An Overview Exposition of Ephesians 3:14-21
1. Verses 14-15 The Father's family in heaven was a model for mankind on earth to follow. Matthew 6:9-10 contains these significant words, "Our Father in heaven; Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Initially, the New Testament era opened with light from heaven - Luke 2:8-14; and continued to release light from heaven on such men as Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus to persecute the Church - Acts 9:3-5. This heavenly light brought an understandable message to Saul in his own Hebrew language according to Acts 26:14.
2. Verse 16 speaks of heaven as a storehouse that contains all that man upon earth needs! (Philippians 4:19).
3. The heavenly provision supplies: a) Verse 17a -Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9 speaks of faith as a gift of God). b) Verse 17b-19 - Love (Romans 5:5 states that God's love fills our hearts). c) Verse 20-21 speaks of God who brings hope into our lives. 1 Corinthians 13:13 "Now abideth faith, hope and love..." But man, by his sin, and its accompanying darkness, was cut off from the light of heaven's faith, hope and love. So Jesus came to import the light of heaven, and become the light of the world. He came for two primary reasons: 1) To reveal the heavenly Father to mankind! 2) He came to die on the cross to provide forgiveness so that mankind might be reconciled to God, and the re-formation of the family of God might take place upon earth, parallel to the family of God in heaven.
So the first major accomplishment of Jesus was to gather twelve men around him as his disciples (learners). These twelve became a family to whom he would reveal his heavenly Father as their potential father. This group would become a prototype.
What is a prototype? The dictionary states: "A prototype is an original thing; a trial model; a preliminary version; especially of aeroplane." Now with this understanding of a prototype, let's apply it to this family of twelve disciples and Jesus. Jesus wanted to form an earthly family that would break from carnal, earthly values as a primary source of life for his followers, and connect relationally with his Father in the heavenly kingdom so that his earthly family would parallel the family in heaven.
A prototype is a temporary model for the ultimate formation of that which will fulfill the purpose of the designer or creator! Since the prototype is temporary, we must leave the prototype behind to gain the ultimate purpose of the prototype! In John 13:31-38 Jesus announced the break-up of the prototype that he had been working on for over three years. He did this so that he migh move on to the purpose for which the prototype was formed, namely the formation of a worldwide, trans-generational family of God upon earth! That great family would be drawn from the multitudes of earth by the power of the Holy Spirit over many, many future generations! I believe that Jesus alluded to this in John 10:16 when he said, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and, there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The twelve disciples were devestated by the words of Jesus in John 13:33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: "Where I am going, you cannot come." In response to these words, Peter asked, "Lord where are you going?" "Lord, why can't I follow you now? These are questions that were asked in a very emotional tone of voice!
These questions were addressed by Jesus, and then he continue by saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God! Trust also in me!" These are exclamatory statements! While I believe in heaven, and in the Second Coming of Christ at the end of this age, I do not believe that either of these subjects are under discussion in this passage. When Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many mansions or rooms," he is not speaking of a material house with rooms. He is speaking of a household, or family with many abiding places for the Father's children. Jesus was going away to the cross, and by his death he would provide the means whereby sinful man could be reconciled to his Holy Father. So after his resurrection he would come again to be with his disciples, and his coming again to them is recorded in John 20:19-23 and Luke 24:36-48. It was on this occassion that the person of the Holy Spirit came into the lives of these disciples, and the full enablement of this connection came about on the Day of Pentecost as the power of the Holy Spirit was released upon them. When Jesus said that he was going away so that these followers might come into relationship with the Father, just as Jesus was in relationship with his Father (John 14:11, 23).
If you will read the following scriptures: [John 14:11; 2021, 23; 17:20-23; 7:17; 10:27; 8:27-29; 15:9-15; 14:12], you will discover four basic qualities present in the model of the family in heaven. These qualities are love, unity, obedience, and revelation. Each one of these qualities contain a very powerful message! But let me conclude by saying that if we love the Father, we will be obedient to his command, and we will walk in unity with other members of the Father's family! Furthermore, as our Father sees our love and obedience to him, and our unity with fellow family members, he will release a revelation of his will to us. If we have a loving, obedient heart, our ears will be sensitive to the Father's voice, just as Jesus was sensitive to his Father's voice!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Revealing the Father and Redeeming Mankind
Jesus Christ came to earth with a dual mission assigned to him by his Father according to 2 Corinthians 5:19, "that God was in Christ (revealing the Father), reconciling the world unto himself (through the redemption accomplished by his death on the cross)."
