There are many ideas about what the church is for and what it should be doing. For some it is a means of improving society. For others it is a support for those in need, whether material, mental or spiritual. In the minds of some it is a place of friendship and contact with like-minded people. In the end it is God who determines what the purpose of the church must be. Paul now examines one of the key aspects of the calling of the church. Consider now Ephesians 3:10-13 The witness of the church.
1. The spectators of the church’s witness
An aspect of God’s creation to which we give too little attention is the existence of the spiritual powers he has created. Here Paul refers to ‘the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms’ (v10). These are probably the good angels, rather than the fallen ones (see 6:12). The good angels have a part in the spiritual life of the church – Hebrews 1:4 ‘ministering spirits’. Paul tells us here that they are observing the effects of the gospel in the church. In part the church’s witness is directed towards them. Since they have never fallen, they do not personally experience God’s grace in salvation and so they learn from us. Concerning salvation, they ‘long to look into these things’ (1 Peter 1:12).
2. The content of the church’s witness
To what is the church called to testify? The answer is in v10 ‘the manifold wisdom of God’ – explained further in v11 ‘according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ’. This description embraces the whole sweep of redemption, originating in the eternal counsels of the Trinity and stretching to the return of Christ. The church results from this ‘eternal purpose’ – all is brought to fulfilment in and through Christ. The church owes its origin and continued existence to him. All flows from ‘the manifold wisdom of God’ – many aspects of God’s wisdom are shown in salvation. This is a fitting subject for meditation.
3. The means of the church’s witness
In view is the witness of the church by being what it is meant to be. The church lives as the covenant people of God, bound to him in loving loyalty, seeking to honour Christ, growing in likeness to him. Those filled with the Holy Spirit are to live holy lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3). We are to manifest unity across human divisions (2:16) and in the use of our diversity of gifts (1 Peter 4:10). Verbal testimony is useless if the life of the church contradicts it. We witness first by what we are, for example by mutual love (John 13:35).
4. The power for the church’s witness
The secret of powerful witness: ‘boldness and confident access through faith’ (v12). This is linked to our witness – we enjoy access to the presence of God in prayer. That is the secret of power. Christ has opened the way for us (Hebrews 4:16) and he ‘ever lives to make intercession for us’ (Hebrews 7:25). It is by the Spirit we have access (2:18). A praying church is a powerful church. Prayer is vital to the witness of the church in every way.