Ephesians– overview of 3:1-9; tapping into the power of God, part 2.

Tuesday October 22, 2019

 

Adam gave himself the name Ish after seeing and naming Ishah. It was as if he could not give himself a proper name until he saw the one who was to complete him or fulfill him. In the same way, the Son of God gives Himself proper names after He “sees” those who will complete or fulfill Him - the believers of the human race.

 

Adam says GEN 2:23 "This is now bone of my bones,

And flesh of my flesh;

She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man."

 

The Son of God became a man - bone of My bones, flesh of My flesh.

 

HEB 2:14-15

Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

Then He took upon Himself names that would only hold meaning if He had a bride that fulfilled Him.

 

Jesus (Iesous/Yeshua) = Yavah is Savior.

Christ (Christos/Mshych) = Anointed or Messiah.

Lord (Kurios/Yavah) = Lord or Master.

 

It would be odd to call yourself Savior if there was no one to save, or anointed one, meaning the elevated high priest, if there was no one to intercede for, or Master if there was no one to rule.

 

The Son of God would have the name Kurios even if He did not possess a people to rule, but the name takes on another significance for Jesus Christ when we need a Husband to rule us.

 

And now for us the reality of what consummated in the climax of joy between Ish and Ishah is realized.

 

GEN 2:24 For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

 

GEN 2:25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

 

All believers in this age can go through life cleaving to Jesus Christ. All believers are naked before Him and need not be ashamed, for we have been cleansed by His blood.

 

What God revealed in Adam revelation when he saw his wife was the meaning of the whole of human history and humanity. We were to be one with another, but no other human would do for us other than the Son of God as the Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Thus, you and I can see how significant it is that in our age this union between man and God was finally consummated through the death and resurrection of Christ. This is the mystery, now revealed, in our age.

 

EPH 5:31 For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.

 

EPH 5:32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

 

EPH 3:4 And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

 

EPH 3:5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

 

EPH 3:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

 

It had always been the plan of God that human beings without distinction should on the common ground of faith be His sons and daughters, belonging to the same body, which body is in union with the Messiah as its Head.

 

Remember, the mustard seed, in the parable, grew into a mustard tree. It was one tree in the Lord’s mind, and not a grove of separate trees. When we read Paul, “And of this church I was made a minister,” we know that he doesn’t mean Colossae only, but the whole church, which in the NT is always one and always visible to the world.

 

In our day, people are willing to accept some principles of Christianity, but are not willing to be a part of a church, a local church that sees itself as a visible part of the body of Christ. And in the technology of our day, when we have so many gathering with us over the internet, they are still gathering, and are still called to be lights to the world, and can influence others and invite others to gather with us, and perhaps even with them. The point is that the church is to be seen, not invisible. The truth that we hold within us is to shine forth, not remain within.

 

Jesus didn’t advertise Himself, but He also didn’t hide the light of Himself from the world around Him.

 

And there is no need to be afraid. Your Husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, is always with you.

 

The mystical truth is that Christ and the church are one.

 

1CO 12:12

though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

 

It is an organic unity with an endless variety. We have duties towards one another and have need of one another.

 

EPH 3:7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

 

Paul was made a minister of this wonderful gospel (good news) according to the gift of God’s grace, as Paul was set apart from the womb for this purpose.

 

GAL 1:15 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased

 

GAL 1:16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles

 

It was according to the working of God’s power that this grace was given to Paul. In other words, it wasn’t Paul’s preparing for it, planning for it, other people grooming him for it; all of which would be human effort without God. He was called and the power of God mysteriously made it happen.

 

GAL 2:6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality) —  well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.

 

We say mysteriously, because we cannot know how the sovereign predestination of God coexists with the free-will of man, in this case Paul, to believe and willingly go.

 

Yet Paul would say that he had no choice.

 

1CO 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

 

1CO 9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

 

Paul is saying here that he didn’t apply for the job. That would only mean that he thought himself worthy and qualified, which is his own power without God.

 

Being called means that he doesn’t have a choice but to be that steward God chose. Yet, that doesn’t mean he has no choice in the matter, but it does mean that if he is going to do the will of God for his personal life, then this path or stewardship is the only one open. He still has to choose to follow it. And also, since it is a path sovereignly chosen by God, if Paul refuses it, he must come under judgment for that.

 

And because he didn’t himself prepare and apply for this stewardship, it is not a paid position, meaning, he does not earn compensation for it, but rather, whatever God chooses to compensate.