The Ultimate Father’s Day Gift, The Father Does the Giving!!!
Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason” #2: (See 3:1) Paul is now getting back to the description of his prayer for all the saints after his “digression” into explaining his knowledge as to this mystery of the International makeup of the Body of Christ.
Vs 14-15 “I bow my knees”– The two best Bible study “tools”.
“To the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”– Remember chapter 1? Paul there laid out the Glorious Truth that this Adopted International Family is all the Father’s Idea, He Being the Bosom of the Love, Will, and Purpose of the Glorious Triune God. This FATHER is the goal of all that Jesus came to do and is still doing—“No one comes to THE FATHER but by ME.” John 17:26 “I have declared to them YOUR NAME.” Father & pronouns referring to the Father occur 56 times in this “High Priestly Prayer” chapter.
“Of our Lord Jesus Christ”–Remember, the Father’s Will & Purpose is fulfilled ONLY through the Father’s gathering together IN ONE all things IN CHRIST.” Eph. 1:10
Vs 15 “From Whom (The Father-“to Himself 1:5, Rev. 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:3-4) the WHOLE (INTERNATIONAL) FAMILY in heaven and earth is named”. This is that supposedly mysterious 144,000 in the book of Revelation. See Rev. 7:4; 14:1,3; 21:16-17 (measurement of New Jerusalem, the “people city”). His name is on their foreheads, their Family Likeness is evidenced in their behavior which is according to the Father Prayer of Matt.6:9-13, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" is their daily prayer.
And remember, this grand gift is because of 2:4, “But God, Who Is Rich in Mercy, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US.” That’s FATHER LOVE!!!
Vs 16-17 Here is Paul’s request, the Triune God’s working to cause “the whole building, being joined together, to grow into a holy temple in the Lord.” (2:21-22)
“That He would grant you”–All growth in this body, all joining together, all bearing the Family Likeness–all is through the Gracious Will of the Father, all is out of the undiminishing Resource of the Father’s Glory by Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
Inner man strengthening–here is our desperate need! By our natural birth, our inner man is like a bowl full of Jello, constantly wavering & jiggling according to which lie is impacting us at the moment. Lies are the soil of the inner man for every human born into this world. Our inward motivations that govern our behavior are set in place by the Lie of the evil one. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:5b) Our godhood motivation, and therefore it's utter futility, sets the stage for an inner man filled with anxiety, fear, control, arrogance, anger, whatever flavor of lie we choose to protect our attempts at godhood. I have a hunch that the psychosis and neurosis that plague mankind are the result of the constant failure of our "godhood attempts".
The new man, birthed by the Holy Spirit, has the Spirit’s work at the outset, (Rom. 8:1-10) giving a new Substance in the inner man–Christ dwelling in our hearts (inner man) by faith, a Faith Fortress!!! Notice, our New Man has a new “amniotic fluid” in the inner man. Not Jello, but faith! And faith gives Substance to the inner man–the Spirit brings Christ to dwell there! (Jn 14:15-18)
This operation of the Spirit brings a Life giving and Life transforming soil into the inner man. “That you being rooted and grounded IN LOVE”. Recall Romans 5:5 where the Spirit’s first work is spoken of as “the Love of God is poured out (shed abroad KJV) in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who is given to us.” This is not our love for Him, but “God’s great love wherewith He loved us!!!” (Eph 2:4) This incredible Love, this Love that Acted while we were yet sinners, and continues to Act while we are yet sinners (that’s what we do best-sin), this Love is the only soil out of which this “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” can grow!!!
Fallen man lives in a continual “death fear”. Hebrews speaks of this In saying that Jesus died in order to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:15) This is why “I”, “My” dominates his vocabulary! He desperately wants the security that he lost in the “Great Divorce”. This is the source of all our wars and rumors of war–personally as well a governmentally. “Death fear” is a terrible task master. But “There is no fear in Love; but PERFECT LOVE casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him (and are only able to love, period) BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” (I John 4:18-19) Therefore, this rooting and grounding in the Love of Christ is foundational to all that follows.
