to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21, NKJV)
A review of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 reveals the glory God is due. God is to be held in honor because He is our Progenitor and our source of spiritual strength (v. 15-16), because of His great love with which He fills us (v. 17-19), and because of His amazing power to exceed the expectations of our requests and thoughts (v. 20). In today’s verse, Paul calls attention to his summary point: God is glorified in the church by Christ throughout the ages (v. 21). Far too many who profess to be Christians do not value Christ’s church. Doctrines that make the church an afterthought in God’s mind have contributed to this devalued view of the church. Corrupt teaching, living, organization, worship and work all add to the wrong notion that says, “Christ is important, not the church.” We cannot separate Christ from His church without nullifying the glory it gives God. Jesus purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25). The church was built by Christ (Matt. 16:18). The church is the result of God’s eternal, redemptive purpose in Christ (Eph. 3:10-11). These reasons, and more, compel the called out ones (the church) to give glory to God. We do so as we live by faith and Christ dwells in each heart (v. 17).
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