Posted by
Eutychus on Friday, September 01, 2006 4:53:16 PM
I was in a group study of Ephesians a number of years ago, and at the outset of the study the leader said that the theme of the letter was "unity." Well, fine, the theme of unity is within Ephesians, but "unity" itself is only specifically mentioned in chapter 4,
verses 3-6, and from the passage "unity" isn't something we build, but rather is built upon the person and work of God in His gracious work of salvation -- we are simply urged to "be diligent
to preserve the unity of the Spirit." But I digress. I recall that in spite of the leader's identification of "unity" as the theme of Ephesians, despite the fact unity is only mentioned in four verses of the letter, as we progressed through book, the theme of the believer being "in Christ" emerged as the overall theme of Paul's letter. In fact, terms such as "in Christ," "in Him," "through Christ," and the like, appear over 30 times in Ephesians.
It's my observation that the theme of a believer's identity as being tied to his or her position "in Christ" isn't recognized much today. How many sermons, dear reader, have you heard on Ephesians that deal with relationships in the family, or particularly the relationship between husband and wife? Compare that to sermons you've heard from Ephesians about being "in Christ."
But, gladly, the theme of "in Christ" has a rich heritage over the history of the church, as well it should (a history we would do well to rediscover). Years ago I came into possession of a small devotional book, published in 1961, authored by E. Stanley Jones, entitled In Christ. Perusing the book the other day, I came across this passage which discusses an aspect of our identity and union with Christ, His indwelling presence, and the outworking of His presence in our lives:
We...have one business in life and only one business: to live inside the love of Christ, in union with Him.
"Isn't this quietism [i.e., passivity]?" someone objects. Yes it is, but a quietism which is a dynamism. It is the same quietism which a plug has when it fits into a socket and remains there receptive and passive. That receptivity and that passivity transmits a mighty activity -- the power of electricity...
Inside Christ you transmit effortlessly; outside Christ you tear around in a fierce activity and wear out yourself and others around you. You may even become a 'big wheel,' but a wheel nevertheless which goes around in circles and gets nowhere, except into exhaustion. The quietism of Christ is the same kind of quietism which is at the center of the cyclone -- a place of rest, but the place where the power of the cyclone resides. Paul put it thus: 'But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.' (I Cor. 15:10.)
You live in His grace, you live by His grace, you work by His grace, you are fruitful by his grace, you are everything by His grace.