Eph. 3:14-21, The Mission of the Church (Introduction)

Today we begin what will be a rather lengthy study of “the mission of the Church.”  This study deserves a lengthy study for several reasons.  First, the Church belongs to Someone else who sets the agenda for them.  Having been bought at the price of His blood we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  Further, His Father, our Father, made Him the head of the Church, part of the Father’s plan to bring all things under subjection to His Son (Eph. 1:20-22). 

Because of our connection to Christ as our Head, we are bound in this study to go to the Scriptures and not to the latest book on how to have a bigger or better church.  When we go to the Scriptures (the New Testament where we find Christ’s will for the Church) we find another reason why this study must take some time.  We find an important Greek word, the word “hina.”  Hina is used 570 times in the NT, and we can say it is always used in a phrase that speaks of purpose or intent.  That is what the word means and it is translated “that, in order that, so that.” 

Let me share a couple of interesting uses of this word.  Quite often hina provides the “quotation marks” in prayer.  Take today’s passage.  We might write the passage like this: This is my prayer for you: “Father, give them strength in the inner man so they can know the love of Christ.”  The way Paul said it was: I bow to the Father in prayer that (hina) He would give you strength in the inner man so you can know the love of Christ.  This might seem trivial to you, but I see something important.  We are being given the purpose of Paul’s prayer.  Prayer should always have a purpose, and part of the exercise of faith in prayer is that we speak this purpose to the Lord as we talk with Him.  “Father, this is why I am here.  My purpose is your purpose.”  I need to be reminded of this.  I am not merely having a conversation with God; I am in His presence, at His invitation, with purpose.

Another interesting thing about hina statements in the NT is that they are often connected.  That is, in one passage there might be successive uses of the term, indicating that one purpose leads to another and to another.  Again, look at today’s passage.  Paul prays so that God will strengthen the inner man leading them to know Christ’s love in every dimension so that they may be filled with the fullness of God.  To be filled with the fullness of God is the ultimate for believers; this is what we long for as those who were created in God’s image.  What the two hina clauses tell me is that there is a path by which we come to this fullness.  It means growing in the love of Christ.  And it tells me that I should be praying this prayer for those around me. 

Be encouraged today.  The Almighty Creator has revealed His purpose(s) to us.  Let us commit to learning and living according to His purpose.