9_24_023 - Ephesians 3:14-21 - From Glory to Glory
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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(Opening Prayer)
(Opening Prayer)
(Sermon Introduction)
(Sermon Introduction)
Today we continue our “Ephesians” series.
(AG Reminder)
(AG Reminder)
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(Ephesians Context)
(Ephesians Context)
The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are what we call the “Prison Epistles.”
Paul is writing Ephesians during his first imprisonment in Rome around 60 AD (recorded in Acts 28).
Like Colossians, this letter was carried to the province of Asia by Tychicus (Eph. 6:20-21).
This explains the similarity of doctrinal content, the same ideas being fresh in the apostle’s mind as he wrote these letters.
On Paul’s second missionary journey he planted the church of Ephesus (Acts 18:19).
On his third missionary journey Paul pastored the church of Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31).
Paul finishes his third missionary journey and stops in Ephesus to say goodbye as he made his way to Jerusalem and ultimately to prison in Rome where he is writing this letter to them.
(Series Recap and Sermon Title)
(Series Recap and Sermon Title)
In Ephesians 1 we focused on the calling of Paul and the nature of the gospel.
In Ephesians 2 we focused on the impact of God’s love, mercy, and grace upon us and the people around us and how being “in Christ” changes us.
A few weeks ago we focused on Ephesians 3:1-6 and the mystery of Christ.
Last week we looked at Ephesians 3:7-13 and what we were called to “Because of God’s Grace.”
Today we are in Ephesians 3:14-21 and have entitled the message, “From Glory to Glory.”
Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Glory Definition)
(Glory Definition)
The recognition of the fame, honor, and renown belonging to no one else but the Godhead alone.
1. It Is To The Glory of God That We Are Strengthened
1. It Is To The Glory of God That We Are Strengthened
Ephesians 3:16 (ESV)
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Again the apostle proceeds to pile synonyms for power one upon another (Ephesians 1:19) so as to emphasize the fullness of the divine knowledge which he craves on his readers’ behalf.
Commentary Quote
The verb “be strengthened” is krataioomai; the noun translated “power” is dynamis.
The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition (5b. Paul’s Stewardship of the Mystery (3:8–13))
This enabling, measured by the riches of God’s glory, “the riches of his grace” in Ephesians 1:7 is the work of the Spirit; these people need to be strengthened in order to receive all the blessings that Paul seeks on their behalf, as a starving man needs to be strengthened in order to receive strong meat.
“The inward man” is the true and enduring self, which delights in the law of God (Romans 7:22) and experiences daily renewal in Christ however much the outward man may waste away (2 Corinthians 4:16).
When the weak and mortal are brought to a state of strengthening beyond our own ability and are given His eternal spirit inside of us, it brings Him glory to be seen strong in us.
2. It Is To The Glory of God That Christ Dwells In Us
2. It Is To The Glory of God That Christ Dwells In Us
Ephesians 3:17–18 (ESV)
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
The word “dwell” could be rendered “that Christ may take up his abode in your hearts.”
A striking parallel to this is found in John 14:23, where our Lord says to Judas (not Iscariot).
John 14:23 (ESV)
23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
The verbal expression used is different, but the meaning is similar.
It also reminds us John 15 when Jesus says:
John 15:4–10 (ESV)
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
The faith of our present passage in Ephesians 3:17-18 and the love of John 14:23 and John 15:4-10 are inseparable companions.
A habitation of God in the Spirit must grow out of a rock-solid-foundation of love.
Only by a supernatural enablement can Paul’s readers realize the divine apprehension and infilling which he prays may be theirs.
We need to understand the implication of the phrase “with all the saints.”
It is a vain thing for Christian individuals or groups to imagine that they can better attain to the fullness of spiritual maturity if they isolate themselves from their fellow-believers.
If we compare Ephesians 4:13 and Paul’s encouragement for the body to grow up into maturity we can see that growth into maturity and truly into Christ is an important result of God’s work in believers, the “saints.”
Paul uses his familiar word that we have defined many times when describing the “fullness” of God.
It is the word “plēroma” or “fullness” of God.
But how can we as human beings, finite creatures and all, having received the spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm in Christ, ever hope to apprehend that which is infinite and eternal?
He in whom “the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9) has in love declared to us the infinite God whom no man has seen at any time (John 1:18; 1 John 4:12).
Hence Paul conjoins apprehension of the “breadth and length, height and depth” with knowing the love of Christ.
An empty house brings no wonder to the eyes until it is filled with beauty and worth.
God is glorified by dwelling in us and displaying Who He is in us and through us.
Paul prayed that the dwelling of God in us would be evident.
3. It Is To The Glory of God That We Know Christ
3. It Is To The Glory of God That We Know Christ
Ephesians 3:19 (ESV)
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
To know what transcends knowledge is paradox enough, but what is impossible for us in ourselves becomes an experienced reality in Christ, for those who are seated with him in the heavenly places.
There, a knowledge from which the highest angels are shut out is granted to sinners saved by grace.
Commentary Quote
There is no limit to the spiritual infilling which Paul seeks on behalf of his readers, short of the fullness of God himself.
He does not simply pray, as AV and RSV put it, that they may “be filled with all the fulness of God”; the preposition “unto” (Gk. eis) suggests rather their being progressively filled “up to the measure of” God’s fullness, just as in Ephesians 4:13 he speaks of their ultimately reaching “the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”
The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition (5b. Paul’s Stewardship of the Mystery (3:8–13))
Only in Christ can the apostle’s prayer be answered; in Christ the divine fullness is ideally ours already, but his earnest desire is that it may increasingly be realized in our experience.
In Colossians 2:19 Paul dwells upon the process, “grows with a growth that is from God”; here he dwells upon the completion.
“Filled with all the fullness of God”—nothing can exceed this; here every other blessing is comprehended and crowned.
This reminds us of Paul’s words to the church in Philippi when he says:
Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
To have relationship with the Godhead brings great delight and joy to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
(Instrumental Music)
(Instrumental Music)
4. It Is To The Glory of God That We Give Him Glory
4. It Is To The Glory of God That We Give Him Glory
Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV)
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Commentary Quote
Paul coins one of his super-superlatives to express the “exceeding abundance” of God’s capacity to transcend all that we ask or think—hyperekperissou, “superabundantly.”
The Epistle to the Ephesians: A Verse-by-Verse Exposition (5b. Paul’s Stewardship of the Mystery (3:8–13))
The apostle’s far-ranging prayer for his fellow-Christians concludes with a spontaneous outburst of praise.
Has he asked for too much—that they should know Christ’s knowledge-surpassing love, that they should be filled up to the measure of God’s own fullness?
No, indeed! However far the desire or thought of man can reach—even the desire and thought of an apostle in such an exalted moment of inspiration—God is able to do infinitely more.
It is right and good for us to give Him praise for all that He has done and all that He will do—immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!
(Sermon Recap)
(Sermon Recap)
From Glory To Glory
It is To the Glory of God That We Are Strengthened.
It is To the Glory of God That Christ Dwells In Us
It is To the Glory of God That We Know Christ.
It is To the Glory of God That We Give Him Glory.
(Closing Tension)
(Closing Tension)
(Response Card)
(Response Card)
(Closing Challenge)
(Closing Challenge)
(Response)
(Response)
(Invite Prayer Team)
(Closing Blessing)
(Closing Blessing)
Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)
24 The Lord bless you and keep you.
25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.