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The revelation of the Mystery.
An exposition of Eph. 1:3-14.
I. God’s secret concerning the allotted joint-heirship of the image: the creation, call, and mission of the corporate one New Man; having now been made known. The Apostle Paul’s Post Acts. 28:25-28 Ministry.
INTRODUCTION.
The Adamic vocation:
When we come to the first chapter of Ephesians the Apostle Paul quotes PS.8:6 in refence to the exceeding greatness of Gods’ power that works in us who believe according the mighty power, which He worked in Christ, having raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His right hand[1] (see all notes on post below), far above all the wicked celestial powers and “He has put all things beneath His feet[2]and has given Him as head over all things to the church which is His body the fullness of him that fills all in all” (Eph.1:19-23).
When we turn to Psalm 8:5-8; it links us to the creation account of Genesis 1-2; where God creates the[3] Adam as His Priest-King image, and places him in the Edenic sanctuary, giving him dominion over the works of His hands; God instructing the Adam to work and guard the garden as sacred space, and to expand the Edenic blessing out to the rest of the earth[4] and humanity;[5] were the entire earth was to be subdued[6]unto God.
Adam certainly needed the knowledge of God’s wise-order to perform this task, which knowledge he would gain from walking in fellowship with God in the garden[7].
We also have another link to the creation account of Genesis, in Eph.1:4 “before the disruption of the order”[8] (cosmos). When we do a word study of the Greek word used here for foundation (katabole); it has the meaning of breakdown, or overthrow. The use of this word, along with “cosmos” (translated world); meaning “the order”, brings us to when the devil[9] influenced Adams disobedience; thus, disrupting, or overthrowing the order of creation. Satan’s crafty deception[10]causing the Adam to disobey Gods voice, which resulted in the disinheriting of the image from his rightful position as heir over all the works of God’s hands; not fulfilling the vocation given to him; who’s failure, is the result of the present condition of creation, and humanity; this resulted in the present order, now being in a chaotic state; controlled under the dark foolishness of the wicked elohim, causing a disbalance (of disorder) in the equilibrium of the cosmos (Gen.3:1-6; 17-19; Rom.8:20-22; Ps.82.1,5).
Looking at other uses of “cosmos” in Ephesians 2:2; we see that the ones who rule the order (cosmos) of this present age, are the evil spirits in the heavenly realm (6:12); the heavenly realm is the sphere of our inheritance (1:4); which sphere is currently occupied by the enemy, and the forces of darkness. Just as in the Old Testament, when Israel had to trust in God to overcome their enemies, which occupied the land of their inheritance, in order to gain possession of it (Gen.1:28; cp.Num.32:22,29; Josh.18:1).
If Adam had fulfilled the commission given to him, he would of ascended the Edenic mountain of the Lord, where he would be crowned with glory and honor, having receive His first-born inheritance for his sacrificial service, God subduing all things under the headship of His lowly, trusting, faithful image (Phil.4:4-11). The Adam would of then be given the authority to destroy all the enemies of God, God’s glory would of then filled the entire creation (Gen.1:28; Eph.1:23; 4:10). These latter conclusions are drawn from the similarities of inference found in the Genesis account; in comparison with the work of Christ, and His mission, who the Adam is a figure of (Rom.5:14). This motif also runs throughout the O.T. regarding Israel’s relation to Gods purpose, in using them as a light to the rest of humanity, as a kingdom of royal priests, and the channel of blessing in His Kingdom to all creation.
Keeping all these things in mind, lets now read the text:
3 Praise be God (hallelujah[11]), and the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the blessing in our spiritual union with Christ in the Heavenly realms[12],
4 in as, He has, decreed us in Him before the disruption of the order, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love; having determined us for entrance into the inheritance as His glorious ruling sons[13], through Jesus Christ,
God has blessed us in our union with Christ as joint heirs to the allotted promise of the preeminent first-born inheritance over the order of all creation in the heavenly realm (Eph.3:6; Ps.8:5-6); and by our spiritual co-enthronement with Christ, we are imparted through the spirit, with the authority of Christ’s exaltation; God having decreed in Himself, before the disruption of the ordering process; that we, the members of the church, which are the body of Christ, would be victorious over the forces of darkness (Eph.6:10-16). In order that He may righteously redeem us into His inheritance, as His first-born glorious image, far above all the rebellious heavenly spirits. Enthroning us as His ruling sons for our faithful sacrificial service, for fulfilling the stewardship that He gave to us (Eph.4:11-16).
This can only be accomplished by our staying connected in dependence to our Head; for Knowledge, wisdom, and holiness; His love working through our faith, producing the fruit of righteousness, and a well pleasing walk before God in sacrificial service (Col.1:10-12; Eph.5:1-3).
