Ephesians 3:14-19

Into: Paul is closing the first half his letter which focuses on Christian theology. He is writing to the Ephesians.

Through: Verse 14 is one of complete submission to God and Christ. Paul subsequently explains that God is essentially the Father because He created everything on earth and in heaven. Paul does however seem to be speaking more specifically than that, though, probably about the family of the saints, the church. He says the reason he hows his knees to God is so the church may become stronger through Christ, that people would receive Christ and have Him actively living in their hearts, that they may have a firm foundation of love (specifically for one another(, that they may have a completely full understanding of the love of Christ which passes knowledge, and, ultimately, that they will be filled completely with God, living on His power and completely submitting to His will and character with their lives.

Beyond: The first verse in this passage, as I said in the previous section, is one of submission and commitment to authority. This seems to be the attitude portrayed throughout the rest of the Bible. I often have a problem living this out. Parents usually seem to be an authority that is extremely prone to error and bad decision making. I simply have to trust that obedience to the authorities over me will be only beneficial to my life. Maybe God will even deliver his promise of longer years. What a concept.

In the rest of this passage Paul explains the reason he is willing to submit in such a way, and this is for the sake of the edification of others. Ultimately his goal for tis church, and the goal we as Christians should have in our own lives is to come to experience the complete love of Christ and to know the unkowable love of Christ and to know the unknowable love of Christ, and to be filled with the complete fullness of God. The goal is to perfectly imitate the character of Christ. The goal is perfection, and God alone has the power to get us there.