“…that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7
What is the measure of God’s eternal purpose accomplished in us? Paul declares it to be conformity to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:29) In his letter to the Ephesian believers, Paul writes that the great overriding reason for this Christlikeness “formed in us,” is that God’s glory would be revealed in greatest measure. He writes, concerning the predetermined and projected realization of Christ being formed, and revealed in the life of the believer. It is, “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” (1:6) The great realization of God’s purpose in the believer begins with the singular, significant moment of him being placed in Christ by the Father. Because of this “new birth,” the believer is accepted before the Father in Christ. Conformity to Christ begins when Christ, by His Spirit, comes to dwell in the heart of the believer. All of a sudden we begin to see that the believer is increasingly conformed in Christ’s image when the very life of Christ by the Spirit, the fruits of His life, and His works, are accomplished in the individual. In essence, there is the revelation of the life of Christ, the aroma, the light, life, and love of Christ revealed in the heart, and through the life.
Later on in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, in speaking of the eternal purpose of God, who worketh all things after the counsel of His will,” (1.12), he writes that we should be to the praise of His glory. What does this mean? The glory of God is that revelation, that unveiling, that manifestation of His nature and person, by the Spirit. God reveals Himself through His word and His works, especially His “workmanship” in the lives of His children, and His servants. The eternal praise of God will resound in heaven concerning all that He does, or ever has done, in the lives of those who love Him. This is why Paul can write, “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) In the predetermined will of God, He has committed Himself to always work in the circumstances of His choosing in such a way as to bring every believer increasingly into fellowship with Himself, so that Christ may reveal His life increasingly in, and through the life, for the glory of God.
Paul continues to speak of God’s great purpose by teaching the believers at Ephesus concerning the work of God in them, for His glory. He speaks of the gospel of salvation, and the moment when the believers are saved through faith. But then he speaks of being sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. Not only was the Spirit of God promised through the prophecy of Joel in the Old Testament, and realized in the New Testament the day of Pentecost, but the Spirit came with great promise. That promise was to come to dwell in the heart forever. Christ would come, by the Spirit, to dwell in the heart …in His fulness. The Lord Jesus cannot be separated into parts. He comes as the hymnwriter puts is, “…all that Thou hast and art.” The believer is thus complete in Christ, the fulness of God available to him, in the measure that he can receive it by faith.
What is the practical application of these wonderful truths concerning God’s purpose, and the great salvation that He has accomplished in Christ, so that purpose will be realized? It can be summarized by one phrase, “Know Christ, and make Him known.” Created in Christ Jesus, we are provided with all in Christ to commune with Him, walk and obey Him. To KNOW Him is to abide in Him, love Him, serve Him, all by the Spirit in the circumstances of God’s choice. The question is, “Is Christ our goal, means, our all?”
Dear Father, May Christ be today our life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.