We will be an offering to God, by our walk and love of service (Phil.1:29; Col.1:24; Rom.15:16); “He will be made manifest, and we with Him” as the body of His glory, at the right hand of God (this is not the hope of the rapture)[14]; we will have then received the reward of the inheritance (Col.3:24), the prize of the high calling, for our faithful sacrificial service, sharing in the exalted glory of Christ’s firstborn inheritance over all creation, as God’s glorious overcoming corporate image (Eph.2:15; 4:24; Col.1:15-18; 3:10).
according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He has highly favored us in the Beloved.
The good purpose of Gods will, is His partnership (with His lowly trusting imager) in establishing the order of His kingdom over the powers of chaos (the high rebellious spirits), He does this by the wisdom He gives to His imagers to perform this task; in righteous sacrificial service, for the restoration, love being the bond of perfection. He rewarding them with the inheritance of firstborn right, which grace and victory gives praise to His glory (Eph.1:12;14;18; 3:19-21).
The Greek word translated “highly favored” (G5487) is only used in one other place in the N.T. and is the same word used of Mary, she being lowly (Lk.1:28, 48), was the channel that God chose to bring in the appearing of Christ upon the earth, providing the lowly tent of His dwelling (Jn.1:14; Phil.2:7-8). Likewise, God has chosen to use us as the channel for the appearing of Christ in the heavenly realm, who is presently hid in the light of the glory of God (Col.3:3-4;1Tim.6:16), we, being the body of His flesh, are the glorious temple of the dwelling of God (Eph.2:22-23; 5:30). The temple garment of His priestly glory (Phil.3:22-23).
7 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, Christ paid the price for our sin, freeing us from the realm of death; to now empower us to overcome the powers of darkness, that He may deliver us unto our inheritance on the day of redemption, as His purchased possession (Eph.1:13-14; 4:30).
8 with which He has been abundant toward us in all wisdom and understanding, (making us competent to perform the service of God’s stewardship)
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He has purposed in Himself,
for a dispensation[15]for a corporate task given to us (for the investiture of Christ’s heavenly kingship, i.e., to head up all things in Christ), for re-establishing the ordering process of the creation,
of the fullness of the appointed seasons from which God’s glory will then fill up the appointed seasons, to head up all things in Christ by subduing all things under the supremacy of Christs headship, filling all the cosmic geographical locations with all the glory of God’s presence, those both in Heaven and on Earth (i.e., God’s presence establishing order to all creation through His image). This is what God has decreed in the hidden counsel of His will; for the investiture of the corporate one new man, for Christ to be made manifest in the heavenly realm and we with him(at God's right hand); which is first necessary, for Him to then later appear to every eye, as He heads up all under His sovereignty during the appointed seasons, God’s glory filling the all creation as His holy temple, extending the Eden blessing.
11 in which also out from the heirship we have, out from the decree of His determination (from which we are to be holy and without blame before him in love, for entrance into the inheritance as His ruling sons, vv.4-5) according to the purpose[16] of Him who works all things according the counsel of His own will
By His power God works all out all the trails of this world, and the enemy to our perfection, empowering us by His love in the spirit through faith, to overcome the corruption, persecutions, and afflictions of the enemy, and evil order of this present age; that Christ be made manifest, and we with Him, in glory, as Gods conquering image, at His right hand (Col.3:1-4;Tit.2:11-14).
12 that we who first trusted in Christ, (before the fullness of the appointed seasons) should be to the praise of His glory, Our reward, and function as His image, to manifestation to all creation, all the power, grace, and kindness of God’s person.
13 in Whom also, you, having heard the word, that of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and after having believed, you were marked with the Spirit of the holy promise,14 the earnest of the inheritance, for our redemption as Gods acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. The Spirit of God empowers us, by testifying with our spirit, that we are the children of God, assuring us, of God’s love for us, and the hope that lies before us (cp. Rom.8:15-18, 23-24). The Spirit of God is the seal of our inheritance as God’s paid possession; and is the power of God toward the perfecting of us, for the day of redemption (Eph.4:30).
The function of the image is to reflect the glory of God to all creation, which function is to summons the praises of creation to God, and this will be the function of the corporate New Man in the ages to come (Eph.2:7). In how God has not only favored us in allotting us such an inheritance, but also what He has chosen to accomplish through us now, for the ages, and we will forever be the emblem of the glory of His praise in what not only has done for us, but also what He has accomplished through us which will result in His glory filling the earth (Eph.3:9-11, 20-21)
An exposition of Eph. 1:3-14.
