Ephesians 1:15-23

Revealing His Glory in the Church

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease 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 to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:15-23

Faith
There are two helpful words for thinking about faith. One is trust. Our trust in King Jesus the person—not just trusting a concept. Also, faithfulness. Our trust in Jesus the person results in a life centered in him. Thus both words point to faith as an ongoing relationship. What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?

Love
Our faith manifests in love (Galatians 5:6). This is a particular love focused on the saints. Because love is not simply a general concept—once again this is a relational word. I cannot honestly love someone I do not know. My love for others will take a particular form in each relationship.

Knowledge and Wisdom
We need a new heart, a new mind a capacity to know in a way that is beyond knowledge. This is more than just knowing by memorizing facts—it is a knowing that only comes from relationship.

Enlightened
He prays for the Father of glory (light) to enlighten. This light directs our path and leads us upward into his Presence. “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day (Proverbs 4:18).

Calling
Calling and conversion refer to the same action of God. He calls us from non-being into being; unloved to loved; far off brought near. We are grafted into the chosen people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggested, “When Jesus calls a man, he bids him come and die.” Our calling is our destiny. Our sacrifice; our laying down our life to find it.

Inheritance
The riches of glory in store for God’s beloved. If we could but grasp the glory of his calling and kingdom, we like Paul, would consider everything else dung in relation to pursuing Christ.

Power
King Jesus reveals power beyond all power. As the Church Fathers say, “he is always greater than.” King Jesus rules over every power structure: nature; history; heredity; culture; government; relationships; universe; science; knowledge;

Fullness
The Church as the body of Christ functions as a servant to all of creation. Rule of love brings fullness, perfection, completion to all things.