KNOWLEDGE IN CHRIST

 THE LOCAL CHURCH – A BODY DEPENDENT UPON 

OUR PRAYER FOR KNOWLEDGE IN CHRIST 

EPHESIANS 1:15-23

INTRODUCTION 

 KNOWLEDGE that ENLIGHTENS.

 1  MOTIVATES prayer. 1:15-16  (Titus 1:3, 2:13; 3:4-6)

 2  MATURES in knowledge. 1:17 (Wisdom & Revelation)

 3   BY OUR KNOWING HIS CALLING as our Hope 1:18

4. BY OUR KNOWING HIS POWER .1:19

5. BY OUR KNOWING-HIM SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACE

REVIEW Eph. 1:1-14: to the praise of His glory.

We have seen the redemption of our wonderful God is not only committed to saving us, but it is also committed to sealing us and has truly committed itself to securing us. Now all of this was clearly done for one reason – to the praise of His Glory! Isaiah, God’s great prophet to Judah, was given an amazing prophecy revealing the ministry of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In this prophecy Isaiah is blessed to see the greatness of God in chapter forty, the redemptive work of the Lord in chapter 41 and the humble ministry of the Servant of Jehovah – the living covenant to Israel and the light to the gentile nations. Isaiah was privileged to announce Him who would “… open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.”  Yet, we must not overlook or somehow forget that all of our Lord’s great redemptive work, (though it was ministered to us in His amazing humility, and wonderful redemption) was ultimately that which the Lord did  … to His glory and to His praise! Isaiah 42:8 

INTRODUCTION: 

For this reason – Paul Prays!

  EPHESIANS 1:15-16

The Christians who were congregating throughout the city and in various groupings or assemblies were minister through the local churches in Ephesus and genuinely needed the prayers of others; Paul was just one of those partners in prayer. At least this is the argument or logic implied by verses fifteen and sixteen. This implied dependency on prayer raises any number of questions, some of which the following verses will answer. How could a congregation of believers be left to be dependent on the prayers of others? What does the Lord expect and why? If, as the previous verses suggest, the believer is assured of so many amazing blessings – why, then, must we pray? Why should you pray? How should you pray? Who do you need to be praying for? Or possibly – more importantly, for what should one be focusing on when praying? 

Before broadening our study on the local church and prayer let’s begin by resolving the question of the stimulus that activates our prayers, or in other words, let’s answer the question of what things should be motivating us to pray? Paul both illustrates and then teaches the answer to these questions in his Epistle to this relatively young congregation! 

First, we hear Paul explaining how the wonderful redemptive plan of God had already captured his imagination and begun the process of focusing his thoughts on God’s greatness, kindness and humility! Then, too, Paul found himself meditating or becoming inwardly and spiritually aware of the eternal and everlasting love … of his Lord and Master. These spiritual thoughts, thoughts focused on the magnitude of salvation and the greatness of “our great God and our Saviour, Christ Jesus” … elicited an almost automatic or immediate response from Paul! … To what response am I alluding to? The response of Paul was simply to begin to pray, to open his own heart to honest worship, to respond truly by opening his heart to God’s … already opened heart!

Second, Paul’s desire to pray for the Ephesians was most personal. Though the very thought of God’s redemptive work in Christ was truly reason enough for him to pray, there was still another intense motivating factor. Paul’s love for God included a love that Christ Jesus had placed in the heart of Paul (and every believer), this love was brotherly love the intense concern for the welfare of his brethren – of course including his brethren at Ephesus. 

Then, out of the spirit of this genuine brotherly love, an additional bit of information came across Paul’s path … Paul had been told about two additional matters: (1.) the earnestness of the Ephesians “faith in the Lord Jesus!” But, as if this were not all enough, then too Paul also heard of the practical and active faith that was leading these young Christians to demonstrate (2.) a sincere “love for all the saints!” Paul heart was now overwhelmed with thankfulness and this served to produce a higher level of understanding or awareness in Paul. Now, more than ever, Paul understood that the Lord was working directly into the lives of these believers – to mature them!  

