Paul is writing to two primarily Gentile churches with pagan roots and two similar yet distinct dangers looming over their reception of the Gospel and the perseverance of their Faith. To Ephesus: fear of the powers and principalities they used to worship and continue to be prevalent in their locale/ context.(Bad ideas, bad theology, real supernatural/ demonic influence) To Colossae: fear of laws and restrictions distorting the Gospel. (religious, legalistic ideas, gatekeeping, etc.)
Paul’s answer to both is a stark reminder that Christ is on the throne, now and forever. We have access to all of the spiritual, manifold blessings of the Kingdom that can be reflected in our moral and civic life presently. We also have the hope that the Kingdom and reign of Christ will be fully realized in His glorious return. Paul will spend these two letters primarily focusing on the Kingdom Now and the implications it has on the way we live, interact with other believers, and how we interact with the world. This idea is initiated by Paul’s unique use of the word ἐπουράνιος in Ephesians chapter 1 and it’s context in v3 and v20 which we can appropriately translate as Heavenly Realms.
In our charismatic context, we are no strangers to this phrase; but when we say Christ is on the Throne,” do we have any clue what that means? For our circumstances? For our anxiety? These opening passages and prayers are not the normal Pauline treatises in theology. He is not just flexing his aPoStOlic AuThOrIty again. The opening pericope to the Ephesians is literally written in a unique Greek poetic format, originally in one sentence. It is a worship song. Paul doesn’t jsut want them to know Jesus has won, he wants them to feel it. In these passages Paul sets the tone and gives the theme of these two letters.
Ephesians 1:3-21
Colossians 1:3-13
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
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.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 1:3–23.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:3–14.
Christ is not on some distant throne that is beyond our reach. He sits in Heavenly realms and has reconciled us to Himself. The throne is not so far away. Paul doesn’t just want these two churches to know that Christ brought them a long way to get to Him. Paul wants them to know Christ brought them a REALLY long way. This is an encouragement and reminder to believers in all walks of life. How do we know the power of God is real? We see the power revealed in the physical person of Christ as the image of the invisible God, we also see it in His workmanship which is the church. I would center this around Ephesians 2:6 to emphasize He has seated us with Him in the Heavenly Realms. Also i changed the title of this week just to make it a little simpler/ easier for slides etc. The main point still being that we are “reconciled to Him” ie in the Heavenly Realms.