How does Ephesians 3:11 reveal God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord? An Eternal Blueprint Unfolding • Ephesians 3:11: “This was according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • “Eternal” means the plan predates creation itself—nothing improvisational, nothing reactive. • God’s purpose is singular, focused, unwavering: everything centers on Christ. • 2 Timothy 1:9 echoes this: “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before time began.” • 1 Peter 1:20 adds that Christ “was foreknown before the foundation of the world.” Together, these verses highlight a blueprint drafted in eternity past, executed in real time through Jesus. Accomplished—Not Merely Attempted • Paul uses a completed-action verb: “accomplished.” • The cross and resurrection finalized what was planned (John 19:30, “It is finished”). • Hebrews 9:26: Christ “has appeared once for all…to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” • God’s purpose isn’t pending approval; it is already secured in Christ’s work. Christ at the Center of Every Divine Intention • Ephesians 1:9-10: God’s “good pleasure…to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.” • Colossians 1:19-20: “Through Him to reconcile to Himself all things…making peace by the blood of His cross.” • God’s aim: universal reconciliation, cosmic harmony, human redemption—all converge on Jesus. A Family Formed from Every Nation • Context of Ephesians 3: Jew and Gentile now share “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (v. 8). • Ephesians 2:14-16: Christ “has made both one…reconciling both to God in one body through the cross.” • God’s eternal purpose includes a multiethnic church displaying His wisdom (Ephesians 3:10). Personal Implications for Believers • Security: Romans 8:28-30 assures that those foreknown and predestined will be glorified—no part of the chain breaks. • Access: Ephesians 3:12, immediate context, promises “boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” • Mission: 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 calls believers “ambassadors,” joining God’s purpose by declaring reconciliation in Christ. Living in the Flow of God’s Purpose • Rest: God’s plan is complete; believers stand on finished work, not performance. • Hope: An eternal purpose cannot be thwarted by temporal trials (Romans 8:18). • Unity: Because the purpose embraces all who are in Christ, divisions must fade in the light of the cross (Galatians 3:28). God’s eternal purpose, conceived before time, carried out in Christ, and applied through the Spirit, is the unshakable foundation of both individual salvation and the church’s global calling. |
    |