Since the church at Ephesus was obeying and growing in their relationship with Christ and His Word, one would think they “were doing just fine” and had no special needs. But all of this spiritual growth when tied to the rich blessings of grace (outlined in verses seven to fourteen) came together to make Paul aware of this church’s potential.  Added to this progress, other additional information regarding the Ephesians level of growth influenced Paul to respond with prayer specifically requesting the Lord to bless these brethren with an inner maturity. These matters of spiritual growth were still needed (to some degree) because this church was still somewhat naïve!  In the next verses we will see at least fifteen areas of spiritual growth that are available to genuine believers! Paul was praying for a general progress in maturity for this congregation, but he was doing so by praying for specific and dynamic spiritual change! 

In another Epistle, Paul asked the Galatian church if they …“Having begun by the Spirit, are (now - expected to be) completed by the flesh?” Of course, the answer is obvious that we don’t switch the basis of our life from faith to works, but we continue in the strength of the same grace of God’s Spirit! By exhibiting or using our faith in God each day of our lives and in each thought and decision along life’s way we maintain a real involvement in the “life of faith.” Just as we once started our spiritual walk with God through a simple faith in God, we see the New Testament’s teaching expects that the believer will continue to live by faith in Him. This continued walk of faith is established on our understanding of God’s nature and character.  We are able, with this knowledge of Him, to be … “confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ.”

But the process carries on and we who now are committed through faith also walk in a new love toward God.  We will also live daily while experiencing a growing love one-for-the-other! Brotherly love is so uniquely Christian and this is no meagre camaraderie or mere collaboration!  No, genuine Christian love is an amazing selflessness born from God’s own love which is by His Spirit active in us!  Through our (daily) walk of faith and by the SPIRIT OF GOD, we grow in an intimate and practical relationship with our Lord. But, as we see in Paul’s explanation to the Ephesians he wanted to “stretch them” or challenge them to experience yet even more of God’s grace!  God’s grace teaches us and calls us to grow or discover the blessings and responsibilities of spiritual maturity! This growth according to Peter is nothing short of a parallel growth experience linking both the “grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”  (We must ask ourselves a few questions, as we look at the next few verses: First, we should ask, “How would I think differently – if the Lord would be gracious to me and bless me by answering Paul’s prayer in me?” Second, we should ask, “What change would take place in my life - if the Lord taught me this lesson?”)

KNOWLEDGE that ENLIGHTENS 

comes by PRAYING GOD WOULD GIVE US A SPIRIT

- IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM 

Ephesians 1:17

Do you want to leave spiritual immaturity behind you? Then you will want to pray along similar lines of those outlined in Paul’s own prayer in verse 17! Do you want to bless you brothers and sisters in Christ, then without any ‘spirit of judgmentalism’ – or in other words … not thinking more highly of yourself than you “ought to think” – you will want to pray for one another - your brethren – in Christ!  Such a prayer, prayed to your Heavenly Father – like Paul did for the church at Ephesus – is a prayer for a very special blessing! This blessing or this answer to prayer is for a more mature “spirit” – that is securely based or rooted “in the knowledge of” – Christ! But, remember, this prayer is not a prayer for ourselves but is one that I pray for others - my fellow brethren!  This is all part of the ministry of “edification” of building one another up in the Holy Faith!  SEE: James 1:5 There should be no surprise, not at least for the student of God’s Word, that prayer and wisdom are related. Our Lord clearly taught on this subject in Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask and it shall be given to you…” “…how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  

Any prayer for wisdom or for a ‘spirit of wisdom’ is, whatever else it is, a prayer for a definite life change / a renewed disposition or possibly a governing influence for our souls (or mind). This “spirit of wisdom comes from God as a special revelation-based insight.  Psalm 25:14; 1 Cor. 2:12-16 (‘the depths of God,’  ‘the thoughts of God,’ ‘that we might know,’ ‘words taught by the Spirit,’ combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words,’ ‘ he who is spiritual appraises all things.”), and many similar verses speak of this ‘spirit of wisdom and revelation’ using numerous synonymous phrases and terms. This is “illumination” or the “insight” or discernment of spiritual wisdom. 

James 3: 13-18 should be at the core of any understanding we might have regarding the role and value of prayer that is lived-out 'nobly.'

This passage outlines the realities of wisdom and whether or not you think this is “relevant” it is the fact of the matter. Sometimes we search for the relevant with such commitment that we fail to commit our ways unto the Lord’s own ways!  Verse 13 speaks of the need to be "noble" - to be humble always and to all.  This humility removes our excuses for our cultural ways or the oddities of our personalities or the excesses of our impatience. In other words no patience and humility means there is no wisdom! 