Let's consider this dual mission: 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 contains a contrast between instructors, or guardians, and spiritual fathers. Paul was a spiritual father to the people of the Corinthian church, in that he founded that church at Corinth.
There are two significant works of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believing one. First, there is a spiritual birth into God's family by believing the Word of God, and receiving of Christ as Lord. Secondly, through the nurture of spiritual fathers who model and speak the Word of God into the lives of new born believers, resulting in spiritual growth and maturity. The Greek word, TEKNON meaning, new born one, thus indicating that a new birth has occurred, while the Greek word, HUIOS (pronounced, hwee-os) meaning a mature son ready to come into a place of responsibility.
Luke 3:38 speaks of Adam as a son of God. Though Adam, at creation was a child, nevertheless it was the intention of God, the Father that Adam should be developed into a mature son capable of assuming responsibility. As Adam matured into sonship, he would be developed to father the next generation, just as God had fathered him. But Adam failed to obey God, and the succeeding generations were destroyed by the flood (Genesis 7). Then God called Noah (Genesis 9), much as he had Adam, but Noah descendants were also judged by God at Babel (Genesis 11). Then God called Abraham (Genesis 12), to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. However, the descendants of Abraham, the Israelite nation also failed, and the whole nation underwent the judgment of God at the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
At the end of the Old Testament, there is a prophetic word spoken by Malachi about the future coming of the Messiah and his forerunner, John the Baptist. The result of the forthcoming fulfillment of that prophecy "the hearts of the fathers would be turned to the children, and the hearts of the children would be turned to the fathers (Malachi 4:5-6)." So the Messiah or Christ was coming for a dual purpose, to reveal the Father, and give his life as a sacrifice for sin, so that man might be reconciled to God.
Why did the twelve disciples follow Christ? I would like to suggest that these men followed Jesus for two reasons: First, most, if not all spent time with Jesus getting to know him - read John 1-3. Second, having come to know him over a period of time, they saw father-like attributes in him that were not in their earthly fathers. In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus began to call certain men to follow him as disciples. In Matthew 4:21-22 it is stated that James and John were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. They were not in the boat for the purpose of being with their father, they were in the boat to work in the same profession as their father was working. Work, not relationship was the reason for being in the boat.
After being with Jesus for three years, one day, Jesus told them that he was leaving them, and that they could not go with him to where he was going. These words were like a bomb-shell to them! The were shocked and very sorrowful! As you read the words that Peter spoke, it is important that you sense the emotion of his words (John 13:31-38)! Peter said, "Lord, where are you going? Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!"
Then Jesus continues (John 14:1), by saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God! Trust also in me! These last two statements are exclamatory words! In verse two, Jesus said, "In my Father's house (the Greek is a household, or a family), are many mansions (kjv), or rooms (niv) (which really are abiding places)." When we read house, mansions, or rooms, we think of material structures, such as we live in upon earth. But, that is not what Jesus meant, he was speaking of the relationship that believers would have to his Father in heaven.
In verse two, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Then in verse three, he continued by saying, "And if (or since) I go and prepare a place for you:"
There are certain question and answers that come out of these words: Where was Jesus going? He was going to the cross to prepare a place of relationship between man and God! So Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you, that you may be where I am." Where was Jesus at that moment? According to verse 11 Jesus was in the Father, that is he was in relationship to the Father. Jesus by going to the cross was going to provide the way for believers to be in relationship with the Father. Then Jesus said, "I will come back," not as in the Second Coming at the end of the age, but after his resurrection. John 14:20 speak of a new realization that the disciples will come to on that day he returns after his resurrection. Then in John 20:19-23, and Luke 24:36-48 we read of Jesus actual return to them, and the miracle of the Spirit's impartation to them as Jesus breathed upon them, and opened their understanding! The complete measure of the release of the Spirit's power was then experienced by them on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
Now let's return to John 14:6 where Jesus said that he was the way to the Father, and that way involved the sacrifice of himself on the cross as he died for the forgiveness of our sins! Then in John 14:8-9, Jesus in answer to Philip's question, stated that, "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. So in fulfillment to the prophecy of Malachi, Jesus introduced his followers to his Father, so that the hearts of the earthly fathers might turn to the children!
Each one of us need to know an intimate relationship to our heavenly Father, just as Jesus did! In John 8:28, Jesus said, "I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me." May each of us in the family of God have the same intimate communication with our Father!
