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Ephesians 1:18
Ephesians 1:15-16 (NKJV) states, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:18 is much like Colossians 1:27 (NKJV) which states, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Ephesians 1:17-23 is a prayer; these verses are reasons that as Paul states in Ephesians 1:16; “do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:”
Ephesians 1:18 is the result of “the giving of the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” that the Apostle Paul teaches Ephesians 1:17.
To receive understanding in Christ is being “enlightened” to the hope of His calling which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” as we learn in Colossians 1:27. Ephesians 1:18c states, “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” and is reflective of Colossians 1:27 declaring, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles.”
This is a promise of salvation being open to the Gentile nations.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul describes the mystery among the Gentiles as something going on outside of the realm of the Jews. In his letter to the Ephesians Paul explains that this is not among all Gentiles but those “in the saints” which are those who have accepted Christ, which Paul explains is possible for the Gentiles in Ephesians 1:5-6. Remember, this is during a time when Christ opened salvation to those outside of the Israelites, who are God’s “chosen” people. This concept must have been very hard for both Jews and Gentiles to accept after God had taught the Jewish people to separate themselves from these very people “the Gentiles.”
Dear LORD,
Today I pray for those who have not opened their hearts to Jesus; that Jesus will give them insight and understanding as He opens their eyes to “what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” Ephesians 1:18c, and that we all will do our part in sharing the gospel and welcome everyone who gives their life to Jesus into the family of God. In Jesus name I pray, amen.