James 3:14 contrasts the matter - just in case you still can't believe God is serious about this matter of humility being equal to noble or honourable living. Defiance of the truth and pride and contention or even envy negates and reverses all that we might think we have in the way of 'wisdom.' This is superficial wisdom -- as the Amplified Bible rightly translates the matter and reduces it to an earthliness that is quite frightening even just to contemplate. Verse 16 ties all these confused and fleshly attitudes together and then states in verse 17 that the qualities of being peace-loving, courteous, considerate, gentle - willing to yield to reason and full of compassion and good fruits - this alone is true wisdom – the wisdom from above. Then the 17th verse ends by listing guidelines for wisdom and a listing of false wisdom - with verse 18 summing the matter up as a harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) this is true "peace” which can be defined as ” … lives that are “free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts.”

Somehow our post-modern generation seems to exclude itself from the responsibility to live in conformity to God’s revealed will. The excuse of one’s personality (psychological excuse), the excuse of one own opinion (philosophical world view) or the excuse of one social inhibitions (spirituality) are forwarded to “explain” why this or that situation is an exception to the rule of God’s word and the governance (submission to) His Spirit.  This wisdom is not optional or a matter of convenience! This wisdom (from above) reveals God’s own will and His Divine plan to show genuine mercy and unlimited grace to you. This wisdom comes from one’s obedient walk with God. This spirit of wisdom and revelation relates directly to our having a more genuine acquaintance (“epignosis”) or rather – a more intimate knowledge of our heavenly Father! As already stated, this spirit of wisdom and revelation results from our walk with God, but allow me to add or explain this depends upon our knowing God as He is and not as we might like Him to be and not as we might try to modify Him or His way to conform with our own modern outlook on life. 

This wisdom stands or falls on our knowledge or our accurate understanding of His nature! When we refer to God’s ‘nature” we are referring to God’s own Divine character and attributes, but remember that this wisdom and revelation are both referring to a uniquely experiential and practical relationship based on a genuine and accurate knowledge of God!  

We should ask, “How would I think differently – if the Lord would be gracious to me and bless me by answering Paul’s prayer in me?” I would rather not limit the answer anyone might want to give to this question, but for the sake of some degree of clarity allow me to at least speak on my own behalf and that of some of the congregations I have pastored. If we are to “think differently” let us think as God would have us think and such thoughts will not be our own but must be based in the truth revealed in the word of God. We live in a time when many are seeking a so-called “word from the Lord” and others are longing after “God’s will for their lives.” At the same time – unbeknownst to these same inquirers is the Word of God especially given by the Spirit of God – given for these very reasons. Some folks are so busy looking they have failed to recognize that what they are hoping for, praying for and searching for – is already fully and completely available in the New Testament Scriptures – the Special Revelation of God and is supported by the lessons, anecdotes and truth of the Old Testament prophets! 

My what a shame that so many are looking for what is already there. It is much like the situation with modern Orthodox Jews, who long for Messiah to come, when all along He has come and He has called out to them and they did not see or hear Him. How so very sad, this situation is, but I do not just speak of Israel or Judaism; no, I speak of the church today confused in Charismatic dreams of grandeur; or on the other hand, falsely bound and blinded by tradition and Pharisaical styled Reformation Orthodoxy! We hear of revivals of the Spirit in new Emerging congregations and renewals in Reformed Theology calling men and women back to the Seventeen Century’s so-called “great divines” but all along the truth is fully available for the average man, women, boy and girl by just opening God’s Holy Word and reading it honestly, literally and obediently. We will only think truly differently when we are prepared to allow His Divine Thought or His Holy Word to become our thoughts and our words,as in Proverbs 3:5-26 we are walking through the Word. Then, we should ask, “What change would take place in my life - if the Lord taught me this lesson?  To determine what change or changes in my life could result from an answer to such a prayer we should look carefully into Ephesians 1:18

BY OUR KNOWING HIS CALLING

... as our Hope 1:18

In this prayer the very hope of our calling is linked to our eyes being opened by God. 

Knowing or learning what is the “Hope of His calling” is summarized in the following phrase: what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” The subject here is knowing what the “Hope” really is, in contrast to how great it might be or what kind of hope it might be. Back in verse 11 we saw that we as saints were made the inheritance of God and now in verse 18 we see how God’s possession brings glory to Him. The riches of this glory – glory offered or given to God is the subject here! 

