ephesians 1:18 the message ephesians 1:18 the message

Eido was found in the Greek secular writings to describe a theory or hypothesis which had been confirmed. (play "The Solid Rock"), Latter in Ephesians, Paul reminded the Gentile believers that in Christ they "were called in one hope of your calling (Eph 4:4+). The gospel call is given by men and is a universal call to repent and trust Christ for salvation (see, e.g., Matt. 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. Thus to believe is to obey and to stake one's life on the truth of the gospel manifesting a lifestyle in accordance with that truth. Paul's prayer that they come to intuitively, absolutely know the hope of their calling is in marked contrast to their former state as idol worshipping pagans who were without "hope and without God in the world." 31:3; Ezek. As for the worldling, God gives him anything, but for the Christian, God selects the best portion, and chooses his inheritance for him. Will Pauls prayer be answered in your life? Represented by Tyndale House Publishers. After Jonah was back on dry land, the word of the Lord came to him again with the same call, giving him another chance to obey. What did Paul ask? There are at least six ways that God wants us as believers to know the surpassing greatness of His power toward us: Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Gods Ultimate Purpose [Baker], pp. And as you pause to ponder, you are in effect beginning to practice the blessed discipline of Biblical Meditation. There is the general call of the gospel that goes out to all people. 19:11; Ezek. Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. Paul says this enlightenment is abiding and permanent state (See previous noteon what this means regarding the translation). Lord, where are You? you cry. Notice that pisteuo is in the present tense which describes those who are continuously believing as for example would be demonstrated by their lifestyle, which is generally (not perfectly) directed God-ward and Heaven-ward (homeward). The practical application of this is that your salvation does not rest on your choosing Christ, but rather on His choosing you. That we might know God better (Ep 1:17). It is a source of strength and stability amid the trials of life (1 Peter 3:1415). To shine or to brighten up. No longer bound by sin and darkness Paul describes unbelievers as (Eph. The resurrection power that raised up the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the power that works in every single believer. Oh, how we need to grow in our experience of it, because the struggles we face in life are not merely human conflicts. It is these riches that we must seek, enjoy, and use to glorify their sourceour heavenly Father.Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. I finally see what youre telling me, Lord!" Paul writes (Rom. WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Colossians (Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings). It is hope that Paul here links with Gods effectual call: Scholars are divided over whether hope refers to the subjective emotion or to the objective content of our promised blessings in Christ. In later Christianity this enlightening was equated with baptism (cf. From phos; to shed rays, i.e. Rather, it is constantly to be praying as you study the Word, Lord, enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I may know, love, and obey You better!. It may, however, be explained by a piece of farming that I learnt recently. It can be used of any kind of extraordinary power. There are enemies who want to rob us of our wealth (Eph 1:21; 6:11; 6:12 see notes Ep 1:21; 6:11; 6:12). Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35+); empowered by the Holy Spirit (Mt 3:16+, Lk 4:14+); filled with and led by the Holy Spirit (Mt 4:1+, Lk 4:1+). But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1Cor. 7 Ways To Keep From Killing Your Message By Carey Nieuwhof on March 1, 2023 Never apologize for your inner eyes! . 1:5). In following the call of God, we must be sure to obey His instructions in Scripture. Many Christians have a stick your head in the sand attitude when it comes to grappling with the difficult doctrines of the Bible. We so selfishly begin in our thinking with ourselves. He, she, it, they, them, same. I cant handle hearing all of the heartbreaking prayer requests for sick children, terminally ill relatives, and church members in financial turmoil.. You have given us freedom (You set us free), I have resurrection power living on the inside (You set us free) 15:56). You have the reason why there is so little of vivid, vibrant joy in the things of God. 1:19). But, since there are many who dispute it, allow me just to stir up your minds by way of remembrance, by mentioning certain facts which will lead you to see clearly that verily God does choose our lot, and apportion for us our inheritance. Click for multiple Scriptures dealing with the other view (#2) that the inheritance refers to what believers will inherit one day by virtue of their position in Christ. From her own people Rome raised an army, animated it with patriotism, and ordered it to fight. Hence, the translation takes the participle to form a part of the basis for the prayer. Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Romans 5:4,5 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: . His emphasis is on spiritual perception and real Christian character. That is, probably, "the thing hoped for," because promised, at our calling (as in Galatians 5:5; Colossians 1:5; Titus 2:3; Hebrews 6:18; and perhaps 1Timothy 1:1), for the other objects of knowledge with which it is here joined are certainly objective or external to ourselves. The ultimate hope for Christians is to be with their Lord (Rom 5:45; 8:20, 2425; 12:12; 15:13; Gal 5:5; Col 1:5; Titus 1:2) and they eagerly wait for his coming, unlike the heathen who have no hope (Eph 2:12; 1 Thess 4:1318; 5:8; Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:3). God's Word promises riches The new has come, Now I have resurrection power living on the inside Acts 16:14+ A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened (dianoigo) her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. The hope of his calling.