One New Humanity: Mission in Ephesiansنموونە

Bible Reading: Ephesians 3:1–21

At the heart of the letter is a vision of cosmic unity and reconciliation. This was God’s plan all along (vv. 2, 9, 11). It was a mystery to previous generations (vv. 3–5, 9); a mystery that has now been revealed to New Testament apostles and prophets, then to the Ephesians, and now to us as we read this passage today! Yesterday, we learned about all those “together with” verbs. Today, we see that the mystery is this: the nations (including us) are counted as heirs, members of the same body, and equal partners together with God’s people in ages past (v. 6; all three words have the "together with" prefix).

Ephesians 3:10 brings together two key themes of the letter: the rulers and authorities, and the heavenly places. What are God’s answers to these hostile spiritual powers? What is the greatest witness to them that they have already been defeated through the cross, and that one day their total defeat will be seen and experienced? Remarkably, it is through the very existence of the church as a multi-racial, multi-cultural, united new humanity (v.10). Here, it’s not so much what the church does, but what it is.

This does not entail the erasure of racial, cultural, or language differences—just as Paul still speaks of Jews and Gentiles in this letter. Jews on the day of Pentecost heard the message of the apostles not in a single language, but each in their own language (Acts 2:6). Even Revelation’s vision of God’s people in heaven still speaks of their diversity, coming “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” (Revelation 7:9). But in a world riven by factions, parties, tribes, and interest groups, the surprising supernatural unity of the church, in all its diversity, is a proclamation to the powers of darkness that their final end has come – it is a testimony of the cosmic reunification in Christ which is God’s final purpose for all things (1:10).

For Paul, his mission to the Gentiles provoked opposition and imprisonment (vv. 1, 13). We may feel helpless, weak, or intimidated by the thought of discussing our faith with others. Yet, the apostle Paul felt that way, describing himself as “the very least of all the saints” (v. 8). But nothing held him back from sharing the Gospel, because he was propelled and enabled by God’s grace (vv. 2, 7, 8). The message was one he couldn’t hold back: “the boundless riches of Christ”—like a river or a well so deep we can never get to the bottom of it (v. 8).

This mission is undergirded by prayer. God has given us free and unfettered access into his very presence (vv. 12, 14), and his ability to answer our prayers is unlimited (v. 20). As we join in God’s mission to the nations, he strengthens us with the Spirit’s power so that we can experience Christ dwelling in our hearts (vv. 16–17). Our roots and foundations already reach deep into God’s love (v. 17), but God wants us to know the expansive love of Christ—a love so profound that we can never fully comprehend it (vv. 18–19). Just as the body is God’s fullness, which is filled by Christ (1:23), we too can be totally filled by him (v. 20) and empowered to do his work (v. 21). To him be the glory (v. 21)!