Strengthened by His Spirit Within

This passage shows first of all that all who are in Christ are a family - this is a relationship we call fellowship, since we share so much so closely. This is like the Dutch word Gezelligheid, meaning belonging or a good time spent with loved ones. Then verse 16 continues to show that we can find strength in His infinite glory inside of us. This is where Christ now lives! So we walk, or live, by this faith that believes and actively trusts in Him along the way.

Ephesians 3:14-17

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 

Manifold Wisdom of Eternal Purpose

What God has shown us in Christ is His infinite wisdom in all He has done and will do. He uses the reborn, His actual church, to show the powers (good and evil) His greatness and wisdom. This plan for Jesus was from forever, which is difficult for us to grasp, but not the One who made it all. Therefore we who are His can be bold - holding nothing back - and can so come before God Himself at any time for any reason. That "right" was bought for us on the cross. This trust is faith.

Ephesians 3:10-12

10 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, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

We have Limitless Riches in Christ

The riches that are in Jesus Christ are limitless, yet much is shown in the Bible as God showed it to men to tell us. So we can see the relationship God offers us - once hidden, but revealed to those who are remade (new creations). God made all things, the entire universe, through Jesus. We can examine it all, but the real "God particle" is the Word out of God who is Jesus the Christ!

Ephesians 3:8-9

8 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, 9 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;

Col.1:25-27. ...the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Gospel of Peace With God

Because God called us to peace with Himself in Christ, by His living presence within us, we can come to Him now! The foundation of God's house is Jesus Christ, and we are as living stones built upon that foundation. This is the temple, the real church, that we worship from so He can live in us. No longer a stranger or one from another country, but His!

Ephesians 2:17-22

17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Christ is Our Reconciling Peace

Jesus Christ not only brought all of God's people (Jew and others) together as promised to Abraham before circumcision and the Law, but He also took the fence of the Law down that kept us from Him. We can never perfectly keep the Law because we are born evil, not good, in the sin of Adam. Now the cross stands between us and God's wrath on our sin; we are brought near - all in Christ who come to Him.

Ephesians 2:14-16

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

Brought Near by Blood of Christ

Now God's people are called out from all nations, giving us hope in Christ. Though He chose Israel as His people, it was to bless all through them as His promise to Abraham was given. Now Christ's blood covers the sins of the world - what He did in our place is available to all who come admitting their sin, turning from it, and believing with a receiving of the will Jesus and what He did.

Ephesians 2:11-13

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Saved by Grace through Faith to Do Good

We could never do enough good or be good enough to outweigh the hidden evil of our hearts. God did it for us by taking our place on the cross, taking His anger on our sins on His only Son! But those who are His are now called to do good - not to be saved from sin and punishment, but to please the holy God who calls us to be holy as He is. We are saved from sin to no longer live in it.

Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Forgiven while Dead by Great Love in Mercy

God's wrath on my sins, my disobedience to all He told me, can be forgiven - this is good news (gospel)! Such mercy and love to send Christ Jesus to take my just punishment, to make me alive now and forever! This is unwarranted favor, 'grace.' So we have the chance to be with Him forever!

Ephesians 2:4-7

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Made Alive while Dead to God

I was lapsing or deviating from truth and uprightness, missing the mark as I came ever short of God's glory (Rom.3:23). I lived against God as we all do, the fallen, believing the devil's lies and living for myself and against God. So God's wrath for my sin was on me daily.... (More tomorrow from the next verses)

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Christ the Head over All

Christ is sitting above all powers of this world, and over the fallen ones. This is true now and always will be... He is Lord and God! We have this privilege as His body, the real universal church, and He completes us as our head - no man or pope can take Jesus Christ's place. This gives hope in understanding.

Ephesians 1:21-23

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.

Exceeding Greatness of His Power in Salvation

Oh that we who know Him would grasp His power in us to change us and the world! All by the power to raise Christ from the grave after dying in our place for our sin... He now sits in heaven, ruling over all - even death. No pope or man or false God can do this, only Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 1:19-20

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,

Spirit of Wisdom and Revealed Knowledge of God

Wisdom and understanding are built upon faith and love. God gives this as we know Him and His calling of us. The hope of these riches of our inheritance!

Ephesians 1:15-18

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 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, 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,

Eternal Security of Trust by Word of Truth

Guarantee: money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid. We have the Holy Spirit who are born in Christ to hold us as His with certainty that we cannot be lost again. By believing and receiving by the will and all our heart and life, He makes us new and so seals us!

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Predetermined Inheritance in Christ

In Christ we who are His inherit eternity. He chose ahead what He wants to do with us, giving the gifts and life events to that purpose (Eph.2:10). We are to bring praise to Him! So we trust, living/walking by this faith.

Ephesians 1:11-14 

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

As sinful as I still am, as much as I falter and fall, I get up and go on to run toward that goal - I will not give up because of the attacks and my own failure. I must accomplish what He put me here to do. He brought me safe thus far and will lead me home, turning talents into more as I bring in the sheaves, while warning, teaching, and encouraging the brethren.

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Bought Back by God’s Grace

We can be accepted by God only in Jesus Christ, because He died in our place - we deserve death for living against all we were told to do and not to do, and all come short. This is the "mystery" shown to us, that God wanted to bring us back (reconcile us to Himself), so we can be with Him again in the end as in Eden as we were created to be... Read this:

Ephesians 1:7-10 

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth —in Him.

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