I. God’s secret concerning the allotted joint-heirship of the image: the creation, call, and mission of the corporate one New Man; having now been made known. The Apostle Paul’s Post Acts. 28:25-28 Ministry.
INTRODUCTION.
The Adamic vocation:
When we come to the first chapter of Ephesians the Apostle Paul quotes PS.8:6 in refence to the exceeding greatness of Gods’ power that works in us who believe according the mighty power, which He worked in Christ, having raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His right hand[1] (see all notes on post below), far above all the wicked celestial powers and “He has put all things beneath His feet[2]and has given Him as head over all things to the church which is His body the fullness of him that fills all in all” (Eph.1:19-23).
When we turn to Psalm 8:5-8; it links us to the creation account of Genesis 1-2; where God creates the[3] Adam as His Priest-King image, and places him in the Edenic sanctuary, giving him dominion over the works of His hands; God instructing the Adam to work and guard the garden as sacred space, and to expand the Edenic blessing out to the rest of the earth[4] and humanity;[5] were the entire earth was to be subdued[6]unto God.
Adam certainly needed the knowledge of God’s wise-order to perform this task, which knowledge he would gain from walking in fellowship with God in the garden[7].
We also have another link to the creation account of Genesis, in Eph.1:4 “before the disruption of the order”[8] (cosmos). When we do a word study of the Greek word used here for foundation (katabole); it has the meaning of breakdown, or overthrow. The use of this word, along with “cosmos” (translated world); meaning “the order”, brings us to when the devil[9] influenced Adams disobedience; thus, disrupting, or overthrowing the order of creation. Satan’s crafty deception[10]causing the Adam to disobey Gods voice, which resulted in the disinheriting of the image from his rightful position as heir over all the works of God’s hands; not fulfilling the vocation given to him; who’s failure, is the result of the present condition of creation, and humanity; this resulted in the present order, now being in a chaotic state; controlled under the dark foolishness of the wicked elohim, causing a disbalance (of disorder) in the equilibrium of the cosmos (Gen.3:1-6; 17-19; Rom.8:20-22; Ps.82.1,5).
Looking at other uses of “cosmos” in Ephesians 2:2; we see that the ones who rule the order (cosmos) of this present age, are the evil spirits in the heavenly realm (6:12); the heavenly realm is the sphere of our inheritance (1:4); which sphere is currently occupied by the enemy, and the forces of darkness. Just as in the Old Testament, when Israel had to trust in God to overcome their enemies, which occupied the land of their inheritance, in order to gain possession of it (Gen.1:28; cp.Num.32:22,29; Josh.18:1).
If Adam had fulfilled the commission given to him, he would of ascended the Edenic mountain of the Lord, where he would be crowned with glory and honor, having receive His first-born inheritance for his sacrificial service, God subduing all things under the headship of His lowly, trusting, faithful image (Phil.4:4-11). The Adam would of then be given the authority to destroy all the enemies of God, God’s glory would of then filled the entire creation (Gen.1:28; Eph.1:23; 4:10). These latter conclusions are drawn from the similarities of inference found in the Genesis account; in comparison with the work of Christ, and His mission, who the Adam is a figure of (Rom.5:14). This motif also runs throughout the O.T. regarding Israel’s relation to Gods purpose, in using them as a light to the rest of humanity, as a kingdom of royal priests, and the channel of blessing in His Kingdom to all creation.
Keeping all these things in mind, lets now read the text:
3 Praise be God (hallelujah[11]), and the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the blessing in our spiritual union with Christ in the Heavenly realms[12],
4 in as, He has, decreed us in Him before the disruption of the order, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love; having determined us for entrance into the inheritance as His glorious ruling sons[13], through Jesus Christ,
God has blessed us in our union with Christ as joint heirs to the allotted promise of the preeminent first-born inheritance over the order of all creation in the heavenly realm (Eph.3:6; Ps.8:5-6); and by our spiritual co-enthronement with Christ, we are imparted through the spirit, with the authority of Christ’s exaltation; God having decreed in Himself, before the disruption of the ordering process; that we, the members of the church, which are the body of Christ, would be victorious over the forces of darkness (Eph.6:10-16). In order that He may righteously redeem us into His inheritance, as His first-born glorious image, far above all the rebellious heavenly spirits. Enthroning us as His ruling sons for our faithful sacrificial service, for fulfilling the stewardship that He gave to us (Eph.4:11-16).
This can only be accomplished by our staying connected in dependence to our Head; for Knowledge, wisdom, and holiness; His love working through our faith, producing the fruit of righteousness, and a well pleasing walk before God in sacrificial service (Col.1:10-12; Eph.5:1-3).
