Ephesians 1:16-23

Ephesians 1:16-23. Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what it the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

Calvin has a striking remark upon this verse, "the Church is the fullness of Christ." "This is the highest honour of the Church that, until Christ is united to us, the Son of God reckons himself in some measure imperfect;" and so he is, for what would a king be without his subjects? A mockery; yea, and all the members of Christ’s mystical body - the Church - are necessary to make a whole Christ. If the very least believer shall be absent at last, Christ will not be complete. It is not possible that one of those whom his Father has given him should not at last be found at his right hand. All the sheep of the good Shepherd will be gathered into the heavenly fold. We rejoice to know that there is such a connection as this between ourselves and Christ; here is our glory and our boast; and here is our trust. We believe that-

His honour is engaged to save

The meanest of his sheep;

All that his Heavenly Father gave

His hands securely keep.

Nor death, nor hell, shall e’er remove

His favourites from his breast;

In the dear bosom of his love

They must for ever rest.