Ephesians 1:15–23 (ESV)
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 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, 18 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, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 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. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Yesterday, we examined Paul’s motivation for praying for the church. That motivation was two things, he had heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love toward all the saints.
Paul then prayed for four specific things:
1. He first prays that God may give them the ability to know Him personally and fully.
Ephesians 1:17 (ESV)
“..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, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,…”
Wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit must happen first before the next three aspects of Paul’s prayer can happen in our lives. You see, wisdom and revelations bring us to genuine knowledge of our Lord.
That’s why the next three desires of Paul’s heart follow the phrase, “that you may know,” with the word “what” before each thing Paul wants the church to know.
Ephesians 1:18–19 (ESV)
18 …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,
19 and * what is the immeasurable greatness of his power…”
So with the knowledge of our Lord, the next thing God wants us to know is ….
2. “that you may know – what is the hope to which he has called you,”
“Hope” in Scripture is not the idea of wishful thinking. Hope caries the idea of certainty of what lies ahead in the future. Hope is always futuristic.
So, what is the hope of our calling? First, it is the hope of our eternal destiny. That is, the hope of eternal life. Now remember, Jesus defined eternal life as knowing the Father and knowing Jesus in an intimate personal way. This hope begins at our salvation and extends throughout eternity.
Paul speaks of us as ones “who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:6)
Paul reminds Timothy of God, “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
(2 Timothy 1:9)
That purpose includes a calling to be like Jesus.
Romans 8:29–30 (ESV)
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
We are called to be “conformed to the image of his Son.” In other words, when people see the way we talk and act, they should see Jesus. This is our holy calling.
Notice the progression. We are predestined, called, justified and ultimately glorified. The end of all is our life in Christ as a new glorified existence. Now, all of this hope is because of Jesus.
That’s why Paul said that God has now reviewed the great mystery and that “…is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
So, what should be our response to His calling?
Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV)
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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