We will be an offering to God, by our walk and love of service (Phil.1:29; Col.1:24; Rom.15:16); “He will be made manifest, and we with Him” as the body of His glory, at the right hand of God (this is not the hope of the rapture)[14]; we will have then received the reward of the inheritance (Col.3:24), the prize of the high calling, for our faithful sacrificial service, sharing in the exalted glory of Christ’s firstborn inheritance over all creation, as God’s glorious overcoming corporate image (Eph.2:15; 4:24; Col.1:15-18; 3:10).
according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He has highly favored us in the Beloved.
The good purpose of Gods will, is His partnership (with His lowly trusting imager) in establishing the order of His kingdom over the powers of chaos (the high rebellious spirits), He does this by the wisdom He gives to His imagers to perform this task; in righteous sacrificial service, for the restoration, love being the bond of perfection. He rewarding them with the inheritance of firstborn right, which grace and victory gives praise to His glory (Eph.1:12;14;18; 3:19-21).
The Greek word translated “highly favored” (G5487) is only used in one other place in the N.T. and is the same word used of Mary, she being lowly (Lk.1:28, 48), was the channel that God chose to bring in the appearing of Christ upon the earth, providing the lowly tent of His dwelling (Jn.1:14; Phil.2:7-8). Likewise, God has chosen to use us as the channel for the appearing of Christ in the heavenly realm, who is presently hid in the light of the glory of God (Col.3:3-4;1Tim.6:16), we, being the body of His flesh, are the glorious temple of the dwelling of God (Eph.2:22-23; 5:30). The temple garment of His priestly glory (Phil.3:22-23).
7 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, Christ paid the price for our sin, freeing us from the realm of death; to now empower us to overcome the powers of darkness, that He may deliver us unto our inheritance on the day of redemption, as His purchased possession (Eph.1:13-14; 4:30).
8 with which He has been abundant toward us in all wisdom and understanding, (making us competent to perform the service of God’s stewardship)
having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure, which He has purposed in Himself,
for a dispensation[15]for a corporate task given to us (for the investiture of Christ’s heavenly kingship, i.e., to head up all things in Christ), for re-establishing the ordering process of the creation,
of the fullness of the appointed seasons from which God’s glory will then fill up the appointed seasons, to head up all things in Christ by subduing all things under the supremacy of Christs headship, filling all the cosmic geographical locations with all the glory of God’s presence, those both in Heaven and on Earth (i.e., God’s presence establishing order to all creation through His image). This is what God has decreed in the hidden counsel of His will; for the investiture of the corporate one new man, for Christ to be made manifest in the heavenly realm and we with him(at God's right hand); which is first necessary, for Him to then later appear to every eye, as He heads up all under His sovereignty during the appointed seasons, God’s glory filling the all creation as His holy temple, extending the Eden blessing.
11 in which also out from the heirship we have, out from the decree of His determination (from which we are to be holy and without blame before him in love, for entrance into the inheritance as His ruling sons, vv.4-5) according to the purpose[16] of Him who works all things according the counsel of His own will
By His power God works all out all the trails of this world, and the enemy to our perfection, empowering us by His love in the spirit through faith, to overcome the corruption, persecutions, and afflictions of the enemy, and evil order of this present age; that Christ be made manifest, and we with Him, in glory, as Gods conquering image, at His right hand (Col.3:1-4;Tit.2:11-14).
12 that we who first trusted in Christ, (before the fullness of the appointed seasons) should be to the praise of His glory, Our reward, and function as His image, to manifestation to all creation, all the power, grace, and kindness of God’s person.
13 in Whom also, you, having heard the word, that of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and after having believed, you were marked with the Spirit of the holy promise,14 the earnest of the inheritance, for our redemption as Gods acquired possession, to the praise of His glory. The Spirit of God empowers us, by testifying with our spirit, that we are the children of God, assuring us, of God’s love for us, and the hope that lies before us (cp. Rom.8:15-18, 23-24). The Spirit of God is the seal of our inheritance as God’s paid possession; and is the power of God toward the perfecting of us, for the day of redemption (Eph.4:30).
The function of the image is to reflect the glory of God to all creation, which function is to summons the praises of creation to God, and this will be the function of the corporate New Man in the ages to come (Eph.2:7). In how God has not only favored us in allotting us such an inheritance, but also what He has chosen to accomplish through us now, for the ages, and we will forever be the emblem of the glory of His praise in what not only has done for us, but also what He has accomplished through us which will result in His glory filling the earth (Eph.3:9-11, 20-21)
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