Ephesians 1EPH 1
Verses 12-14. "That we (the Jews) should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted (pre-trusted) in Christ." These had been Jews, and now were in Christ, trusted in Him before the nation.
“In whom ye (the Gentiles) also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed (or having believed), ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.”
In our relationships, we shall be to the praise of the glory of His grace, but seen in connection with the inheritance, we are seen in display to the praise of His glory. This refers to the fullness of times when the Lord Jesus shall be manifested in His Kingly glory, reigning over all things in heaven and on earth. In the eternal state, righteousness dwells. In the reign of Christ, we reign with Him. Gentiles were not, according to the flesh, heirs of any promises, but in the present time, Jews and Gentiles alike brought to God through grace, are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of the inheritance. Those who heard His word, and believed the gospel of their salvation, are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, and will share in all this glory of and with Christ, even as now it belongs to them to be in the glory of His grace.
The price has been paid (John 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)), but as yet the inheritance is not delivered, the time for it has not yet come, the redemption of the sons must come first (Rom. 8:2323And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)), when the power of Christ will deliver them (Rom. 8:1919For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans 8:19)). The earnest of the inheritance we have, and the love of God He sheds abroad already in our hearts. The kingdom and its glories wait for the completion of His body and bride. He will receive His assembly home first, before taking the inheritance.
Verses 15-18. "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." He prays that "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding (or heart) being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
If we were reading our title to an earthly inheritance, how carefully we would consider every word, to catch the true and full meaning of it; so here, we might well pray with the apostle that we might have heart to consider well what concerns us so much, and which He desires us to know.
The prayer in chap 3 is to "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," that we might realize in communion our portion. Here it is to "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory," that is, He is the source and author of it. It all flows from what He Himself is in His nature and character. He desires that we may gain the full knowledge of Him, and have our hearts wide open to receive what He would communicate.
There are two things here spoken of; the first is, "The hope of His calling." This refers to verses 3 to 5, that is, the saint’s portion. They are called of God, it is His love that has given us this place.
The second is, the glory of His inheritance in the saints. The second is seen in verse 11, in this it is glory-man shown as enjoying in His Person the fruits of the power and of the counsels of God. In the former, God calls us to be before Him, holy and unblamable in love, and at the same time we are His sons, in the glory of His inheritance in the saints. It is not "our" but "His" calling, though we are the called ones. He characterizes this calling by connecting it with Him who calls, so that we may understand its true character as of God Himself. All the blessing and excellence of it declares the fullness of His grace, worthy of Himself,-this is the hope of His calling.
It is also said, "His" inheritance. Canaan was His land, as He said in the law, which nevertheless He inherited in Israel. Even so, the inheritance of the whole universe, when it shall be filled with His glory, belongs to Him, but He inherits it in the saints. He will fill all things with His glory, and it is in the saints that He will inherit them. These are the two parts of what were to be open to the eyes of the saints. By the calling of God, we are to enjoy the blessedness of His presence, near to Himself, to enjoy that which is above us. The inheritance of God applies to that which is below us, to created things, which are all made subject to Christ, with whom, and in whom, we enjoy the light of the presence of God. It was the apostle's desire that they should know and enjoy these two things.
Verse 19. The other thing the apostle prays for is, "What is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and bath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the Head over all things to the assembly, which is His body, the fullness (or complement) of Him that filleth all in all.”
He desires that they may know the power already manifested, which had already wrought to give them part in this blessed and glorious position, for even as they were introduced by the sovereign grace of God by faith into the position of being associated with Christ in glory before God His Father, so also the work which has been wrought in Christ, and the display of the power of God, which took place in raising Him from the dead to the right hand in the heavenly places, far above every name that is named, are the expression and pattern of the action of the same power which works in us who believe. We are raised up from our death in sins, to have part in the glory of this same Christ. He received all this as man from His God who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him, as man, a place above all, of which He was personally worthy, and which He had won by glorifying God in His atoning work. God has therefore given the One who conquered every enemy, the highest place, and put Him over all things to the assembly which is His body, who are raised up from their death in sins by the same power of resurrection, quickening and seating them in the heavenly places in Christ, and this assembly is His body,-the body is the complement of the Head. He fills the universe with His glory, but He is not alone (John 12:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)), He has His body, composed of all believers with Him. He is head over all things, He fills all things (Eph. 4:9, 109(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:9‑10)), and the assembly is His fullness (or complement). When He accomplished redemption, and was exalted to God's right hand, He took the position in which He could be the Head of His body. To Him be all the praise!
(Continued from page 13)