OPEN BOOK – THE PRISONER’S LETTER: GATHERING TOGETHER “ALL THINGS IN CHRIST”

BRUCE C WEARNE looks at a passage in Ephesians in which Paul unfold’s God’s great purpose…

Leaving us [speechless] praising His grace, wherein we have been so favoured as His beloved, through whom we are freed from bondage, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the abundance of His bequest [freely given] to us, which He lavished upon us [bringing] with [it] all wisdom with a clear-headed perspective, in which, what was [formerly] the mystery of His purpose, [kept hidden] according to His own good pleasure, was [now] made known to us, namely His own intention to intervene in order to maintain His housekeeping concerning the fulness of time, that He might comprehensively and thoroughly gather together all things in Christ; [that is] things that come from Heaven and things that come from Earth. For it was also in Him that we were chosen to be His inheritance, have been set apart beforehand, from the outset, according to the [same ongoing] intervention of the One who works in all things according to the counsel of His own purposes, that we, [those who] having long since now put our hope in Christ, might thereby become the praise of His glory. – Ephesians 1:6-12/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne

Gathering in unity. PICTURE: Kaleb Nimz/Unsplash.

“Paul’s ‘we’ is a distinct bridging between faithful Jew and believing Gentile. And this then is part of a spiritual song, making a melody unto the Lord with a fully united thankful heart (5:19). This is the anthem for Jew and Gentile in Christ to sing together and thus strengthen their bonds as a distinct people to do so in such a practical and liturgical way!”

It is notable that in the background to what Paul proclaims here is the view of the manic silversmiths of Ephesus. They also considered the earth in terms of stewardship (OIKONOMION) that was demanded by their goddess, Diana (Acts 19:27).

Here the term “we” is notable. Paul has joined himself with his readers in an indiscriminate way, locating his work with the onward march of the Good News. God purpose unfolds to make a people the ongoing expression of His Glory – the praise that the Lord receives from the entire created order rebounding upon His image-bearers.

Paul’s “we” is a distinct bridging between faithful Jew and believing Gentile. And this then is part of a spiritual song, making a melody unto the Lord with a fully united thankful heart (5:19). This is the anthem for Jew and Gentile in Christ to sing together and thus strengthen their bonds as a distinct people to do so in such a practical and liturgical way!

Of course, God had intervened in Paul’s life, stopping him in his tracks. He turned him around informing him in a peremptory fashion that His sovereign purposes over his life were not going to be thwarted! There was just not any question about it. The answer coming back straight away to Paul’s initial question, “Who are you Lord?” (Acts 9:5), brought Paul face-to-face with God’s mercy.

And, though this intervention was “to maintain His housekeeping concerning the fulness of time”, Paul’s role was plainly laid out. He was to be a “commissioned messenger” of the King. Instead of Saul, self-appointed postman, carrying letters authorising the arrest and ongoing persecution of those believing in Israel’s Messiah (Acts 9:1-2). He would become Jesus’ postman, the “apostle” whose service and contribution to God’s Kingdom was to come to expression in the writing of letters, a set of epistles – many of which are remarkably alike in style and composition.

These would, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit give decisive direction for the “way of life” the Creator-Redeemer has wanted all along from His Image-Bearers. And so, why not include a liturgical hymn within such literary communications? Here again is an ongoing reminder of the glorious truth that has called forth their life together!