By Christ Jesus

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

Ephesians 3:20-21

How does God get glory ‘in the church,’ that is, in all His redeemed people of all ages?  According to our text, He does so, ‘by Christ Jesus.’  If that is so, then how does it occur?  If we follow the line of Paul’s argument thus far, he traces the origins of it all the way back to our being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.  Every other purpose of God, contained within His overarching plan, has brought these redeemed people to where they are: saved by Free and Sovereign grace, and being conformed to the image of Christ.  According to Scripture, His transformation of us culminates in our being ‘like Him for we shall see Him as He is.’  The eternity which follows that sight of Christ, involves not only being like Him, but being with Him.  Therefore, God continues to receive glory ‘in the church by Christ Jesus’ for all eternity.  This makes the prospect of eternity exciting in ways we can only begin to understand.  We accept by faith what God has told us thus far about the eternal state but the realization of what it all entails is beyond what we can comprehend.  For the moment, we have the opportunity to teach and preach Jesus Christ until the faith becomes sight.

Our Good and Generous God,
we rejoice at the abundance of good things,
which You have bestowed upon us in Christ.
We praise You that our understanding of these things
will only expand over the course
of an endless eternity.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning