Morning Devotional January 26, 2023

 

Ephesians 3:14-21

“14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Two things I want to point out in this passage. Look at verses 15 and 21. Verse 15 says: “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”. Verse 21 says: “Unto him be glory in the church by Chirst Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Notice the words “family” and “church”. Why didn't the Holy Spirit have the writer use the same word in both verses? If everyone who is saved is part of the church as many claim today, what would be the purpose of using two different words in the same passage of scripture to describe the same group of people?

The answer is because Paul was writing of two different groups of people. All those who are saved are in the family of God. The Bible teaches us this precious truth clearly in many places. Old and New Testaments. But the word “church” we do not see used until the New Testament. And it is only used to describe a certain group of people or groups of people. In the New Testament the “Church” is always a called out assembly. Called out of what? The Church (or Churches as they have not yet been called together as the Bride) of Jesus Christ has been called out, not from the world. God's children are called out of the world when they are saved. But, rather the Churches are called out from the family of God.

Remember the story of Isaac and Rebecca? Abraham sent his most trusted servant back to Abraham's homeland and he was to go amongst the family of Abraham to find a bride for the son of Abraham. Remember Rebecca was the daughter of Abraham's brother. The bride was called out of the family of the Bridegroom's Father. This story is a type or picture of the Lamb and His Church.

Oh what a glorious teaching this is!!! Maybe someday we can look more into the wonderful doctrine of the Lord's Church.

Praise ye the Lord!!!