Names - Ephesians 1:15-23

1:15-23 - The concept that gentiles were not only accepted into the gospel, but that Jesus actively wanted them in it might be difficult for some to grasp. But for those who do get it, the results are incredible resulting in great “faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints.” Their acceptance and thriving in the gospel gives Paul joy and he will “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.” He prays for “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened” that they may learn about the mysteries and greatness of the kingdom. Interestingly, he reminds them of “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.” I think that it’s so easy for us to get caught up in our day to day stuff and even though we believe in Christ and that he has all power, it’s difficult for us to think that he’d use that power on our behalf. But here Paul reminds us that God uses the same power he used to raise Jesus from the dead to grant us blessings and work for our benefit. Interestingly, the part where Paul says, “every name that is named,” sounds weird but is explained by the article on this chapter from gospeldoctrine.com saying, “many of the ancient believed that names held power and that to know the name of a deity was to possess power with or over it. Paul let us be known that Christ was the name above all other names and that salvation, the greatest of all the gifts of God, was to be had only in and through that holy name.”