Ephesians 1:9-10 (NIV)
He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Our Verse of the Day is a powerful revelation of the mystery of God’s will. Have you ever wondered about what God has been doing over the course of human history … what He has purposed through the sending of His Son into this world? Note how the “disclosure” of this mystery is phrased by Paul:
1. God has “unveiled” the mystery of His will … because He wanted to make it known (i.e. according to His good pleasure)
2. The mystery has to do with His will concerning the purpose for which Christ Jesus (His Son) was sent into the world.
3. The purpose is to “be put into effect” when the times reach their fulfillment.
4. The stated purpose is “to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”
There it is! God’s will … which He purposed in Christ … is to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Him … when the times reach their fulfillment…. And we find this message of “unity” proclaimed in the Scriptures. Here are some examples for us:
Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
John 17:22-23 (NIV)
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NIV)
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Ephesians 2:11-16 (NIV)
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.
Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIV)
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
11 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
It is clear that God wants unity between all believers! He wants us to come to the unity that proceeds forth from faith in Jesus Christ. And I believe that the purpose of the Church is to assemble and unify the diversity and uniqueness of each individual believer. We are members of His Body … and the Spirit has gifted us as HE determines for the edification and building up of the Body into a unified whole … functioning in interdependence and respect for one another and loving one another as we have been loved by Christ Jesus. Remember, UNITY is His will! I pray this lesson will be applied to our hearts as we submit to His will and to love for one another. Amen.
So Now You Know 