprinted Bibles, The Message Deluxe Gift Bible--soft leather-look, amethyst gem, The Message of Hope: Discover Meaning and Purpose for Your Life - eBook. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. Some of the fairest hopes that ever blessed human vision; the most delightful friendships; the most perfect dreams of delight, have faded and withered before our eyes. They dont know the reality of heaven. Look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all this land is given to thee! Throughout Ephesians 1 Paul is clearly struck with the magnificence of our inheritance in Christ. The soul, as is written, The soul of man is the lamp of the Lord (Prov. You have given us freedom, hallelujah So the kindred adjective . The hope of His calling is to see Him and be one with Him. Both views are theologically sound, but the second seems more consistent with Pauls emphasis in Eph 1:11 and Eph 1:14. No longer bound by sin and darkness (You set us free) Proud member God intends that His work be accomplished by His power. It is His capability to function effectively. A. 1:19; Eph. All rights reserved. Might (2479) (ischus) (see note by Wayne Barber ischus) refers to power as an enduement. Ischus is the inherent ability which stresses the factuality of the ability, not necessarily the accomplishment. Paul Rader, former wrestler and boxer, became one of the most powerful evangelists of the early 20th century. I have riches of value untold. ANSWER -The Bible often mentions people being called by God for a specific ministry or service. 6:10-13). He does not tell us, but other words in this letter, in the other great prayer which it contains, may help us to supply the missing words. It is an amazing thought (which calls for an appropriate response) that as believers in Christ we are no longer our own but that we belong to God. Be diligent to pray and spend time in the Word so that your spiritual progress will be evident to all (1 Tim. ANSWER -Ephesians 1contains Pauls amazing prayer for the believers in Ephesus. Fourth is ischus (might), which carries the idea of endowed power or ability. We can read the promises of God and be certain of Gods ability to fulfill those promises, even those of redemption, resurrection, andglorification. 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. Whereas the first and second concepts to be understood dealt with the past and future respectively, the third deals with the power of God in the present time toward believers. 19:25; 47:6; 63:17; Jer. Well, if you're in Christ, and Christ is at the right hand of God, where are you? She asks her Bible study group to pray with her about the matter. What a tragedy when believers do the same thing with the riches they possess in Christ, failing to really possess their possessions! Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural. 2:12) as, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.. Sometimes both terms are used interchangeably for nahlh (e.g. Paul desires that they truly know these magnificent, priceless truths! On the other hand, eido/oida often refers more to an intuitive knowledge, although this distinction is not always clear cut. Nu. of each person. After the supplies had been purchased and were being loaded in the wagon, the owner of the store said to the boy, "Son, you have been such a good boy, I'm going to let you put your hand in the candy jar and get all the candy you can grab." It is not as under the laws of primogeniture, that one child takes all, while the younger children are dismissed with meagre allowances. This is obvious when the writer of Genesis says that Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived (Gen. 4:1 ESV, emphasis added). The boy responded, "I wasn't shy. Compatibility Mechanical: 64 Bit (x64) Each soul has the whole of God. Remember that the first three chapters are doctrine but the last three are "duty," calling for a walk "in step" with the doctrinal truths. spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." They have raised harvests of bread out of the Incarnation; and vintages of blood-red grape from the scenes of Gethsemane and Calvary; and pomegranates and all manner of fruit out of the mysteries of the Ascension and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ephesians 1:18 I. We need to step out in faith and this means faith that obeys (enabled by the Spirit). 17 But I do more than thank. 9:15; 1 Pet. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. (See The Oneness of Covenant), Harold Hoehner -Paul then used three additional words to describe Gods power. to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called". Paul shows the proper relationship of faith and works in this letter, explaining that believers are God's, "workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." He has just prayed that God would give to them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have resurrection power! A strong man (Mt. Odes Sol. Lord, where are You? you cry. She contacts a Christian organization that operates orphanages in Europe and learns they have an opening for a worker. It means to attain a degree that extraordinarily exceeds a point on a scale of extent. Hither the Apostle Paul first went after he had been at Corinth, though he then made but a short stay; when he came thither again, he found twelve disciples, and was the instrument of making a great many more: here he continued two or three years and formed a Gospel church, very large and flourishing, to whom he writes this epistle; and which was written by him when he was a prisoner at Rome, as appears by several passages in it, \Eph 3:1 4:1 6:20\, and seems to have been written much about the same time as were the epistles to the Philippians, and to the Colossians, and to Philemon.