A calling, invitation; in the NT, always of a divine call. When we really grasp this amazing truth, all we can do is worship and glorify our precious Saviour and occupy our time, redeeming the days as we wait expectantly for His blessed appearing. And he prays for you to understand the surpassing greatness of that truth. 15:19). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord. Hoeher comments that "Having mentioned the surpassing greatness of Gods power, Paul is now going to show that it is literally according to the power of the power of his power. Paul lists a series of three words for power used to describe the standard of the surpassing greatness of Gods power." You might not always sense it, but its there nonetheless. It is interesting to note that photizo (enlightened) was used by the pagan Mystery religions as a technical term for the rite of initiation into their inner secrets! 1 Clem. He said that godly people who are engaged in daily struggles with inward corruption realize that it requires nothing less than the surpassing greatness of Gods power to save us. 15:13). That's what Paul is praying for here. Just as the Jews were formerly Gods chosen inheritance, now His inheritance is in the saints, the church, made up of Jewish and Gentile believers on equal footing. (A Day's Journey: 365 Daily Meditations from the Word). Ischus therefore conveys the sense of endowed power or ability. (ESV Study Bible), Spurgeon - "See how high Christ is raised! He will put into thee the grace that thou shalt give back to Him in fruit. Throughout Ephesians 1 Paul is clearly struck with the magnificence of our inheritance in Christ. From the grave of mortality to the throne of the eternal God, who only has immortality; from the darkness of the tomb to the insufferable light; from this small world to the centre and metropolis of the universe. All rights reserved), The treasures of earth are not mine, It sounds idealistic. 3:20). Amazing grace! Only when we come to understand how our lives are anchored in eternity (Heb 6:18-19+) can we have the right perspective and motivation for living in time (1Jn 3:2-3+). I hold not its silver and gold; Just as His calling (Eph 1:18) issued from Him and was received by believers, so His inheritance issues from Him. 26:20; Num. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. So strong is the gravitation that holds us to earth, so dissipating our cares, so fickle our resolution, that nought but the Divine power and grace can lift us to the level of the Divine life. We are called by God to salvation. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; Paul would say "STOP IT!" (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. ", Ephesians 1:19 (note) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. (Ibid), Life Application Study Bible- The world still marvels at the power of the atom, yet we belong to the God Who created atoms and the entire universe. There is the general call of the gospel that goes out to all people. The former is given by knowledge as well as by madness or rage; but strength comes from nature and a healthy state of the body. The unaccustomed soil is brought beneath the yoke of the plough. Paul is praying "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes . Click for additional discussion on some of the aspects of the hope of this calling. This is amazing grace indeed! Rather, if we are the called according to Gods purpose, then we know that He is actively working all things together for our good, both in time and in eternity (Rom. The better we truly know the "hope of His calling", He gives the worldling husks; but he stops to find out the sweet fruits for his people. It is his power. (The Immeasurable Greatness of His Power Toward Us). Col 1:28) also I labor, striving according to His power (dunamis), which mightily works (energeo- present tense - continually works) within me. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. COMMENT - Note how Paul associates our New Creation in Christ (2Co 5:17+) with the creation of the heavens and the earth. Try to grasp the scope of that thought, dearly beloved of God! 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. (Lehman Strauss Commentary Devotional Studies on Paul's Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians- online), THOUGHT -May our great, grace filled Father grant each of us His grace to ponder this incredible truth so that it might motivate us, enabledby HisSpirit, to walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called in Christ. (Psalm 119:18-see commentaryor related commentary). If God omnipotently says, "Thou shalt," man shall not say, "I will not." Hes the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? The good news is that God's Word does promise riches to the believer. When this heaven and earth shall have passed away and a new heaven and earth shall have come, God's child, the redeemed sinner made a saint in Christ, shall abide forever. Start for FREE. Beloved Christian, think not of what you can get from God but, rather, think of what you mean to God. The little boy just stood there and made no move for the candy. TECHNICAL Note that it is somewhat difficult to give a crisp, succinct definition of eido, so keep that caveat in mind as you read these notes. This thought is too great to fully comprehend in this life! (See dictionary discussion of Inheritance), Kleronomia - 14x in 14v - Mt 21:38; Mark 12:7; Luke 12:13; 20:14; Acts 7:5; 20:32; Gal 3:18; Eph 1:14, 18; 5:5-note; Col 3:24-note; Heb 9:15-note; He 11:8-note; 1Pet 1:4-note. Paul writes (Rom. Oh, how we need to grow in our experience of it, because the struggles we face in life are not merely human conflicts. He rarely had a good nights sleep, and guards stood constantly at his door. God intends that His work be accomplished by His power. NET NOTE has an interesting comment that a paraphrase reads "Since you are enlightened by Gods Spirit, I pray that you may comprehend the hope to which he has called you, the spiritual riches that await the saints in glory, and the spiritual power that is available to the saints now. Thus, the prayer focuses on all three temporal aspects of our salvation as these are embedded in the genitivesthe past (calling), the future (inheritance), and the present (power toward us who believe). 