The Unfathomable Power of God (Eph. 3:20-21) (Part 2 of 2) by Carey Dillinger (Reprinted from the Expository Files)
Broadening the Context
Eph. 3:8-12: To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.(NKJV)
The fellowship of the mystery is the key here. The fact that once mortal enemies (Jew and Gentile) would become united in one spiritual body via the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ would be a hard pill for either side to swallow. This union is according to the wisdom of God (vv. 1-13). Beyond God's wisdom, He also displays His love in sending Christ to save the world. As already mentioned this love entails His love for us, His love for His Son, the Son's love for us and His Father, and our love for the Father, the Son and each other.
Eph. 4:1-4: I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (NKJV)
Now Paul segues between the doctrinal portion of his letter and the application by once again emphasizing the unity that must exist in the church among its diverse members. Jew and Gentile, Greek and Barbarian, male and female, bound and free, must all come together under one flag - the cross of Christ! Man would deem this an impossibility, but all things are possible through an application of God's wisdom because His power is limitless.
The Doxology - Conclusion
In spite of the fact that Paul had asked much of God in his prayer, in spite of the seeming impossibility of uniting all mankind under one spiritual banner, Paul concludes the prayer with a statement that the commentators call a "super-superlative." Paul (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) coined the compound word "exceedingly, abundantly, above" to express God's capacity to transcend all that we ask or think. (F.F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Ephesians, p. 70.)
Although Paul has asked much, God can and is willing to grant more. In order to appreciate Paul's super-superlative Hendrickson suggests the following should be noted concerning Paul's reasoning: "a) God is able to do all we ask him to do; b) He is even able to do all that we dare not ask but merely imagine; c) He can do more than this; d) far more; e) very far more!" God is well deserving of the "glory in the church" based on His power (1:19; 2:20), wisdom (3:10), mercy (2:4), love (2:4), grace (2:5-8), and so forth - manifested in the church which is the body of Christ (the exalted head). (Hendrickson, p. 175.)
Notice the four individuals (or group of individuals) referred to in the doxology: 1) God, 2) individual Christians, 3) the church, and 4) Jesus Christ. God's wisdom (including His plan for the salvation of mankind) requires the participation of all parties involved. While most of those claiming to be Christians have no problem with three out of the four of these participants, many have been willing to sell the importance of the church short.
The Church is important and Paul paints us a glorious picture of it in the Ephesian letter.
"This world is not what it was meant to be; it is torn in sunder by opposing forces and by hatred and strife. Nation is against nation, man is against man, class is against class. Within a man's own self the fight rages between the evil and the good. It is God's design that all men… should become one in Christ. To achieve this end Christ needs the Church to go out and tell men of His love and of His mercy. And the Church cannot do that until its members, joined together in fellowship, experience the limitless love of Christ." (William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible: The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, p. 133.)
Those that are looking for an eternal home with the all-powerful
God must be prepared to offer an eternity of doxologies. As so
aptly put by hymnist John Newton in verse four of Amazing Grace:
"When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun."
God Is Faithful by Gary Henry (www.brasstacks.org)
When we are tempted to worry about the uncertainties that are
inherent in a changing world, it is reassuring to remember that
the whole cosmos in which we live was created by a God who is
eternal. He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty"
(Rev. 1:8). The comforting thing about God's eternal nature is
not merely that He exists eternally, but that His character is
eternal. God is changelessly faithful.
What It Means That God Is Faithful. Unlike the false gods of paganism,
who were thought to be fickle and whose capricious anger was thought
unpredictable, the God who really made us and revealed Himself
to us can be counted on to be the same always. "I am the
Lord, I do not change" (Mal. 3:6), He has said. With God
"there is no variation or shadow of turning" (Jas. 1:17).
We never have to worry that an alteration in God's "mood"
will result in a change in His personality or His principles.
But more than that, God's eternal faithfulness also makes Him
different from Satan, the liar (Jn. 8:44). God's word is unfailingly
and infallibly true. God's truthful character is immutable --
He "cannot lie" (Tit. 1:2; cf. Hb. 6:17,18). Long ago,
Isaiah prayed, "O Lord . . . Your counsels of old are faithfulness
and truth" (Isa. 25:1). And when we say God's word is always
"true," we do not just mean it is accurate. We mean
also that, because it is true, it can be depended on. God is never
treacherous. He never cheats. Every word He has ever spoken has
been "a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance"
(1 Tim. 1:15). God's eternal truthfulness means that He is eternally
trustworthy.
When He has spoken to mankind, God has often made promises. It
is in regard to these promises that we see further what it means
for God to be faithful. Faith has always meant taking God at His
word when He promised something -- and such faith has always proved
to be well-founded. God has never failed to keep a promise. On
the basis of that evidence, discerning people have long been willing
to do as Sarah did, who "judged Him faithful who had promised"
(Hb. 11:11).
Another important thing about God's eternal faithfulness is that
the fulfilling of His purposes is no less certain than the keeping
of His promises. The glorious conclusion to which God intends
to bring His creation is unstoppable because His character is
unchangeable. The Psalmist's statement is true of everything God
has ever purposed: "The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of His heart to all generations" (Psa. 33:11).
Through Isaiah, God declared, "I am God, and there is none
like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient
times things that are not yet done, saying 'My counsel shall stand,
and I will do all My pleasure,' . . . Indeed I have spoken it;
I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also
do it" (Isa. 46:9-11). God has given us reason to be assured
that though the world around us passes through change after troublesome
change, He is still the eternal Sovereign whose purpose for His
creation will not fail to be accomplished.
How Understanding God's Faithfulness Helps Us.
Learning the eternally changeless character of God is a wonderfully
practical exercise. At the very least, it drives worry and fear
from our lives. How can we doubt that we will be taken care of
by a God who has always shown Himself to be so faithfully concerned
about His children? The Christian (who has not only the usual
cares of daily living, but also faces additional suffering because
he is a Christian) can endure whatever trials and tribulations
may confront him. Knowing that God remains on His throne and that
He is working toward a victorious consummation of all things imparts
strength to the suffering saint -- strength because the saint
knows that the eternal Judge will ultimately vindicate what is
just and right. Peter wrote, "Let those who suffer according
to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as
to a faithful Creator" (1 Pt. 4:19).
Moreover, a comprehension of God's eternal nature helps the Christian
deal with sin. Knowing that God is not mocked (Gal. 6:7,8), that
He will not fail to do as He has said about punishing sin, surely
ought to give us a more serious attitude about sin. And on the
positive side, knowing the steadfastness of God's help is the
very thing needed for us to resist temptation. As Paul put it,
"God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the
way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
Finally, an understanding of the unchangeableness and faithfulness
of God is the thing that assures us of our salvation and motivates
us to remain faithful to Him. The Hebrew writer appealed to his
readers: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hb. 10:23). In
the long run, that person will be "faithful until death"
(Rev. 2:10 NKJV) who sees clearly that God will always be faithful
to us. Giving credence to God's eternal truthfulness, we take
on a confidence in God's trustworthiness that imparts a constancy
to our allegiance to Him.
"Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!"
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34748.
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MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Lessons from the Parables: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
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