49-19 A Fitting Doxology
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Ephesians 3:20-21
Ephesians 3:20-21
In our verse by verse study of Eph we come to the very end of ch 3; and to the end of the “doctrinal foundation” (practical application ch 4-6).
Our vv form the climax to the prayer just offered by Paul (strength, apprehension, fulness—themselves requests so lofty to be seemingly impossible). It is a small passage so positive and overflowing with praise that it has been called “the great doxology” and “the grand doxology.”
A doxology is a hymn of praise to God (not man). The word comes from 2 Gk words doxa (glory) logia (word, saying). it is the expression and ascription of glory and praise, given to God—the only reasonable response of created beings who owe all things to their Creator.
These vv are right in the middle of Eph; it is the apex of this epistle and puts right before us a charge/duty to live our lives in every way so that God gets the glory.
Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The question that should always be in our minds is “what brings God glory?” That is the theme of doxology. It reminds us that glory is God’s.
There are 2 ways in the Bible to launch into doxology. “Blessed be...” (Noah, Abraham, David, Solomon, Queen of Sheba, Job, Ethan Ezrahite, Nebuchadnezzar, Zacharias, Paul and Peter).
Eph 1:3, 6, 12, 14 (litany of praise to God for grace)
“Now to Him...”
Rom 16:25-27
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
This morning, let me outline for you the doxology in Eph 3—there are 3 parts to it.
I. The Proper Response of Praise
I. The Proper Response of Praise
“now”—this is the word that brings together everything that has been said up to this point (ch 1, 2, 3). It takes the focus off the believer (who is the subject of the prayer requests) and puts it back to where it needs to go—back on God. Eph introduces us to all that God has brought about thru LJC—every spiritual blessing, your redemption, your inheritance, the sealing and indwelling of HS, making alive, uniting to other believers, making us fellow heirs, members of the body, partakers of promise. It is as Paul summarizes in Romans:
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
If everything that we have, that we are and that we shall be comes from Him—than to whom does the glory go? God!
“to Him”—you see that in this phrase. This is reference to God the Father and it has the effect of saying “Praise be to God—alone!”
It is God the Father who is the object of prayer and praise. Why this is the Father:
Father is the one in view (vs 19) “filled up to all the fulness of God.”
vs 21 distinguished from XJ
vs 14—object of Paul’s prayer is the Father
It is how prayer works (2:18)
Father is the cause of all blessings (1:3)
The proper object of doxology, praise, glory is God the Father; and the proper (fitting) response to all the Father has to done for us and in us—initiating salvation, calling, imparting life, extending grace—is praise.
II. The Proper Reasons for Praise
II. The Proper Reasons for Praise
As Paul is writing this letter he is once again stirred by his own awareness of God’s glory that he interrupts his train of thought—one of the many “Pauline Digressions” (as theologians call them). “now to Him…to Him…”
3 reasons why God is worthy of doxology:
A. God’s Ability Is Unfailing
A. God’s Ability Is Unfailing
“Him who is ‘able’”
I want us to consider this word “able” since it expresses God’s unfailing ability to answer the requests that have been offered on behalf of the saints. It is the Gk dunamai which speaks of ability, or capability to do something. It is used of humans (always with the limitations that come with our finite and frail condition—in usually in terms of what man is unable to do).
“Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?”
With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it;
“I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”
Now when the term is applied to God—there is no such limitation—only that God cannot act contrary to own nature. So what is God able to do?
‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,
God also called Abraham while he was a pagan living in Ur. He promised to make a great nation and bless him and thru him to bless every family on earth. He promised this while his wife was barren and advanced in years. God answered by giving Abraham a son. Before his death Abraham had 6 more sons (Keturah—Gen 25:1-2). God told him:
indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
Abraham believed God is able…
and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
And when he was commanded to offer his son as a sacrifice, and before God made provision Abraham knew:
He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
Thru Moses He delivered His people from the preeminent power of the Egyptians.
God is able to deliver 3 young men who refused to bow the knee to Nebu image and cast into the blazing furnace heated 7x hotter: (their testimony)
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
King Darius, who was deceptively counseled to decree that any man who prays to a god or man beside the king be cast into the lion’s den, was forced by his own edict to put Daniel there went the next day to the lion’s den and asked:
When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
The testimony is endless of those who witnessed God’s ability to do.
In the NT Jesus affirms that
“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Paul told Eph saints that God makes alive those who are dead in their trespasses and sins. Speaking of the total and unthreatened security of God’s elect Jesus said:
“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. “I and the Father are one.”
Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
God is never unable to do whatever He has purposed—for this reason He is to be praised.
B. God’s Resources Are Unlimited
B. God’s Resources Are Unlimited
“able to do ‘far more abundantly’”
You can begin to sense how Paul is trying to capture the praiseworthiness of the Father by piling up descriptive phrases (not fig of speech).
ὑπὲρ πάντα ποιῆσαι ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ
“far more abundantly” compound word used only a couple other times in NT. 1 Th 3:10; 5:13: Mark 7:32-37
They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
This is the superlative—the highest form of comparison “(quite) beyond all measure.” Paul adds this “beyond” (lit above all) that we ask or think. Now, its comforting to know that God is able to do all that we ask or think. But that’s not what Paul is saying. God is able to do far more abundantly above all that we ask or think. And the only limitation is our own finiteness.