John 17:22 

“And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; 

that they may be one, even as we are one.” 

You and I, according to John 17:22 are benefactors of Christ’s own glory. Christ has given us – as a blessing of His own prayer to the Father and as a result of the salvation we receive in Christ – the glory of unity with God together (17:24) with the privilege of being with the Lord for all eternity to behold Christ’s glory given to Christ by the Father out of the love founded in the tri-unity of the Godhead.

In John 17:22 two issues arise – First, that of “glory” and Second, that of “unity.” Marcus Rainsford, a great Nineteenth Century pastor states: “Here Christ tells His Father, in our hearing, the amazing fact, that He has bestowed on us the glory given by the Father to Him, that it may be the element in which we are to be qualified for union and communion with the Father Himself. Thus every believer in Jesus Christ shall be united to God as closely and as blessed as it is possible for the creature to enjoy.”

So then, how do you and I bring glory to the Lord? There are a number of ways outlined in Scripture: 1^st. we bring our Lord glory by being His regenerated, born-again children; His adopted sons; by bearing His Holy Name; by being the indwelt by His Spirit; by speaking forth His praises as modern prophets to our lost world, by being His Priestly people interceding or praying for one another; by one day Reigning with Him in the Millennial Kingdom and in the New Jerusalem. 

Then, too, our union with Christ, our participation in the fullness of His divine nature, our unity with one another – through Christ brings glory to His name. This, together with our competency and capacity to be overcomers by His grace and mercy, are nonetheless at our best still so weak and even truly feeble! Yet, as true as it is that we are all from different backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles and life-challenges, we are all no-less the same redeemed, the same forgiven and justified together. We however are or are not this or that in society we are all sanctified equally and we will all be glorified truly without distinction, neither Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free. 

ILLUMINATION: 

“OUR EYES BEING OPENED”

To understand illumination, first we need to understand that God was often prepared to judge Israel with a spiritual blindness and through their disobedience and specific misinterpretation and misuse of the law has in this Dispensation of Grace placed a “blindness on” or an “insensitive heart” in Israel … Isaiah 6:9,10. 

This situation is important to understand since the process of being born-again or of being regenerated by the Spirit includes, among the blessings it includes, the removal of this insensitivity or blindness and provides the potential or the competency in the blessedness of being in Christ Jesus of the blessing of illumination. One should be aware of the fact that carnality, worldliness, fleshliness or whatever other term you would like to use for a “love for the world system” leads to serious separation from any genuine and ‘intimate’ fellowship with God!

The beloved theologian, Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote: 

“The spiritual man is in a position to receive all truth (there is no implication that he has already attained to it). He is indwelt by the Spirit and all adjustments concerning his daily life are made with the end in view that the Spirit may not be hindered in His teaching ministry within his own heart. And the carnal Christian demonstrates his fleshliness by his inability to receive the deeper truths which are likened to strong meat as in contrast to milk.” 

Then, 2 Corinthians 3:14 explains further that this “unlifted” --  “veil” remains over the heart of all those who “read Moses,” or in other words, look to the Law for their salvation. Then in 2 Cor 3:16-17 we are encouraged by the news that “… when a man turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Through salvation and through the indwelling of the Spirit (Romans 8:5-9) illumination becomes a real possibility in the case of those submitted to the Spirit of God and to the Word of God. Reading Ephesians 5:6,8-10,17-21 and Colossians 3:14-17 together one sees the inter-activity or basic unity of the Spirit and the Word of God. It is in this united activity of the Word of God and the Spirit of God working with the concept of 2 Timothy 2;14-15 along with 1 Corinthians 2:13, that we arrive at 1 Corinthians 2:16 – the mind (or will) of Christ. Again, allow me to repeat that 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 outlines aspects of both inspiration and illumination. The importance of illumination based on sound interpretation or in other words, based on the normal and self-evident literal interpretation of Scripture cannot be emphasized enough. Read, please: 1 Corinthians 12:5-8

 BY OUR KNOWING HIS POWER 

Ephesians 1:19

THE BODY OF CHRIST IS A BODY EMPOWERED BY CHRIST.

“…what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. 

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might”

The very thought of “power” seems to go to the head of some. This is not a new phenomena but was as true in Paul’s day as it is in our own times. By power many imagine a great show of  an “Apostolic styled” dynamic energy: of healings, of miracles, of direct messages from God, etc. The reality of this verse’s teaching is a matter of a congregation being spiritually enabled for service, not it’s ability to entertain or demonstrate power or put on an amazing “sound and light” show! 

