Ephesians 1:15-23
For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
How many years has it been since you saw fans pour onto a victorious football field and tear down the goal posts? That used to be the tradition. People would swarm the field, crush up against the wooden struts that would begin to sway. Sometimes a reckless kid would shimmy up one pole to add his weight to the teetering spire, and pretty soon over it would go. Ecstatic fans would all shout unreserved approval and the goal posts would be paraded around the field as trophies.
Improved, single base steel or aluminum goal posts at higher costs protected by a ring of stadium workers contributed to the end of this kind of demonstration, but I’m guessing the bigger deterrent is liability. It isn't worth getting someone hurt. But the goal post is still an symbol of ambition. Not just in sport, but in business, in academia, in war, in political campaigns, and in so many facets of life, the concept of a goal is revered. Reaching the goal is everything. Once met, you can tear it down and go off happy because you’ve won.
So, what is the goal of the church? Conversions? Heaven? Or is the goal more immediate? Making budget, getting through all the Christmas business of pageants, extra services, decorating, choir rehearsals, etc. But once the goal is met, tear it down and collapse. We’re done. That’s over. Wrap it up. Whew!
There surely is nothing wrong with goals, but one great danger is that, in having reached it, someone remains on a plateau. There was temporary revelry but what follows is long uninterrupted stagnation in which someone is satisfied to go no further.
Something like this must have been on the mind and heart of St. Paul when we wrote his beloved friends in the church of Ephesus. Weren’t they already Christians? Yes. Didn’t they by now have a saving faith? Yes. Didn’t they already love each other? Yes. Hey, that sounds to me like a congregation that has “arrived.” They have faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints. You’d think Paul would be comfortable enough with that. Game over. Goal achieved. Wrap it up. Settle down. Enjoy the luxury. We’ve arrived. Now we can coast, occasionally thinking back to the euphoric victory of Christ. But that’s wrapped up — right?
Well, yes. Christ’s redeeming work is done. He declared from the cross, “It is finished.” The object of his coming was achieved. But was it not for freedom Christ has set us free? (Gal. 5:1)
The work of redemption, the mission to save the world by His suffering, death, and resurrection is complete. The whole church is joyous for it and rightly so. Nothing needs to be added to the triumph of our God. The celebration will continue forever because His victory is that great! The death and resurrection of Christ is the central glory of Christendom, and the commemoration of what our Lord has done continues unendingly in the Feast of His Body and Blood.
Yet, it ought to be said that there is no diminution of the Gospel by speaking of further goals. The victory of Christ is meant to be honored and harnesses. Yes, our justification before God cannot be embellished. That great goal was not only met but exceeded because Christ paid double for all our sins. But in so doing, our Lord carries us into a new life and freedom in which we may realize ever more fully “the riches of his glorious inheritance” and “the immeasurable greatness of his power.”
Christians are not to sit on their haunches like listless pew warmers. God will not have us robbed of the endless discovery of His divine riches and the power he has invested in us. Ours is both a justified and sanctified life. Named God's own and enlivened to express it.
It is a very sad thing to hear, as I have too often, some baptized member say, “I believe in Jesus. Isn't that enough?” Well, yes, if we’re talking apples to apples. If the question regards whether all has been done for your salvation then be sure never to add one iota. But if we’re talking about an ever clearer and ever sharper understand of God and a life that advances from truth to truth, then there is much yet to grasp and much still to grow.
Christianity is not a stand still principle. It is a winged conviction that rises up and reaches out. They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31)
“I believe in Jesus; that oughta be enough” is not to be used as the ultimate silencer which can exempt a Christian from any responsibility, any expectation of growth, any participation in Bible study, any greater service or amendment of a pattern they set for themselves. “I have faith in Jesus” is wonderful unless it mean: end of story; we’re done; that’s over; wrap it up.
The “I believe in Jesus; I’m untouchable” dodge is a very tough argument to get around because any criticism of it is taken as a judgment on one’s faith. That’s why it is so tempting to church people. It comes out sounding like confirmation is the only goal and once you prove you can answer basic questions, you’re guaranteed a box seat at church whether you use it or not. That is not the spirit of wisdom and revelation of which St. Paul writes.
That’s why he always remembered his Christian brothers and sisters in his prayers. He knew they were believers. He received reports of their faith and love. But that faith was not to be parked, lazy, or casual. Faith and love aren’t to be lumpy, inactive concepts. No one has been loved by God “in theory” or comes to faith “in principle.” Faith and love are the very expressions of Christ’s vibrant, productive life within us.
The soaring prospects in such a life couldn’t be more grand. God doesn’t mean for us to settle for just watching the church function — like spectators in some churchly grandstand. Paul means to excite us by the capacity of the Holy Spirit to give an ever-expanding wisdom and knowledge of Christ, the glorious comfort to know that through Him there is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.
Don’t you sometimes just shake your head in wonder at the glorious riches and inheritance we have been given through Him? The vistas He has opened for us are immeasurable; and thank God that the Holy Spirit gives us eyes not only to see all the possibilities but then sets us to the receiving of the fulfillment of our salvation in the heavenly joy and transcendent ecstasy and bliss of future glory far beyond anything we can conceive at present.
It was by eyes so enlightened that St. Paul could speak of his own goal in the upward, ascending life of Christ. “I press on,” he said, “to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