1:10; Heb. In the four Gospels, we see Gods power at work in the ministry of Jesus Christ, but in the Book of Acts, we see that same power at work in ordinary men and women, members of the body of Christ. Let this incomparable truth stir within your heart a passionate desire that He may be glorified in you more fully each day until that great day dawns for which both He and we look with such fervent expectation. Ephesians 1:18-23 The Message 15-19 That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for youevery time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. They propagate self-effort and introspective meditation, but spiritual enlightenment doesnt come through such means. 3 John that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that . Too many Christians are going hither and yon looking for more blessings, more secrets of how to live a victorious Christian life, etc. He wants them to fully grasp the nature of all three aspects of their salvation. Luke It is an expectation or confidence. Then ask God to restore to you the joy of your salvation. Hither the Apostle Paul first went after he had been at Corinth, though he then made but a short stay; when he came thither again, he found twelve disciples, and was the instrument of making a great many more: here he continued two or three years and formed a Gospel church, very large and flourishing, to whom he writes this epistle; and which was written by him when he was a prisoner at Rome, as appears by several passages in it, \Eph 3:1 4:1 6:20\, and seems to have been written much about the same time as were the epistles to the Philippians, and to the Colossians, and to Philemon. Amen. That is why one cannot receive the full impact of the meaning of the Word of God except as the Holy Spirit illuminates his mind to understand it. 7 Ways To Keep From Killing Your Message By Carey Nieuwhof on March 1, 2023 So what does he do? free! What power! 18:23, 24.; 32:18, 19.; Josh 17:4; cf. Harold Hoehner -In Eph 1:14 Paul wrote that the Christians inheritance is their final redemption from the presence of sin. He implants Biblical truth into your thinking so that your responses become more and more like Christs. Because of this event, the believer can have assurance that the same powerthe immeasurable power of Godis working on his behalf today and will continue to provide what he needs until he arrives in heaven. 29:1113). No, because hes after the treasure. The end of which is, that those predestinated, redeemed, and adopted ones, should be to the praise and glory of God, Eph 1:12, and who are described as such, who first trusted in Christ upon hearing the Gospel; and after they had believed in him, were sealed by the Holy Spirit, said to be the Spirit of promise, Eph 1:13, and who is also spoken of as the earnest and pledge of the saints' inheritance, and who will continue so until all the people of God are redeemed from the grave in the resurrection morn, which will also issue in the praise and glory of God, Eph 1:14, and now on account of all these blessings of predestination, adoption, redemption, calling, and the sealing of the Spirit; as also, because of their faith in Christ, and love to the saints, these believers were possessed of, the apostle gave thanks, and continued to give thanks to God in his prayers to him, Eph 1:15,16. In the NT the idea of chance attaching to the lot is eliminated for all believers we inherit all spiritual blessings in Christ. He said, "It's not like you to be shy." (see Ephesians MacArthur New Testament Commentary), Old fashioned Holy Ghost power is the need of the day. Here in Ephesians Paul first prays for God to grant them a true experiential knowledge (epignosis) of God (Eph 1:17) and then in Ephesians 1:18 appeals to God to illuminate their tender hearts, the very core of their being, with an intuitive, beyond a chance of doubt knowledge (eido) on three specific issues - hope, riches of His inheritance and power. Im taking this message from this phrase in Ephesians 1:19: the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. I know that the vast majority of you do not feel that power. A day is as a thousand years. What does this "working of the strength of His might" look like? All who receive it respond in faith. Jon Courson- That ye may know what is the hope of his calling Ephesians 1:18. ", Ischus - 251 uses in the Septuagint (LXX) - Ge4:12; 31:6; 49:3; Ex.9:16; 15:6, 13; 32:11, 18; Lev. So what are we saying? No matter where she was, Victoria was governed by the fact that she sat on the throne of England. Even so, we will reign with Christ! But, Paul adds, the surpassing greatness of His power, and then goes on to say (1:19b-21) that this power is in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Wow! To understand it, you must continually ask God to enlighten the eyes of your heart. There stood that awful obstacleand it is still the great obstacle that stands between all men and Goddeath in sin and nothing but the power of God could deal with such a situation. All of these pieces of armor must be put on with prayer (v.18). But they are being intellectually lazy and exposing themselves to spiritual danger! It is kept for us, and we are kept for it. It is amazing that God would even need an inheritance because He owns everything (cp Ps 50:10) and yet here Moses clearly states that the Lords portion is His people. It is a matter of constant complaint with Christian people that they fall so far below their aspirations and hopes. -- Ears from Harvested Sheaves. Having been enlightened rests on the observation that you cant see in the dark and implies that the addressees used to live in mental darkness but that at conversion they were transferred into the realm of mental light, so that now they can see what the Spirit reveals to them (Eph 4:1718; Eph 5:8; Colossians 1:13). It's coming together, and it's all up under the headship of Jesus Christ. A little spark of accomplishment It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself; all quickening power proceeds from the Holy Ghost. (Eph 1:3). O child of God, thy estate has been procured at the cost of blood and tears; but thou didst not buy it! The fault is with themselves. If that has happened to you, confess it immediately and turn from it. Still, with the stillness of death. Ephesians 1:17-18 17 But I do more than thank. