“which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him,” - Ephesians 1:8-9 (NASB)
Paul uses the Greek word ‘perisseuō’ for “lavished” many times to talk about God’s abundant grace and provisions in Christ in different places in his letters (see Rom. 5:15; 15:13; 1 Cor. 15:58; 2 Cor. 1:5; 8:2,7; 9:8; Eph. 1:8; Phil. 1:9; 4:12,18; Col. 2:7; 1 Thess. 4:1). It shows how much God’s love in Christ overflows and provides more than enough for us! The phrase “In all wisdom and insight” refers to God’s gift of understanding, given so that people can understand the gospel. This gift is not the secret knowledge emphasized by false teachers of Gnosticism, but a way for fallen mankind to grasp the significance of the gospel. The false teachers were promoting secret wisdom, while God’s wisdom is found in Christ and is available to everyone!
The term “mystery” (mystḗrion) is often used by Paul to describe different aspects of God’s redemptive plan. In Ephesians 2:11-3:13, it refers to the uniting of all people, both Jews and Gentiles, in Christ, to God. This unity had always been God’s plan and the implication of monotheism (the belief in one God). Although this truth had been hidden in the past, it is now fully revealed in Christ.
God’s grace is truly amazing and unfathomable. It is through His infinite wisdom and deep understanding that He freely bestows upon us His extraordinary blessings. What a testament to His boundless love and kindness towards humanity, a love that surpasses all understanding. In eternity past, God chose us to be holy and blameless because of His immeasurable love for us. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have been adopted as His children, granting us an amazing privilege and an everlasting inheritance (cf. Eph 1:4-6).
In 1 John 4:10, we are reminded of the depth and unconditional nature of God’s love, demonstrated through the sacrificial sending of His Son to atone for our sins and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As vessels of clay, we hold a treasure that reflects God’s grace and power, renewing and transforming us each day. All glory to God!
We, the church of Jesus Christ, are deeply called to cherish these spiritual blessings received through Christ’s sacrifice and made accessible by the Holy Spirit. These blessings stem from our citizenship in heaven and our eager anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Phil 3:20).
As Christians, we recognize that we are merely sojourners and pilgrims in this world, bound by our divine nature and a sense of unity while living as strangers in an unwelcoming world. Our unity is grounded in our shared adherence to the Bible and our allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we come together as believers, we mirror the life of Christ as portrayed in the Bible.
The presence of God the Father, the fellowship of Christ the Son, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit collectively embody the true essence of the church. The church is not only a physical entity but also an expression of the “inner man,” where the spirit can commune with God and experience His magnificence. This enriching purpose of the church is to be celebrated and upheld.
As believers, we are reminded of the abundant blessings God has prepared for us and are urged to share these blessings with others who partake in His grace. Christ, as our elder Brother (cf. Heb 2:11; Rom 8:29; Mark 3:34), presides over this bountiful feast. The depth of these spiritual blessings is beyond the understanding of those who are spiritually blind. Nevertheless, we find joy in its discovery, comprehending the beauty of God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the promise of the city of God (cf. Rev 21:9-27), as well as the fellowship of all souls saved by this wonderful, wonderful grace of God. Hallelujah!
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