In Eph 1:3-14 Paul writes about stunning truths: God's eternal plan, decided on before the creation of the world, to adopt many children for Himself from fallen mankind - and to unite them with the rest of creation under the headship of His Son, in order to glorify Himself (Eph 1:6, 12, 14).
Then, from v.15, he tells the church in Ephesus what he is continually praying for them. He is so enthusiastic, that he uses word after word to bring it across. Let us now focus on this prayer.
A spirit of wisdom and of revelation (17-19)
If you look closely at this prayer, you notice that Paul is really asking the Father for only one thing - that He will give the Ephesians "a spirit of wisdom and of revelation" (17).
Why is this his plea? Because this will help them in two ways: First, they will grow in their knowledge of God the Father (17). Second, they will understand their inheritance in Christ all the better (18-19).
On this second part of his prayer (their inheritance in Christ) Paul then expands. It involves 3 things (18-19).
First, the hope to which they have been called.
Second, the riches of this glorious inheritance.
Third, the immeasurable greatness of God's power (Gr. dunamis) which is already at work in them, and which guarantees the fulfilment of the hope and the final taking possession of the riches he has mentioned.
So excited he is about this power at work in them, that he uses another 3 words in v.19b to emphasise it. The NASB translates: "working" (energeia - activity); "strength" (kratos - exercised power); "might" (ischus - great inherent might).
This power in Christ's resurrection (20-21)
Paul continues, focussing on the third point above - God's power (20vv). It is the same power which worked in Christ after the crucifixion. It has therefore been manifested before. Just consider what this power was able to do in God's Son. The apostle is so excited about this, that he uses 3 verbs to emphasise it (20, ESV).
One, the Father "worked" this power in Christ (to effectively bring about something) - and in the process created life in Him (NASB: "brought about").
Two, with this power He "raised" Christ.
Three, with this power He "seated" Christ at His right hand in heaven, far above all "rule" and "authority" and "power" and "dominion", and above "every name that is named" - not only in this age, but also in the one to come.
Implications for the church (v.22-23)
Once again the apostle focusses on the church. He can not talk about the glorified Lord Jesus without thinking of His church. Why? Because there is an unbreakable and organic unity and bond between the Head and the body - which means that Christ's sovereign authority of neccesity has enormous implications for His church. And this is what Paul writes about in Ch.2 - in overwhelming terms!
Fallen man's wretched condition (2:1-3)
In order to emphasise the glory of what God does for the Church all the better, the apostle first describes the pathetic and wretched state in which the saved found themselves before their salvation.
Eph 2:1-3 gives us some truths of the most profound theological importance.
According to this 3 things are true of unsaved man - man in Adam.
One, spiritually he is dead in his trespasses (the God-provoking crossing of boundaries set by the Law-giver) and sins (his failures to meet God's standards of righteousness) (1).
Two, he is a slave of the world, the Devil, and the flesh (2-3).
Three, by nature he is under God's wrath (3).
"But God" ... the music of salvation (4-6)
Eph 2:4-6 then is music in redeemed ears.
It starts with words around which man's eternal redemption hinges: "But God ..." (comp. also Rm 3:21; Col 1:22; Tit 3:4).
When they were still powerlessly caught up in the terrible condition of Adam's descendants, God in His mercy did three things:
One, with Christ He brought to life those who had been dead in their sins and trespasses (v.5).
Two, with Christ He raised those who had been under His wrath (v.6a).
Three, they have been seated with Christ in the heavens (6b).
Certain things to be clearly noted
• In 2:5-6 Paul creates 3 new Greek verbs by combining the preposition, "together with" (Gr. sun) with an existing verb. In this way he underlines that these 3 things which happen to believers are completely due to their unity with Christ. This is one of the New Testament's most fundamental emphases.
• All 3 these new verbs are in the past tense. They describe completed facts concerning those in Christ. It implies that, if your are truly in Christ, this very moment three things are true of you - in principle.
One, you, who were dead in your sins and trespasses, have been brought to life.
