The revelation of the ways of God in Ephesians 1 presents Christ to us as man raised up by God from the dead, in order that we should be raised up also to have part with Him. Chapter 3 presents Him as the center of all the ways of God, the Son of the Father, and the center of the counsels of God. The Apostle now addresses himself to the Father of our Lord Jesus. “Every family” brings all under this name of “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Under the name of “Jehovah,” only the Jews were in relationship with Him. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” But under the name of “Father of Jesus Christ,” all families are included, the assembly, angels, Jews, and Gentiles. All the ways of God in that which He had arranged for His glory are co-ordained under this name and are in relationship with His counsels. The Apostle prays that they would be enabled to apprehend the whole import of those counsels and the love of Christ which formed the assured center for their hearts.
Strengthened by the Spirit
For this purpose he desires that the saints should be strengthened with all might by the Spirit of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that the Christ, who is the center of all these things in the counsels of the Father, should dwell also in their hearts, and thus be the intelligent center of affection to all knowledge. This center finds no circle to limit the view that extends itself in an infinitude which God alone can fill — length, breadth, height, depth. Christ is the center of all the display of divine glory, and He dwells in our hearts so as to set them, so to speak, in this vantage point, and make them look out thence on all the glory displayed. At the same time, the saints have a sure place, a support immovable and well-known, in a love which is as infinite as the extent of the glory of God displayed around them. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts.” Thus He, who fills all things with His glory, fills the heart Himself, with a love more powerful than all the glory of which He is the center. He is to us the strength which enables us in peace and love to contemplate all that He has done, the wisdom of His ways, and the universal glory of which He is the center.
Christ Filling Our Hearts
He who fills all things fills all our hearts. God strengthens us according to the riches of that glory which He displays before our wondering eyes as rightly belonging to Christ. He does it with tenderest affection, and He is the strength of our heart. Thus embracing His affections and thoughts, we are rooted and grounded in love — all the saints being the objects of His love. It is as being filled with Him, and ourselves as the center of all His affections, and thinking His thoughts, that we lunge into the whole extent of God’s glory, for it is the glory of Him whom we love. And what is its limit? It has none; it is the fullness of God. We find it in this revelation of Himself. In Christ He reveals Himself in all His glory. He is God over all things, blessed forever.
J. N. Darby, adapted from
the Synopsis on Ephesians