This doxology is the conclusion to Paul’s prayer that we studied last time. In that prayer, Paul makes some rather staggering requests:
strengthened (vs 16) to empower, to enable you to live the life He calls you to—(4:1)
Apprehend the Love of Christ (17-19a) (Immeasurable, incomprehensible)
Filled to fulness of God (19b) When God brings us to Himself (gives life and saves) He begins to make us like Himself by filling us with Himself. This is doesn’t mean we become God (not 4th members of Trinity). But God begins to fill us with Himself. This is a lofty prayer request for believers. It is difficult to grasp all that Paul is praying for—but even more so—difficult to grasp the unlimited resources of God in answering this prayer. God is able to do far more abundantly above all that we ask or think:
As Hoehner “His ability far surpasses not only what we verbalize in prayer but also beyond our wildest imaginations.”
Paul’s request was not a wild imagination simply that he wants each saint to be all that God has in store for us. He is able b/c He is infinite with unlimited resources.
When you come to God in prayer He always has something far greater than you even thought your need was. Your capacity to ask cannot even measure up to God’s ability to do what He wants. Sometimes this even means answering our prayer in a completely different way than what we were asking. And God does this, Himself being so wise, loving, powerful and in control.
C. God’s Power Is Undiminished
C. God’s Power Is Undiminished
“according to the power...”
God is the recipient of doxology b/c He is active, not idle, inactive, not limited, not unable.
He is the God of power:
Stephen Charnock (puritan) “The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. As holiness is the beauty of all God's attributes; so power is that which gives life and action to all the perfections of the divine nature. How vain would be the eternal decrees, if power did not step in to execute them.
Without power--
His mercy would be but feeble pity,
His promises an empty sound,
His threatenings a mere scarecrow.
God's power is like Himself--infinite, eternal,
incomprehensible; it can neither be checked,
restrained, nor frustrated by the creature.”
His power works. Nothing is too difficult (hard) for God. “works” is 1 of 3 terms (able, power, work) that reveals God actually does what He purposes. Isn’t it a glorious thought that God’s power works around us? God maintains His creation (upholding it by the word of HIs power). God is provident over all His works.
Divine providence is God’s preserving his creation, operating in every event in the world, and directing the things in the universe to his appointed end for them.
Providence includes all things: the whole of creation, universe, animal creation, the nations, humanity (xns and non-xns)—He preserves and protects so as to accomplish His perfect will.
Now, as amazing this truth is—much more so that God’s power works “within us.” This is for the believer specifically.
Paul just mentioned that the HS is in you (3:16) and earlier (1:13-14). Not only is the HS in you but so too is Christ (3:17). Then God’s love is in you (vs 18-19).
Now he’s conveying the vastness of God’s power using just about every word possible to give us the sense that “God is sufficiently able to exert His power beyond all things—even superabundantly beyond those things that we are asking for ourselves and able to conceive—according to His power—which is right now working in us.
The power is not a dormant power but active in us that we should walk and war in the victorious Xian life. Paul had encountered that power firsthand in his life and ministry.
His own ministry was effective only inasmuch as it depended upon the Power of God.
and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.
giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
This same power is working in us…
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
God empowers those whom He has called unto obedience. The Lord calls you to service and empowers your service. He calls you to holiness and empowers you to pursue it. It is the Almighty God who empowers your sanctification and growth.
why?
To bring glory to God!
III) The Proper Reverberation of Praise (echo)
III) The Proper Reverberation of Praise (echo)
vs 21
Paul picks up after having his thoughts interrupted.
“To Him be the glory”
Glory is such a central theme in Scripture that it is so important to understand what is meant by “glory.”
The term is (can you guess?) doxa:
The OT word kabod lit means heavy or weighty and form that the fig meaning of a “weighty” person in society—one who is honorable, impressive and worthy of respect. Descriptive of God’s glory it is luminous manifestation of His person (shekinah/dwelling glory) the visible manifestation of His presence.
The NT term expands the OT to include radiance, honor and greatness that is to be made manifest (a visible prestige).
As it relates to God there are 2 types of glory:
Intrinsic glory—the glory, honor, prestige, greatness that belongs to God b/c of His nature. He is the God of glory (glory He will not share with another). You cannot add to this glory, nor take away from it—it is eternal, unchanging.
Ascribed Glory—this is what Paul is doing here. On the basis of God’s intrinsic nature, we are called upon to ascribe glory/greatness to Him.
Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in holy array.
This is the the grand summary of Xn living: 1 Cor 10:31.
Ascribe glory, boast in our God.
Note the realms of doxology:
In the church: this doesn’t have any reference to the building we are even now congregating in. The building is not the church—you who have put your trust in LJC…you are the church. So God is to be glorified wherever you are (home, school, work, vacation…)
In Christ Jesus: what this means is to recognize JC as head of the church. He is inseparably connected to the church and in Him you find your identity being “in Christ”. You are constantly living under His authority and in all that you do, live to the praise and glory of the Father. This is the way JC Himself lived.
Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You,
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
How long should the Father be ascribed glory? “to all generations” (plural), and “to the age of the ages.” In other words, there shall never be an end to the glory that is given to God. He will be universally worshiped, adored, praised b/c He is God.
And just to put added emphasis on the issue, Paul concludes this doxology with “amen.”
Amen was not originally the ending of a prayer nor a way of adding strength to one’s requests—it was nearly always used following a benediction as a way for readers to confirm the validity of what was just said--”let it be so.”
God is able—Amen
God is able to do all that we ask—Amen
God is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think—Amen.
According to His power—Amen
That works within us—Amen
There are no limits to what God does in us, for us, and thru us—can you say Amen to that?