--(See Ephesians 4:4.) If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. These refer to various kinds of ability ranging from physical/ mental expenditure (Genesis 31:6), sexual potency (Genesis 49:3), or Gods power (Exodus 9:16; 15:6). Don't you think it's time all Heaven broke loose? He wants them to fully grasp the nature of all three aspects of their salvation. Second, he exalted him at his right hand (v.20) to be head over everything for the church (vv. Illustration - Brian Harbour - Back many years ago, a young boy accompanied his father and mother as they took the wagon into town for supplies. We are not in heaven yet; but we are as safe as if we were. The first dealt with the past, where the hope was produced by the calling of his people to himself. God's people do not fight for victory but from victory! We belong to Somebody. (Matthew 13:31-32) He used the mustard seed to teach His disciples an important lesson about faith and victory. Dunamis is rather ability, faculty: not necessarily manifest, as ischus: power residing in one by nature. Physically, we are here; but, in Christ, we have been raised. I, Paul, am under Gods plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. (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. The gold and the silver and all the universes are His. - Now, I want to ask you a question: Are you sitting in this auditorium, this morning, or are you sitting in heavenly places? With His unlimited power, He also raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The shadows of secrecy or reserve on either side will blight a friendship in which all the conditions seem perfectly adjusted. Also the verb ischuooIt is good for nothing (Mt. (Eph 1:18ESV) Notice how this rendering places the emphasis on God as the One Who "inherits"! I want this day to be as a thousand years for you. The riches of His glory refers to the abundant, preeminent glory of God as displayed in His saints. What does the Bible say about how much power Christians possess? You cannot do anything for your salvation, but you must do something to manifest it, you must work out what God has worked in. 26:64), and so in classical Greek used to denote the magistrates or authorities. Our dear Father "has blessed (past tense - it is a completed act!) Exodus In the first instance it means a lot. Mark 12:30+ and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. There is nothing more to seek, nothing more to be given or received. It always has the meaning of an effective power which does things and which any man can recognize." [Beloved, do you really believe that is true? Be alert for attitudes or actions that need to be changed. The real work of a Church depends upon the power of the Spirit." (See the Three Tenses of Salvation), Lehman Strauss- And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe (1:19). Ezra 9:8 But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Not a portion of but proportionate to! The devil hopes you don't understand this. Notice here-. 3:1. What was Davids response to Gods power (v. 13)? (cf Ps 42:1, Mt 5:6+, 1Pe 2:2+). In Ephesians 1:18 the Greek word forheart is singular so that Paul is praying for each individual person's heart! 10:32; Rev. Seated with Him. (The Reciprocal Inheritance). 2 Corinthians 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. No longer bound by sin and darkness (You set us free) Ask Him to impress on your heart the blessings and responsibilities of your calling. The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts as He sees fit and then calls us into a field of service that utilizes those gifts (1 Corinthians 12:111). Try to grasp the scope of that thought, dearly beloved of God! He does everything he can to buy the field in which the treasure is buried. He said, "It's not like you to be shy." He finally disembarked his troops from a lack of support at home. (Risen: 50 Reasons Why the Resurrection Changed Everything), The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling. 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? The Kleronomos is one who has been given a kleros, the inheritor. Is keeping it for me. 6:5 = in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;; Eph. To the extent that you understand these vast spiritual resources, you will enjoy God and glorify Him forever. Wiersbe - In the prison prayers of Paul (Eph. 1:19). In the Greek culture the seat of emotions would be the intestines. ", Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. 1:19; Eph. 46) he admonished them to employ that power in faithful living for their Lord. They remain in bondage, depressed, and discouraged because they dont see the big picture of eternity. The perfect tense speaks of an enlightenment that has occurred at a point in time and which persists. Gods gifts and his call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). 36.2; 59.3). Colossians 1:5; 23 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel (1:23) if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. The saints knew to a degree what the concept of being "in Christ" meant but not in a deep intuitive way. Dunamis is, however, mostly power in action, as in the frequent use of dunamis for miracles, mighty works, they being exhibitions of divine virtue. 12)? ", Colossians 1:29 records Paul's testimony: "I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.". "For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God." One day our Lord will come again, and we shall all be changed to see Him as He is and to be like Him. Joshua 1 Peter O child of God, thy estate has been procured at the cost of blood and tears; but thou didst not buy it! And not just barely free, either. Paul is "struggling" to say what cannot be said. Are you confused now? As we experience God's power in our own lives, we can encourage others. 