‘According to’ is an amazing phrase . . .it carries an authority and with the authority, there comes also the power to perform what has been stated. . . especially when it is concerned with what God, Himself, has spoken.

In passing, the Gk. KATHOS2531=KATA: down from. . . HOS: when, as or even as. The ‘down-from’ is like the automatic next step towards what was said. ‘Down from’ in no way reduces the source: ‘even as’ shows what is received bears exactly the identical unlimited characteristics as that of the source.

‘According to’ . . . it is much, much more than ‘from’ the source which depletes the source. ‘According to’ is an unending source that whatever is taken out of it, never diminishes because of its immeasurable greatness.

AN ILLUSTRATION: ‘From’ is like filling a cup from a bucket of water. After many such cups have been filled, the water in the bucket would be greatly reduced. By contrast, taking a cup of salt water from the ocean would in no way diminish the size and content of the ocean. Such provision keeps coming ‘according to’ the size of the ocean.

God’s grace, good pleasure, marvellous will, mighty power . . . in fact every aspect of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . is like the ocean. Thus He does all things according to what He is — Love . . . that He cannot keep to Himself. God so loved the world . . . it is a constant pouring out of Himself to meet every need.

 As we look into these items that Paul included in the Kingdom Instruction Manual, let us first observe what GOD DID or what GOD SAID. Either way, one cannot receive a more reliable word or source of validity which can be and should be absolutely relied upon. . . to the degree that one puts action or walk into one’s life.

Eph 1:4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

God said: He has chosen us in Himself before any creative action by Him was taken.

A tremendous statement! Now to allow the Indwelling Spirit Himself to create in us the ability to believe it . . . that it really included me. Who is Paul writing to? It says, ‘Saints’. If you are not one such by God’s grace, then please don’t read Paul’s letters to other people!

‘Us in Him’ — we were in Christ . . . in the spirit realm before there was an earthly scenario. Christ was then corporate. The Son of God came as the Son of Man and was called the ‘Seed’ who died and was buried that He might not remain alone as one Seed, but reproduce Himself in mankind and thus become the harvest of that seed. His whole nature and being was corporate . . . no wonder He said "let US create man." The means of increase having been accomplished, He is once again corporate or many-membered, for as He is, so are WE in this world. (I John 4:17).

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

‘chosen’: Gk. EKLEGOMAI1586= to choose out of what has been brought forth by word.

The result of believing this infallible statement of truth is that WE ARE TO BE HOLY (= a saint separated unto the Lord’s thinking) AND WITHOUT BLAME (faultless because we KNOW that all has been dealt with by Christ-Jesus) BEFORE HIM IN LOVE.

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children (Gk.= huios = mature sons) by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

What prompted this in God’s eyes? It was in HIS WILL, plan and purpose. . . but note that such an inclusion brought great PLEASURE to the Sovereign Creator/Planner. Being God He saw the beginning and the ending of His great plan of the ages. If there was anything before the foundation of the world that was not giving Him good pleasure, He, being God, would have had to revise the plan a little. For such a thought to have ever been present with the Lord, He would be less that omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. However, relax for He is Lord of all. In passing, how could the ‘saving’ of a few only, if that were so, not mar His pleasure and delight?

Thus Christ, the expression of God Himself, that spans heaven and earth (spiritual and natural realms), was the mediating Saviour of the whole world. It is like God has said, ‘I’ve covered the salvation part, now you go and make disciples . . . declaring the Kingdom of God and bring the regenerated ones to a place where they will express who I am. They will become the visible expression of Myself. Without them, I would remain invisible’. Church, we are the body of Christ.

Therefore this ‘choosing’ of us to Himself, puts a mark on us (=predestination which means to put the mark on beforehand) that we are set apart for the time of ADOPTION . . . that time of being instated as a ‘mature son’ to move AS his Father (example of such was shown to us in Jesus).

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

God is so LOVE. . . and LOVE GIVES . . . that GRACE is the outflow of that love towards us. So now we know what we have from Him. . . REDEMPTION AND FULL FORGIVENESS. . . NOTHING IN PART, BUT THAT WHICH IS 100% The grace of God gave Jesus Christ for mankind; He removed all sin and also fulfilled the law that no-one had been able to do. He thus redeemed us from the expectations of the law from which we have now been set free. With such grace, why is it some Christian men introduce new laws to replace the fulfilled ones? It will be seen whenever a statement is made containing ‘ought to’s, should be’s etc. man’s control is always with ‘law’ and they will have an undercurrent of domination, manipulation and intimidation. . . often first seen in ‘Church Constitutions’!

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Notice it is from God’s GOOD PLEASURE that is in Him, that He has purposed we know what THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL is all about! In God’s plan and view, we already have such revelation. Where then is such understanding? It is in THE MIND OF CHRIST which we are told, we have. It requires the anointing of the Spirit to bring it to the eyes of our understanding: this brings ‘knowledge’ to ‘life’.

 Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own wilL:

Being predestinated and being promoted to a ‘mature son’, we then received AN INHERITANCE. We are told that we are JOINT-HEIRS of God. We inherit HIM as we become the visible expression of Himself in the earth.

So great is His Creative Power followed up by His great Controlling Power that nothing can happen outside His will and His knowledge. . . HE IS LORD and can therefore say, "All things work together for good".

 Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

His enabling is amazing. . . eyes of our understanding = insight, revelation which we are privileged to have been given.

What is the HOPE of His calling? We deal with that one separately, but here let us just say that it is HIS LIFE IN FULL IN US as shown to us by the RESURRECTED LIFE OF JESUS. . . the "us-in-Him". (See separate Kingdom Nugget).

‘His Calling’ is not only moving in Christ, but as Him to perform what was in God before time began . . . and here there is a bit more about our inheritance. . . it consists of GLORY. ‘Glory’, His glory is seen whenever the Lordship of Christ shows and accomplishes God’s will without any hindrance from us whatsoever.

The word ‘and’ is big too. . . it keeps adding more to what you have received and understood!

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

The GREATNESS OF GOD’S POWER is given TO US so that we can BELIEVE what He has decreed. It is real, it is truth and He, by His enabling grace, will cause us to fulfil His will. . . and that will give Him great pleasure.

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Here is a CONTRAST: where we came from . . . from a place of disobedience to what God has said. The disobedient, first have to hear what is required and then to choose NOT to believe it. . Who is the greater, an unbeliever or God? To meet this challenge, God is mercyFULL, faithFULL and powerFULL

To receive this GRACE, which is given by God ( for He knew we would need it), requires some effort by God. So He turns loose His Power which can only achieve one result — HIS WILL via obedience (the opposite of where we have been).

Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Any one of us placed in a place of responsibility as one who ministers, it will only happen by His grace NOT by tons of study and training!!!

Everything will happen and come to pass without any revisions on God’s part. His flawless plan is all wrapped up in Jesus Christ Who achieved it all by removing all the blockages which stem out of the self-life of fallen Adam.

Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

It is the Lord Jesus Christ Who has been and is the Mediator between ‘heaven’ and ‘earth’ for He covered every item, every sin, every bit of rebellion, every failure, every evil act and He sees none of it as interfering with His great purpose (will) of reinstating all mankind . . . for He must come to being ‘all in all’ (v.23). The eternal unchanging purpose of God (often called ‘the plan of the ages’) is so huge as to be beyond our human comprehension. . . but can be grasped through His anointing and revelation.

Eph 3:16 That he (The Lord Jesus Christ) would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Jesus has walked this out. . . He has proved that it can be done in man. He has been through all stages for us removing anything that will hinder our progress and growth. It is now by the indwelling Spirit referred to as Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Paul now summarizes what has been listed in the foregoing part of this letter. Read these verses slowly:

Back to chapter 1 . . . You can look at these remaining ‘according to’s’ in Ephesians and many more in other places.

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (Gk. = acknowledging) of Him:

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

‘Hope’ is covered in a separate study (Kingdom Nuggets No.36). The ‘hope of His calling’ shows that His expectation, which is a sure thing, comes forth in those who have heard the call. . . His action through us!

 Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

J.B.Philips wrote a book entitled, ‘Your God is too small’. . . what a challenge in that title! Just how big is your God? The resurrection and ascension of Christ achieves His great plan.

 Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

 Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

 Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

HIM — Jesus Christ — is the head. . . = Source of Life to the Body: hence the Mind of Christ is the vehicle for this to happen.

 Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

The CHURCH is a people who have ONE HEAD, Jesus Christ. The fullness of God will not be seen through a people who have any other thinking controlling their actions and speech. Remember the FULLNESS of God fills everyone and everything. . . and in the process changes it to suit the good pleasure of His original will that has never changed. God has never entertained the thought of having "plan-B"! Anything except full and complete victory would show that He is not God . . . which we know is not so.

 Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

The measure of faith and grace may vary in different people at any given time, because He has an order in His will for every man. God chose the order and that includes who is included in the ‘firstfruits’ company who receive the ‘adoption’ first. It is all His plan and by His grace.

 Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

When the whole body yields to His Lordship, it can’t help but become 100% efficient in expressing the Lord God Almighty.

Can you see how each member of His Body moving in BELIEVING what God has said, would produce an increase that will eventually manifest what has been in God’s will all along. What pleasure it gives Him as He sees the end result coming into focus. He does not dwell upon our stumblings and unbelief for He looks upon our hearts and sees, I trust, the desire that is just for Him.

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Our believing will cause us to draw upon what He has said because we believe. That will release His faith in us and that seals the deal. On the other hand there is a ‘bottomless pit’ of our own selfish thinking and desires . . . promoting deceitful lusts.

 Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

So practical a walk is this which He has laid out for us, that the ‘world’ copies what we should be in the spirit. As Jesus Christ, the Living Word, lives out from His Body, we will fulfil such relationships in the world in an exemplary fashion. . . for we will do is as unto Christ.

The ‘flesh’ acts just like gravity. Stop for a moment in walking in the ways of the world . . . in fact in any way where one gives way to the flesh. . . and you immediately sink to operating in that natural, carnal level.

God is Love — out of which comes grace that unconditionally brings that love to each one. God is so great, so powerful, so delightfully confident, hiding nothing from His unchangeable will, that each and every thought and action is taken into account . . . and HE WINS!

God, being God, cannot but have a full and completely satisfying victory. Why? For He is God, King of kings and Lord of Lords and above all He is Love and He is my Lord and my Saviour. It is out of HIM and not just out of what He has done and can do.