God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 3.10]
The "this" in the verse above is found in verse 6 preceding it: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
So Paul is revealing something easy to say but hard to grasp! Just like the story of Job where all his troubles were resultant to an unseen interaction between God and the devil, so it seems Paul is saying, it is for the church! God is making a point to reveal His glorious wisdom and existence, through the church, to unseen spiritual rulers and authorities.
Now, how does that match up with John 3.16 (For God so loved the world...)?
Maybe it is that God's love is what it is - it is Who He Is! God loves the world - the people of the world to be precise - every individual man, woman, boy and girl. But what about the church? It appears the church plays a parallel role that speaks to a 'different crowd'. It is the church that addresses the 'unseen'. It is the church that demonstrates God's power (ie "His wisdom") to not only the world, but to realms unseen - the spiritual, if you will.
So, while any individual may survive, and even thrive, just fine in his personal relationship with God, that same individual is not really a part of God's "plan" until he functions in unity with the church.
Wow! That is worth considering! We know God's love in Jesus Christ. We know God's plan in the church.
Father, help me to plug in to Your plan with the church today!
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