THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY

“That He would grant you, according to the RICHES of HIS GLORY, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” – Ephesians 3:16

The New Testament reveals much about the RICHES of GOD’S GLORY (Eph.3:16). As believers in Christ, we were born rich with a great inheritance when we were born again, but that is not enough; we are to grow in our understanding of the riches we have. If we don’t understand them then we won’t know what to do with them. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians reveals the riches we have as Christians and our responsibility towards them. For not only do we receive an inheritance, we are Jesus’ inheritance to the Father. He is counting on us and Paul understood it and wrote a prayer of encouragement that began in the first chapter and continued to the third chapter.

The Riches of His Glory are unlimited, but here are few dimensions of the riches we have in Christ:

Rich in Knowing God: “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph.1:17). Knowing God is second to no other knowledge. Wilful ignorance derails one from God: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves” (Rom.1:21-24). We need to know God personally (salvation); increasingly (sanctification); and perfectly (glorification) – as illustrated in Acts 4:12, Philippians 3:10 and 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 respectively.

Riches of God’s Calling: “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling…” (Eph.1:18a). We are God’s ekklesia, called-out by grace (Gal.1:15). Ours is a holy calling: “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2Tim.1:9). It is a calling out of the darkness into light: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Pet.2:9). It is a calling to Glory: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1Pet.5:10).

Riches of His Inheritance: “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph.1:18b). Not only do we have an inheritance in Christ, we are His inheritance! We are no longer slaves to sin; no longer defined by our past; and no longer constrained by what the world says, but by what God says about our assured future. We are God’s Inheritance. That’s why we must live for Him today: live to serve Him, please Him, share Him, and glorify Him. When Christ returns for His inheritance He will be glorified: “when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe…” (2The.1:10a). When we receive our inheritance in Him, we will be glorified: “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col.3:4).

Riches of God’s Power in us: “and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…” (Eph.1:19-20a). “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph.3:20). God’s divine, dynamic power is available to us. We can be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph.6:10).