Ephesians 3: 10, 11 God's wisdom made known
| God vindicates Himself through the church |
| Ephesians 3: 10, 11 ( King James Version ) |
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| verse 10 > To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, |
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| verse 11 > According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: |
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| Ephesians 3: 10, 11 ( New International Version ) |
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| v. 10 > His intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be make known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, |
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| v. 11 > According to His eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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| Text Quoted in Spirit of Prophecy |
| Of His people God says, "They shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land. For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!" Zech. 9:16, 17. The exaltation of the redeemed will be an eternal testimony to God's mercy. "In the ages to come," He will "show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." "To the intent that . . . unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known . . . the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Eph. 2:7; 3:10, 11, R. V. {DA 26.1} |
| So God desires us to trust in Him who justifieth the ungodly. His reward is given not according to our merit but according to His own purpose, "which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ephesians 3:11. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5. And for those who trust in Him He will do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Eph. 3:20. {COL 397.2} |
| Even now, "unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places" is "made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God." And He "hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places: . . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." Ephesians 3:10, R.V.; 2:6, 7. {Ed 308.4} |
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| The church of Christ is to represent his character. Its members, if their names are written in the Lamb's book of life, will be united by a vital connection with Christ, as the branch is united with the living vine. Jesus says, "For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." Christ devoted himself entirely to the work of saving souls. He left the glories of heaven, and clothed his divinity with humanity, and subjected himself to sorrow, and shame, and reproach, abuse, denial, and crucifixion. Though he had all the strength of the passion of humanity, never did he yield to temptation to do that which was not pure and elevating and ennobling. He says. "I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified." He devoted himself wholly to God in an infinite sacrifice to redeem the world. What a wholeness in his life, his character! The plan of salvation, devised prior to the beginning of time, expresses the love of Christ to man, the devotion of the Son to the Father's glory. "To the intent that now the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." This eternal purpose embodied before the universe the glory of the divine love in the salvation of man. {ST, November 21, 1892 par. 8} |
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| And the apostle declares, "to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, . . . to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church, the manifold wisdom of God." Eph. 3:10 R. V. {BTS, December 1, 1907 par. 2} |
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| To the church is given the work of making known to the world what is the fellowship of the mystery "which from all ages hath been hid in God who created all things; to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God." {ST, February 14, 1900 par. 7} |
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