“This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph. 3:11).
Throughout this letter we have seen that God is declaring that behind all the events of world history God is working out His own eternal purpose. God’s plan was conceived in eternity past, is eternal in its scope and will thus be complete in heaven. Christ is the agent through Whom God is accomplishing His eternal plan.
Perhaps you are wondering how the church is related to God’s eternal purpose being carried out in Christ. In Matthew’s gospel there is an event where Jesus asks His disciples who they have come to believe that He is. In response, Peter declares the growing conviction—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Jesus not only affirms this conviction concerning His identity, He declares His intention of building His church and giving it authority over Hades itself.
Thus the work begun by Christ in His incarnation will be completed through His church. The mission of the Messiah is the heartbeat of the church. Christ not only came to provide individual redemption, He came to establish His church made up of those who have experienced His redemption. For that reason the church can be spoken of as His body, His field, His building, and His bride.
The church is designed and empowered to express God’s fullness in the same manner that Christ did during His incarnation (Eph. 1:23). The resurrection and ascension of Christ were accomplished for the church that it might fully complete the task of taking the “keys of the kingdom” to the ends of the earth. Wow! Can you imagine being part of something that was in God’s heart from all eternity past and that has been empowered to complete the task of reaching the nations?
Prayer: Father, thank You for saving me and incorporating me into Your body. Amen