The First Sunday after Christmas (NTA)

Ephesians 1:15-23

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.

St Paul is reminded of the Love people have for one another. They have love for all those who believe in Jesus. These people hopefully are even seeking to save the lost in Ephesus. St Paul even prays for these people. He prays that they would continue to gain wisdom and knowledge.

It is difficult for us to truly understand the fullness of God. It would be great for God to grant us the gift of infinite wisdom and knowledge. It would be great to be able to understand all the work Christ has done for us.

Many people tell me that all you have to do is “believe in Jesus” to be saved. While I have a doctrinal problem with “doing things” for salvation, this is not the greatest concern. The greatest concern for me is what does the person mean by Jesus. Do we fully recognize who Jesus is and what he has done? St Paul prays that these people would continue to grow in understanding what the term “Jesus” really means.

Jesus is the only Son of God the Father. He was born of the Virgin Mary. He lives a human life doing human things in actual History. He died on a Historic Date. He rose from the dead three days after that. He ascended forty days following his Resurrection. He currently is everywhere, just as God the Father is omnipresent. Likewise, Father and Son live and reign with the Holy Spirit one God now and forever. Sadly this is not even all that “Jesus” entails, but this is a good start, because it is this “Jesus” and his death that was for your sins and your eternal salvation.