Let's consider this dual mission: 1 Corinthians 4:14-17 contains a contrast between instructors, or guardians, and spiritual fathers. Paul was a spiritual father to the people of the Corinthian church, in that he founded that church at Corinth.
There are two significant works of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believing one. First, there is a spiritual birth into God's family by believing the Word of God, and receiving of Christ as Lord. Secondly, through the nurture of spiritual fathers who model and speak the Word of God into the lives of new born believers, resulting in spiritual growth and maturity. The Greek word, TEKNON meaning, new born one, thus indicating that a new birth has occurred, while the Greek word, HUIOS (pronounced, hwee-os) meaning a mature son ready to come into a place of responsibility.
Luke 3:38 speaks of Adam as a son of God. Though Adam, at creation was a child, nevertheless it was the intention of God, the Father that Adam should be developed into a mature son capable of assuming responsibility. As Adam matured into sonship, he would be developed to father the next generation, just as God had fathered him. But Adam failed to obey God, and the succeeding generations were destroyed by the flood (Genesis 7). Then God called Noah (Genesis 9), much as he had Adam, but Noah descendants were also judged by God at Babel (Genesis 11). Then God called Abraham (Genesis 12), to be a blessing to all the families of the earth. However, the descendants of Abraham, the Israelite nation also failed, and the whole nation underwent the judgment of God at the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians.
At the end of the Old Testament, there is a prophetic word spoken by Malachi about the future coming of the Messiah and his forerunner, John the Baptist. The result of the forthcoming fulfillment of that prophecy "the hearts of the fathers would be turned to the children, and the hearts of the children would be turned to the fathers (Malachi 4:5-6)." So the Messiah or Christ was coming for a dual purpose, to reveal the Father, and give his life as a sacrifice for sin, so that man might be reconciled to God.
Why did the twelve disciples follow Christ? I would like to suggest that these men followed Jesus for two reasons: First, most, if not all spent time with Jesus getting to know him - read John 1-3. Second, having come to know him over a period of time, they saw father-like attributes in him that were not in their earthly fathers. In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus began to call certain men to follow him as disciples. In Matthew 4:21-22 it is stated that James and John were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. They were not in the boat for the purpose of being with their father, they were in the boat to work in the same profession as their father was working. Work, not relationship was the reason for being in the boat.
After being with Jesus for three years, one day, Jesus told them that he was leaving them, and that they could not go with him to where he was going. These words were like a bomb-shell to them! The were shocked and very sorrowful! As you read the words that Peter spoke, it is important that you sense the emotion of his words (John 13:31-38)! Peter said, "Lord, where are you going? Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!"
Then Jesus continues (John 14:1), by saying, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God! Trust also in me! These last two statements are exclamatory words! In verse two, Jesus said, "In my Father's house (the Greek is a household, or a family), are many mansions (kjv), or rooms (niv) (which really are abiding places)." When we read house, mansions, or rooms, we think of material structures, such as we live in upon earth. But, that is not what Jesus meant, he was speaking of the relationship that believers would have to his Father in heaven.
In verse two, Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." Then in verse three, he continued by saying, "And if (or since) I go and prepare a place for you:"
There are certain question and answers that come out of these words: Where was Jesus going? He was going to the cross to prepare a place of relationship between man and God! So Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you, that you may be where I am." Where was Jesus at that moment? According to verse 11 Jesus was in the Father, that is he was in relationship to the Father. Jesus by going to the cross was going to provide the way for believers to be in relationship with the Father. Then Jesus said, "I will come back," not as in the Second Coming at the end of the age, but after his resurrection. John 14:20 speak of a new realization that the disciples will come to on that day he returns after his resurrection. Then in John 20:19-23, and Luke 24:36-48 we read of Jesus actual return to them, and the miracle of the Spirit's impartation to them as Jesus breathed upon them, and opened their understanding! The complete measure of the release of the Spirit's power was then experienced by them on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
Now let's return to John 14:6 where Jesus said that he was the way to the Father, and that way involved the sacrifice of himself on the cross as he died for the forgiveness of our sins! Then in John 14:8-9, Jesus in answer to Philip's question, stated that, "he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. So in fulfillment to the prophecy of Malachi, Jesus introduced his followers to his Father, so that the hearts of the earthly fathers might turn to the children!
Each one of us need to know an intimate relationship to our heavenly Father, just as Jesus did! In John 8:28, Jesus said, "I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me." May each of us in the family of God have the same intimate communication with our Father!
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