Two, with Christ you have been raised, and are forgiven and justified.
Three, in principle you are seated with Christ in heaven.
This can only be understood in terms of the believers union with Christ - who was personally and historically brought to life, raised from the grave, and then ascended to heaven.
• The verb "have been saved" (5, 8) is passive. This therefore happens to the sinner; it is being done to him or her. He makes no contribution (9a). This does not mean that he remains passive after salvation; on the contrary. After all, he has been saved exactly for the reason that he would do good works (10).
Furthermore, the verb speaks of a present reality as an outflow of something which happened in the past (the "Perfect tense" = the English "Present Perfect"). This implies that salvation is something permanent.
• All this flow from God's grace (5, 8). And the purpose of this is that our salvation will glorify Christ for all eternity (7).
"Grace" refers to the wonderful favour saved sinners receive from God - in spite of the fact that God was under no obligation to favour them. No-one therefore has any claim to this immense privilege - to the contrary. That is why nobody can glory (9).
Paul's line of argument
The apostle's argument can now be summarised.
• As Christ was made alive (1:20),
So we have been made alive with Him (2:5);
and this was necessary because we had been dead spiritually (2:1).
• As Christ was raised from death (1:20),
só we have been raised with Him (2:6a);
and this was neccesary because we had been under God's wrath (2:3).
• As Christ was seated at the right hand of the Father (1:20),
só we have been made to sit with Him (2:6);
and this was necessary because we had been in slavery (2:2-3).
From what we have seen, it is clear how we should understand the apostle here: when we were made alive out of our state of spiritual death, we were born again And when we were raised from under the wrath of God, we were justified.
But what does it mean when the Bible says that we were made to sit with Christ in heaven?
In 1:21ff the apostle emphasizes that Christ has been seated in a position of authority over the powers of darkness. Without doubt he wants to emphasize that, when we were made to sit with Christ in the heavens, we were also placed in a position of authority - over the flesh, the world, and the Devil and his hosts! This has profound implications - implications we too easily forget.
In closing
Unfortunately we hardly have time for some application. Let us limit ourselves to a remark or two.
• As what has been revealed here is not primarily experiential truth, but ontological truth, we have to embrace it in faith, whether we "feel" it or not. But once you do embrace it, it makes a world's difference. This is why it has been revealed to us.
• If you know for sure that old things have passed away for you, and that everything has become new (2Cor 5:17) - that the Lord has therefore regenerated you in His grace - remind yourself again and again about your sublime position in Christ. Of course there is no place for arrogance and pride in a Christian's life. We are not talking about a man-centred swollen head. But know this:
One, you have been called to fight against sin on the front foot. You do not háve to give in to any temptation. We háve been equipped for victory.
This is not to say that we will never fail. Everyone of us still has much to grow. But I am quite sure all of us can do much better than we do presently, not so!
Two, it is our Father's wil that we bear fruit, much fruit, abiding fruit - to the glory of our Lord. But the moment we start forgetting who we are in Christ, it brings to an abrupt end our fruit-bearing.
Let this truth - that you enjoy a position of authority in Christ - be written on the tablets of your heart, and you will be surprised about the practical outworking of it in your life.
Nico van der Walt
• Nico van der Walt subscribes to the historically respected and internationally recognized 1689 Baptist Confession as well as the Confession of Sola 5, an association of God-centred evangelicals in Southern Africa.
• A study similar to this one is being sent regularly in English or Afrikaans by e-mail to all who have personally requested it.
• Subscriptions, changes of address, cancellations and correspondence: Postnet Suite 148, Private Bag X1, Northcliff, 2115, South Africa.
E: nico.vanderwalt@reformed.org.za ;
Tel. 011 476 2907; 082 848 9396.
• Blogs: http://sermonsheraldstitbits.blogspot.com/ (Eng.); http://antipasherout.blogspot.com/ (Afr.)
• No copyright. Free to preach, or duplicate, or forward electronically.
