In order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:12 – 14

I know at least a little of what Paul is writing about.  I carry in my soul the reality of our unity in Christ without any regard whatsoever to our culture or history.

I am not sure what Paul had in mind when he wrote, “we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ.”  I doubt whether he had in mind, “We Jews….”  Maybe he had that in mind.  But it does not fit here.  I believe he is referring to himself and those who had already given their hearts to Jesus and are now living in the light of that revelation and reality. That should be an example for the recent believers in Ephesus, both Jews and Gentiles, who experienced the new birth when they cast themselves into the embrace of Jesus’ saving grace.

Paul’s ministry led him to open the door for all who believe.  The only difference is between those who were converted in the past and those now experiencing this new life in Christ.  The difference is quite incidental.

What matters is that all who received Christ and who are receiving him there in Ephesus were filled with the “promised Holy Spirit.”  That is the basis of their unity.  Jewish believers received the Holy Spirit.  Gentile believers received the Holy Spirit.  That is what happened.  The Holy Spirit who was poured out is the very same Holy Spirit who is in each and every believer.  That meant that the unity of believers was based on saving merits of Jesus and the gift of the blessed Holy Spirit.   This was the door into an entirely new way to live.

There was finally a way for people, while remaining in their cultures, to have deep and abiding oneness or fellowship with fellow believers, not for any social reason but because the Holy Spirit is in both. It is a unity of the Spirit, as simple and as profound as that.  It was the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth, a new thing entirely.  Not only new but unique.

Paul called it “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession.”  Can it get any better than that?

Paul wrote with a bubbling heart, “To the praise of his glory.”  We join him in hymns of praise and joy.