Vs 18-19 “That we may be able to comprehend with all the saints”. Notice once again, the “body context” of Paul’s prayer. We must comprehend this together! (We will cover this in Eph. 4, and this “body context” isn’t optional)
Comprehend-#2638- To take eagerly–to seize, possess, apprehend. To lay hold of so as to posses as ones own. To seize upon, take possession of with a beneficial effect. NSESBW
“What is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ.” Paul starts out trying to measure this “Love Curriculum”, and seems to conclude that this seeking to comprehend the immeasurable is “to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.” It takes far more than a brain to figure out the Love of Christ. This comprehension isn’t found at the tree of knowledge, it is only found at the Tree of Life! It takes a humbled and hungry heart! (Remember the disciples in John 6–“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life.)
Here’s the point, whatever your sin, whatever lie from your past you have bought into, whatever fear shakes you to your emotional core and governs your life, none of these “old man” definitions can stand up to the Eternal, immeasurable Love of Christ.
“That you may be filled with all the fullness of God”. If God is Love, and He has poured out His Love in our hearts by His Spirit, then the only way to the Fullness of that Love is to learn Christ, for Jesus said, “He that has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Remember Col. 2:9-10, “For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him. Again in Col. 1:19 we read, “For It pleased the Father that in Him All the fullness should dwell.” I cannot comprehend what the “fullness of God” is, but I know where it is found–in the knowledge of the Love of Christ!!! “And this is Life Eternal, that they may know You and Jesus Christ Whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
Vs 20 The Father Who is Exceedingly Abundant is able to do exceedingly abundantly above our wildest prayer for increased understanding of the Love of Christ. #1 We cannot comprehend how much He Loves His Beloved Son. #2 We cannot comprehend how much He loves us! But He has put the Holy Spirit of Understanding in our hearts to constantly work out the increase our understanding and awe at both truths. (I John 5:20)
Vs 21 And finally, Paul prays that through this Divinely ordained process, all the Glory of our Father’s Goodness may be seen in the International Church, the called out body of His Beloved Son, this Dwelling Place of God in the Spirit throughout all ages, unto eternity!!! And therein lies the Purpose in our salvation, our being adopted and given eternal life–that we should live as dear children (Eph. 5:1), unto the praise of our Father’s Goodness before the principalities and powers in heavenly places in all eternity!!! (Eph. 3:10)
Happy adopted children’s day from the Best Father in all of Eternity!!!
Ephesians 3:14-21
“For this reason” #2: (See 3:1) Paul is now getting back to the description of his prayer for all the saints after his “digression” into explaining his knowledge as to this mystery of the International makeup of the Body of Christ.
Vs 14-15 “I bow my knees”– The two best Bible study “tools”.
“To the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”– Remember chapter 1? Paul there laid out the Glorious Truth that this Adopted International Family is all the Father’s Idea, He Being the Bosom of the Love, Will, and Purpose of the Glorious Triune God. This FATHER is the goal of all that Jesus came to do and is still doing—“No one comes to THE FATHER but by ME.” John 17:26 “I have declared to them YOUR NAME.” Father & pronouns referring to the Father occur 56 times in this “High Priestly Prayer” chapter.
“Of our Lord Jesus Christ”–Remember, the Father’s Will & Purpose is fulfilled ONLY through the Father’s gathering together IN ONE all things IN CHRIST.” Eph. 1:10
Vs 15 “From Whom (The Father-“to Himself 1:5, Rev. 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:3-4) the WHOLE (INTERNATIONAL) FAMILY in heaven and earth is named”. This is that supposedly mysterious 144,000 in the book of Revelation. See Rev. 7:4; 14:1,3; 21:16-17 (measurement of New Jerusalem, the “people city”). His name is on their foreheads, their Family Likeness is evidenced in their behavior which is according to the Father Prayer of Matt.6:9-13, "Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" is their daily prayer.
And remember, this grand gift is because of 2:4, “But God, Who Is Rich in Mercy, BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE WITH WHICH HE LOVED US.” That’s FATHER LOVE!!!
Vs 16-17 Here is Paul’s request, the Triune God’s working to cause “the whole building, being joined together, to grow into a holy temple in the Lord.” (2:21-22)
“That He would grant you”–All growth in this body, all joining together, all bearing the Family Likeness–all is through the Gracious Will of the Father, all is out of the undiminishing Resource of the Father’s Glory by Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
Inner man strengthening–here is our desperate need! By our natural birth, our inner man is like a bowl full of Jello, constantly wavering & jiggling according to which lie is impacting us at the moment. Lies are the soil of the inner man for every human born into this world. Our inward motivations that govern our behavior are set in place by the Lie of the evil one. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:5b) Our godhood motivation, and therefore it's utter futility, sets the stage for an inner man filled with anxiety, fear, control, arrogance, anger, whatever flavor of lie we choose to protect our attempts at godhood. I have a hunch that the psychosis and neurosis that plague mankind are the result of the constant failure of our "godhood attempts".
The new man, birthed by the Holy Spirit, has the Spirit’s work at the outset, (Rom. 8:1-10) giving a new Substance in the inner man–Christ dwelling in our hearts (inner man) by faith, a Faith Fortress!!! Notice, our New Man has a new “amniotic fluid” in the inner man. Not Jello, but faith! And faith gives Substance to the inner man–the Spirit brings Christ to dwell there! (Jn 14:15-18)
This operation of the Spirit brings a Life giving and Life transforming soil into the inner man. “That you being rooted and grounded IN LOVE”. Recall Romans 5:5 where the Spirit’s first work is spoken of as “the Love of God is poured out (shed abroad KJV) in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who is given to us.” This is not our love for Him, but “God’s great love wherewith He loved us!!!” (Eph 2:4) This incredible Love, this Love that Acted while we were yet sinners, and continues to Act while we are yet sinners (that’s what we do best-sin), this Love is the only soil out of which this “dwelling place of God in the Spirit” can grow!!!
Fallen man lives in a continual “death fear”. Hebrews speaks of this In saying that Jesus died in order to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:15) This is why “I”, “My” dominates his vocabulary! He desperately wants the security that he lost in the “Great Divorce”. This is the source of all our wars and rumors of war–personally as well a governmentally. “Death fear” is a terrible task master. But “There is no fear in Love; but PERFECT LOVE casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him (and are only able to love, period) BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” (I John 4:18-19) Therefore, this rooting and grounding in the Love of Christ is foundational to all that follows.
Vs 18-19 “That we may be able to comprehend with all the saints”. Notice once again, the “body context” of Paul’s prayer. We must comprehend this together! (We will cover this in Eph. 4, and this “body context” isn’t optional)
Comprehend-#2638- To take eagerly–to seize, possess, apprehend. To lay hold of so as to posses as ones own. To seize upon, take possession of with a beneficial effect. NSESBW
“What is the width and length and depth and height–to know the love of Christ.” Paul starts out trying to measure this “Love Curriculum”, and seems to conclude that this seeking to comprehend the immeasurable is “to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.” It takes far more than a brain to figure out the Love of Christ. This comprehension isn’t found at the tree of knowledge, it is only found at the Tree of Life! It takes a humbled and hungry heart! (Remember the disciples in John 6–“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life.)
Here’s the point, whatever your sin, whatever lie from your past you have bought into, whatever fear shakes you to your emotional core and governs your life, none of these “old man” definitions can stand up to the Eternal, immeasurable Love of Christ.
“That you may be filled with all the fullness of God”. If God is Love, and He has poured out His Love in our hearts by His Spirit, then the only way to the Fullness of that Love is to learn Christ, for Jesus said, “He that has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Remember Col. 2:9-10, “For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in Him. Again in Col. 1:19 we read, “For It pleased the Father that in Him All the fullness should dwell.” I cannot comprehend what the “fullness of God” is, but I know where it is found–in the knowledge of the Love of Christ!!! “And this is Life Eternal, that they may know You and Jesus Christ Whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
Vs 20 The Father Who is Exceedingly Abundant is able to do exceedingly abundantly above our wildest prayer for increased understanding of the Love of Christ. #1 We cannot comprehend how much He Loves His Beloved Son. #2 We cannot comprehend how much He loves us! But He has put the Holy Spirit of Understanding in our hearts to constantly work out the increase our understanding and awe at both truths. (I John 5:20)
Vs 21 And finally, Paul prays that through this Divinely ordained process, all the Glory of our Father’s Goodness may be seen in the International Church, the called out body of His Beloved Son, this Dwelling Place of God in the Spirit throughout all ages, unto eternity!!! And therein lies the Purpose in our salvation, our being adopted and given eternal life–that we should live as dear children (Eph. 5:1), unto the praise of our Father’s Goodness before the principalities and powers in heavenly places in all eternity!!! (Eph. 3:10)
Happy adopted children’s day from the Best Father in all of Eternity!!!