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. If I were to put you in a barrel and put that barrel in the Mississippi River, where would you be? As saints, were Gods inheritance, His treasure, His prize! The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. In his prayer for the Ephesians, Paul asked God to enlighten their eyes so they could better understand the message encoded in His Word. Once on the mission field, he is willing to suffer hardships and separation from family and friends because the call of God is his greatest motivation. dunamis) refers to a spiritually dynamic living force. (Bible Knowledge Background Commentary). Know (1492) (eido, oida - eido is used only in the perfect tense = oida) means in general to know by perception. A marvellous lift was there! I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:12). . In this context dunamis refers to inherent power, found in and dispensed by God (cf Ro 1:16+= "the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation"). Galatians Ephesians 1 1-2 I, Paul, am under God's plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. Even though He has given humankind the freedom to make choices, His choices have already been made (Exodus 33:19;Romans 9:1018). which is the true and proper fountain of man's salvation. But the antidote to these dangers is not to remain ignorant. But while countless people place, or rather misplace, their faith in the transforming power of subliminal messages, living faith in Jesus Christ cannot fail to do its transforming work. No. Sunday I went up to Los Angeles and heard Paul Rader preach. In 1:18-19, he elaborates on what that means, namely, that God wants us to know three essentials about our salvation that will give us assurance about our high calling as God's people. I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, 18 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 Christians, A certain rabbi, Bar Kappara, said, The soul and the Torah are compared to a lamp. Jonah was called by God but refused to surrender to that call; instead, he ran the other way (Jonah 1:13). (Ephesians- Life In The Heights), THOUGHT - Remember that believers are called to be imitators of Jesus (1Cor 11:1+, cf 1Jn 2:6+, 1Pe 2:21+) and in that light we need to recall that during Jesus' earthly ministry, He lived out His life in the power of the Holy Spirit. ESV and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. 10:16; 51:19; etc.). 2 Timothy In either case Pauls point is clear: redemption and its accompanying blessings are so profound that we must have supernatural help to understand them. He makes supplication for the continued growth of the Ephesians in knowledge (Ephesians 1:1719a) and explains truth regarding the power and position of Christ, including the subjection of all things to Christ (verses 19b23). This hope is of the perfection of all, which we are called to enjoy really, but imperfectly, here. The radical idea of ischus, might, is that of indwelling strength, especially as embodied: might which inheres in physical powers organized and working under individual direction, as an army: which appears in the resistance of physical organisms, as the earth, against which one dashes himself in vain: which dwells in persons or things, and gives them influence or value: which resides in laws or punishments to make them irresistible. 1:51; Acts 19:20; Eph. Ephesians 3:7+ of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of Gods grace which was given to me according to the working (energeia) of His power (dunamis) . Ezra This is the curse of Christian living. Why is it important to know what is the hope of His calling? Living in the light of Your goodness Reprinted by permission. Ischus is that strength which one has in possession or ability. Though lifting our troubles and needs to God is both acceptable and important, we should never forget to express our thankfulness, jubilance, and praise to Him in prayer. Wealthybut miserable! (Drawing Near: Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith), John MacArthur- UNDERSTANDING YOUR CALLING. For Further Study: Read Genesis 2733, noting how God used the events of Jacobs life to transform his weak spiritual commitment to one that was strong and unconditional (see especially Gen. 28:2022; 32:912). How does the Spirit enlighten you? Now I have resurrection power living on the inside The power which raised Christ from the grave, lifted Him to heaven, put all things under His feet and made Him the Head over all to the Church, is to us-ward who believe. But I do more than thank. This expectation of seeing Jesus, our "Blessed Hope" [see below] and being like Him is entertained equally by both Jewish and Gentile believers. free! Knowing God has given you His very best in Christ (Rom. No one can do the work of God successfully without being filled with the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 20:27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. ), Paul wants us to get a glimpse of our glorious future so that we will live in light of it right now. It is used in doxologies to extol the power or dominion of God (1 Pet 5:11; Jude 25; Rev 5:13) and of Christ (1 Tim 6:16; 1 Pet 4:11; Rev 1:6; 5:13), which has victory over all contrary powers. This effect in context undoubtedly refers to the ministry of the Holy Spirit Who illuminates spiritual truth to the hearts of believers (See Illumination of the Bible). This is the same mighty power (NLT - Tyndale House), Phillips: and how tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God. In other words, believers cannot do with this power what they choose, but its use must conform to the direction given by Christ, the head of the Church. But there are many good reasons to interpret the text this way. Thayer summarizes kleronomia as (1) an inheritance, property received (or to be received) by inheritance, or (2) what is given to one as a possession. When her teacher finally did let her discover for herself that she would one day be Queen of England, Victorias response was, Then I will be good! Her life would be controlled by her position. Ephesians 1:19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. He returned home and wrote his wife, who was away: There has come a complete change into my life. -- when His heart shall be fully satisfied in His inheritance, for His glory shall be perfectly manifested in the saints. God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Eph. 6:4; Heb. If that has happened to you, confess it immediately and turn from it. | GotQuestions.org, What does the Bible say about the power of words? Note that Paul writes to living saints (not dead ones), people who have put faith in Christ. of That there are diversities of gift is manifest; and there always will be a vast difference between those who have five talents and those who have two, in the amount of work done for the kingdom of God. 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. 4:13), I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. He meant that he was able to face and accomplish whatever God called him to do (see also, Eph. Now, I'm no longer bound by sin and darkness