Ephesians - Recapitulation II

The Centrality of Christ ...for the Body
Ephesians 2:11-3:21

Ephesians 2

13 in Christ Jesus you ...have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
15 create in himself one new man in place of the two
16 reconcile ...in one body
18 through him we ... have access
20 built on the foundation of Christ Jesus
21 in whom the whole structure,...grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you ...are being built

Ephesians 3

4 the mystery of Christ
6 partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus
8 the unsearchable riches of Christ
11 the eternal purpose ...realized in Christ Jesus
12 in whom we have boldness and access
19 to know the love of Christ
21 to him be glory in Christ Jesus

God's purpose for us in Christ

brought near by the blood of Christ 2:13

contrast with "afar off"

1. brought into union with Christ
2. given citizenship in the community - joint-heirs with Christ
3. made participants in the covenantal promises - applied under the terms of the New Covenant
4. given a hope, the expectation of complete fulfillment of the promises - achieved for us by Christ's death, resurrection and exaltation
5. godly and not of the world, not conformed to the world but to the image of Christ Joh_15:19 Rom_8:29 Rom_12:2

create in himself one new man ...and reconcile both to God 2:15-16

1. no more class or ethnic distinctions
2. no longer Jew or Gentile but Christian
3. accomplished in Christ as in him we are reconciled first to God and then to one another
4. no Christ, no reconciliation with either God or man
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the chief cornerstone 2:20, 22

the foundation being the preaching of Christ and his Gospel

Act_17:3 ..."This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ."

Rom_15:20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation,

1Co_1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

1Co_1:23 but we preach Christ crucified

1Co_9:18 What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge

2Co_2:12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel,

2Co_4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord,

Eph_3:8 ...this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Col_1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

Christ is the one who "caps it all off", the supreme focus of attention, the one without whom there is no salvation and no church.

Plural references

Ephesians 2

14 has made both one
15 one new man from the two
16 that He might reconcile them both
17 you who were afar off and to those who were near
18 we both have access
19 fellow citizens with the saints
19 members of the household of God
21 the whole building, being fitted together
22 being built together

Ephesians 3

6 of the same body
10 made known by the church
15 the whole family in heaven and earth
18 able to comprehend with all the saints
21 to Him be glory in the church

God's purpose for Himself through the church

his wisdom may be known through the church 3:10
his love may be comprehended in the church 3:18

1. with all the saints does not mean "along with the saints"; the preposition σύν means "in union with" the saints

2. apart from fellowship, even the covenant of membership, with other saints in a local church it is not possible to fully wrap our minds around and know experientially the love of Christ

"This gift of spiritual comprehension is contemplated further as to be possessed and exercised "with all the saints", not as a matter of private experience, the peculiar faculty of some, or an exceptional bestowment like the rare privilege of visions, but as a gift proper to the whole community of believers and one in which these Ephesians might share together with all God's people. " Expositor's Greek New Testament, Eph. 3:18

"Something important is treated of, which cannot be comprehended in solitude, for one's self alone but only in fellowship. Like all science, the science of God's love, the study of God, is a joint labor." J. P. Lange, Commentary, Eph. 3:18

It is the love of Christ that we are to comprehend experientially, grasp with our minds
"Almost all men are infected with the disease of desiring to obtain useless knowledge. It is of great importance that we should be told what is necessary for us to know, and what the Lord desires us to contemplate, above and below, on the right hand and on the left, before and behind. The love of Christ is held out to us as the subject which ought to occupy our daily and nightly meditations, and in which we ought to be wholly plunged. He who is in possession of this alone has enough. Beyond it there is nothing solid, nothing useful, — nothing, in short, that is proper or sound. Though you survey the heaven and earth and sea, you will never go beyond this without overstepping the lawful boundary of wisdom." Calvin, Commentary on 3:17b-19

Referring to" what is the breadth and length and height and depth":

"...points at once to 'the love of Christ'. The dimensions set forth here then become clear: 'breadth' refers to the nations lying beside each other on the earth, over all of whom the love of Christ will extend itself; 'length', to the successive ages during which it will reach; 'depth', to the misery and corruption of sin, into which it will descend; 'height' to the glory at God's throne and near His heart to which it would elevate all." J. P. Lange, Commentary, Eph. 3:18

he may receive glory in the church in Christ Jesus 3:21

John 17:1-5 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 17:24-26 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."