We are, whatever we are (in our service to God), ... what we are by the grace of God, alone! In 2 Corinthians Paul explains that the enablement for service to others comes not with a show of power but through weaknesses and even infirmities!  The blessings of God are not showered upon us as mere demonstration but to enable us to “serve Him.” We are living demonstrations or messages of His grace, goodness and mercy! We are proof of His having come into this world (See: John 17:17-23)! We are messages of God’s strength and power and of His love … we do not serve success but we serve Him, and others and never ourselves! 

2 Corinthians 12:9 -15

First, we should ask, “How would I think differently – if the Lord would be gracious to me and bless me by answering Paul’s prayer in me?  Thinking differently may seem to be an easy thing to do. We may recognize how sinful we are and how emotionally challenged we have become, but changing “our spots” is not our work but His work in us! If the Lord does hear our prayer, He alone will be the one to change us to help us to think differently. Yes, we are to be disciplined and obedient in our faith but how and where does such moral and spiritual strength happen? Not by chance! Not by might, but by His Spirit alone! We are the work of the Lord … His “planting”!

When the Lord responds to my prayer and then determines to act graciously toward me -- to bless me – I will no longer imagine or think of "my power" - "my ministry" or "my anything" - nor will I think of some emotional or dramatic show of power, but I will know and observe the enablement of the Lord to bring glory to His name. Then, the world will know that truly Jesus was sent by His Father and has come to earth to save us from our sins and they will see in my life and hear from my lips the Good News of His Death, Resurrection and soon Return.

Second, we should ask, “What change would take place in my life - if the Lord taught me this lesson?  What changes, oh my – what changes! Maybe it will be in my outlook on others, or maybe my time and schedule? Surely there would be more time for the Lord, Himself! There would be more attention to the needs of my brethren for encouragement and love! Prayer would be more personal and my witnessing would be more heartfelt and compassionate or kind! I would understand How Christ loved me and drew me to the Father and could be an instrument to love others to Christ and to the salvation of their souls. 

Oh, my! How important is prayer!

BY OUR KNOWING-HIM SEATED 

IN HEAVENLY PLACES. 

Ephesians 1:20-21

Praying with Paul, at least praying this prayer of Paul has already been such a life changing experience, can there be more? There can be no doubt that Paul’s prayer – as recorded in this Epistle to the Ephesians is inspired by the Spirit of God! As an inspired prayer – it is provided herein for our instruction, for our encouragement but also for our personal use! If one prays this prayer, at least at this juncture, these deepening encounters with Christ do lead to an understanding and an experiential involvement in the working of the strength of His might (20) which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places… 

Yes, you are hearing what I am hearing! This prayer calls us to view the Lord or possibly it is better to say that this prayer is a prayer that God might graciously help us over our vain pre-occupations and our misappropriated priorities long enough to recognize Christ in all of His power, authority and His Lordship. This prayer is calling us to understand Christ as Christ really is, then to submit to Christ as we should, and to worship and serve Him - right now in this age …with all our heart, soul and mind; then of course, we should be preparing our hearts to praise His Holy Name one day very soon when we will all be together in victory and joy in the (Millennial Age) - to come.

Peter looked forward to ...that day 

1 Peter 1:6 

First, we should ask, “How would I think differently – if the Lord would be gracious to me and bless me by answering Paul’s prayer in me?” 2 Cor 4:16-18 call us to a stronger, more patient attitude brought about by an “eternal outlook” on life. Do we actually think differently than our parents did? Have we a new set of thought and our “worldview” is it Christian and Biblically sound or is it influenced by our past life and our family and friends rather than by Christ and His Word?

Second, we should ask, “What change would take place in my life - if the Lord taught me this lesson? 2 Peter 3:10-14 calls us to a purer life and a more diligent life-commitment if full recognition of the real values in life and the uselessness of the things of the world. But is this really true of me? Do we, as a family, live each day for the Lord or are we living each day for ourselves or possibly in the hope of the coming “holiday” – when we can find relief from our stress and time for our own entertainment?

SUMMARY: 

PRAYING THAT OUR CHURCH WOULD KNOW 

...  HIS FULNESS.

