Ephesians 1:15,16: Unceasing Thanks for God's People

Ephesians 1:15,16: "For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayer;"

Having now completed his list of the spiritual blessings all those in Christ are privileged to enjoy, Paul now turns to his prayer for the Ephesian believers. Let's take note of the reason behind his prayers for them, the attitude of his prayer, and then finally, the content of his prayer.

Today we look at the reason behind Paul's unceasing thankfulness for these Gentile believers. It is not simply because they have made some profession of faith in Jesus Christ. It is not only because they have formed a congregation and are now a church. It is also not because they have demonstrated some excitement over the message of Jesus that Paul has brought to them. Paul is very clear: he is unceasing in his thankful prayers for them because the reality of the indwelling Spirit is evident in their lives. Notice that Paul makes mention of the love they are demonstrating for all the saints.

First, recognize that love is one of the greatest evidences of new life. And while there are many kinds of love, the love Paul is here describing is a hard love, a "counter-intuitive" love that acts in kindness and acceptance toward those who are not normally appreciated. It is a love that models God's love for us: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). God's love looked past our unloveliness in order to manifest His glory in our salvation. In the same way, Christ-followers are to look past the outside appearance, and all other temporal labels and categories in order to see in their fellow believers what God sees! It is clear that the Ephesians were doing just that.


Second, think carefully about the fact that the "saints" here are probably a reference to the Jewish believers. Gentiles and Jews had never felt good about one another. The Jews considered the Gentiles to be only slightly above dogs in the created order. For their part, Gentiles considered the Jews to be arrogant without cause and racially prejudice without reason. Things weren't good between them, and then along comes the message of Christ declaring that "in Christ" all were equally justified and made heirs of eternal life. 


Today the divisions in Christianity are many, and the watching world considers this proof that the message we declare doesn't work in our own circles. As Thomas Manton stated so well: Division in the church breeds atheism in the world." Paul looked at the demeanor and actions of the Ephesians believers and saw an unnatural kind of love. It was a love that seemed to swim upstream against the tide of popular culture. It was a love for those in Christ that transcended the racial hatred and bigotry of the age. 


May the Lord be pleased to raise up in His church an overflowing love that pursues the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace!


Hope this helps,


David