The Desired Results

Further, Paul wanted them to completely understand, in all its measures, something, or some things. It may be the love spoken of in the previous verse, or the mystery spoken of earlier, or the church he is showing to be supreme in this letter. Perhaps it is all we have cited plus the many other things making up the complete revelation of God's great will. However, since love is the focus of the verse preceding and the verse following this one, this writer thinks it is love Paul wanted the Ephesians to fully know (3:18).

He really wanted his readers to come into an intimate, or personal, relationship in the arms of Christ's love. Christ's love goes beyond man's understanding because it was extended at Calvary to rebels against his Father's throne. It involved the sacrifice of the Lord's life. Paul prayed for them to also be full of the love of the Father. A Christian grows up in love, which is the one identifying characteristic Christ gave for his disciples (3:19; John 13:34-35).

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