Ephesians 1:22-23

In this prayer we are being reminded that: 

THE BODY OF CHRIST IS A BODY WHOSE HEAD IS JESUS CHRIST. 

The practical importance for this truth to be understood by local church congregations or in other words, its members and for local church leaders (Pastors and deacons) must not be overlooked or lost in the intensity of doing ministry. The idea of “congregational governance” for a church when compared to Episcopal or Presbyterian governance approaches depends upon a right understanding of the headship of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Do we have the Lord God first in our lives? Is he the Lord of our lives? Is he our own Head, our family Head and is He the Head of our church-life? If the Body of Christ has a Head and that Head is Jesus Christ, the implications for my own living are extensive. Much of my life, my habits, my poor choices, my sinful attitudes and my cultural and family norms simply must change! But will they? The question is will the Lord be the Head? -  or not!?

First, we should ask, “How would our church be different – if the Lord would be gracious to us and bless us by answering Paul’s prayer in each one of us?”  The modern church is trying to operate in the Laodicean period of Church History. Things will be challenging, there is no doubt about this! Revelation 3:14-17 call us to recognize our desperate situation for what it is. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 rehearses the matter from a most personal basis, but Revelation 3:18-20 calls the church to take three steps: 1. GOLD: Look to the Lord for the redemption and justification – the forgiveness of sin and the gift of His righteousness as our own; 2. WHITE RAIMENT: Look to the Lord for Holiness – sanctification – separation from sin and to God, and 3.) EYE SALVE: Turning to the Holy Spirit to open your eyes. This is the repentance (the thorough change) needed but this is linked to His Grace (20) and to both our individual and yet collective congregational responsibility in verses 21, 22. 

Second, we should ask, “What change would take place in our ministry life - if the Lord taught me this lesson? Just what changes do I need to be making. What should our church be “putting off” and what should we be “putting on” in our lives as Christians? Colossians 3:1-15 certainly provides the encouragement and the guidelines or steps to take and pray about.

I am being encouraged to look to “…HIM Who fills all in all.”

May the Lord bless your prayer-life, and the prayer-life of your local congregation of believers.

Dr. Marc S. Blackwell Sr.

_______________ 

Bibliography: 

• Arndt, William F. and Gingrich, F. Wilbur, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian Literature.  An adaptation and translation of Walter Bauer’s Grieschisch-Deutsches Wortenbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments und der ubrigen urchristlichen Literatur, Cambridge, The University of Chicago Press, 1957.

• Carroll, B.H., Dr., An Interpretation of the English Bible, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House, 1948 (Broadman), 1976. (1940s - President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas) 

• Carson, D.A., Dr., General Editor, Telling the Truth, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2000

• Chafer, L. S. Dr., Chafer Systematic Theology in Seven Volumes, Dallas, Dallas Seminary Press, 1948.

• Gordon, A.J., Dr., In Christ or The Believer’s Union with His Lord, Grand Rapids, Baker, 1964 (1872, Boston, Gould and Lincoln, reprint), p 11, 19, 26.

• Ironside, Harry A., Dr.,  In the Heavenlies, New York, Loizeaux Brothers, 1937/1961.

• Meyer, F.B., Dr., Ephesians: A Devotional Commentary, Key-Words of the Inner Life. London (Cape Town), Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1953.

• Moule, Handley C. G., D.D., Ephesians Studies, Expository Readings on the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians, London, Pickering & Inglis, Second Edition, (Dr. Moule was the Bishop of Durham from 1901-1921).

• Rainsford, Marcus, Our Lord Prays for His Own, Chicago, Moody Press, 1950 and first published as: “Lectures on St. John 17,” London, 1885.

• Sauer, Erich, Dr., The Dawn of World Redemption, A Survey of Historical Revelation in the Old Testament, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, (London, The Paternoster Press), 1951. (Dr. Sauer was the Director of the Bible School, Wiedenest, Germany).

• Showers, Renald E., The Foundations of Faith, “Israel My Glory,” Bellmawr, the Bi-monthly publication: 2007-2008.

• Talbot, Louis T., Dr.,  Lectures on Ephesians, Wheaton, Van Kampen Press, 1937.

• Thiessen, Henry Clarence, Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1949.

• Wuest, Kenneth S., Dr., Ephesians and Colossians: Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament for the English Reader, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1953

• Zodhiates, Spiros, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, N.A.S.V., Chattanooga, American Mission to the Greeks Publishers, 1984, 1990,