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. (Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament), Glenn Spencer on believe - This is a condition for the victorious life. Thats why there is rape and famine, pollution, corruption, and death on our planet. Ive been talking to You. Finally. We must live as citizens of heaven who belong to God. And what a blessing he is! God called the entire nation of Israel to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). Paul describes unbelievers as (Eph. Galatians In sum, for believerseido/oida suggests Spirit given fullness of knowledge, absolute knowledge (that which is without a doubt), rather than a progress in knowledge (cp ginosko) a distinction illustrated in the following passages. Numbers Paul explained (Col. 1:29), For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Laboring in His power is the antidote to burnout. Ischus is that strength which one has in possession or ability. It is the active exercise of supernatural power." Sublimal Messages Don't Work - Americans spend $50 million a year on subliminal message tapes designed to help them do everything from improve their self-image to stop smoking. 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? See more belowon what it means to be called by God. (Meyer, F B: Our Daily Homily). (Brown, Colin, Editor. It is only as God's Spirit illuminates our mind that we actually can truly know the spiritual truth He wants us to know. (Complete Biblical Library - Incredible Resource), ESV Study Bible Power over supernatural forces through magic and the occult was a great concern in ancient Ephesus (Acts 19:19), but the power of the living God in Christ trumps all competing authorities (Acts 19:20). Kratos is exercised strength whereas ischus refers to great inherent strength. When He is seated at the right hand of God, so are we, in Christ. On the Saturday before, California businessman Charles Fuller read about Raders visit in the newspaper. Gods power is awesome! But I do more than thank. On the way home, the father asked the boy why he didn't reach his own hand into the jar. Such is the case in Matthew 13. You have given us freedom, hallelujah So here he takes view #2, but in the following note below he takes view #1! 10:16; 51:19; etc.). (Dt 32:9+). Although the participle follows the hinaof Eph 1:17, it is awkward grammatically in the clause. It is equivalent to "the energy of the strength of his might, which He energized in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at his own right hand in the heavenlies.". Luke 24:45+ Then He (JESUS) opened (dianoigo) their minds (nous) to understand the Scriptures. Eph 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 of His power. "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. " The other day, when travelling in Scotland, I was introduced to some farmers whose soil was naturally of the poorest description; and yet, in answer to my inquiries, I found that they were able to raise crops of considerable weight and value. Job So that you will know what is the hope of His calling- The purpose was that might be supernaturally enabled to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that their calling (their salvation that had occurred in the past) gave them ahope sure not a hope so. . 1:10). Ephesians 1:18 (NASB) Verse Thoughts All believers have been called by grace, out of darkness into His glorious light. Suggestions for Prayer: Pray for greater spiritual enlightenment and a clearer understanding of your security in Christ. How did God respond to Pauls prayer to remove his thorn in the flesh? 12:2) by filling you with the knowledge of [Gods] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Col. 1:9). I ask - ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, The gospel call is given by men and is a universal call to repent and trust Christ for salvation (see, e.g., Matt. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. What did God require of him (vv. The Lord, however, says, Not so fast. THAT THE EYES OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING BEING ENLIGHTENED. 6:10-13). 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. Ischus is used as an attribute of God in the Revelation saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power (dunamis) and riches and wisdom and might (ischus) and honor and glory and blessing." Note: This discussion of kleronomia is the same explanatory note that is found in Ephesians 1:14-note (if you have already read that one). 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. This power is active, dynamic, and compellingand it is mightily at work on your behalf. The "heart" in Scripture speaks of the very center and core of one's life, the seat of thoughts and moral judgments. So of moral vigor. 2:14). 79)? Comment: The fact that Paul qualifies this "hope" as "one hope" emphasizes that there is the same ultimate, glorious reality for all of the church, whether Jew or Gentile! 10:13; Eph. The heart the seat of the mind and will, and the heart could be taught what the brain could never know (or sadly the converse to know something intellectually but not in one's heart!) Figuratively, as used in this verse, photizo means to make clear, to cause to fully know or to cause to understand and is used of God's enlightenment through revelation. From her own people Rome raised an army, animated it with patriotism, and ordered it to fight. The NET Bible is similar translating it ""since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened". But as far as our inheritance of God's grace is concerned, there are no preferences, no step-children's portions, no arbitrary distinctions. I agree that this is Pauls main aim. In Philippians 3:21 Paul states that the Lord Jesus Christ "will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the (supernatural) exertion (energeia) of the power that He has (KJV - according to the working whereby He is able = dunamai in present tense = continuously able) even to subject all things to Himself (Php 3:21+), The surpassing power which God's Spirit uses in continually energizing our supernatural life (Php 2:13-note), in ministering to our spiritual needs, is in accordance with, commensurate with His infinite, immeasurable divine energy.