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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Don Carson on 'the heavenly places'

Good stuff today from DAC at this morning's Aber Conference on Ephesians 1:3-14. Especially his explanation of 'the heavenly places' in Eph 1:3 as "the spatial equivalent of inaugurated eschatology". If inaugurated eschatology is about time, the 'now and not yet' of salvation, then 'the heavenly places' is about space, the 'there, but still here' of salvation. In terms of space, Christ is 'seated at God's right hand in the heavenly places' Eph 1:20, while the believer is still on earth. However, in another sense, on being united to Christ by faith we 'sit together with him in the heavenly places' Eph 2:6. That is spatially inaugurated eschatology, 'there, but still here'.

The Spirit is the one through whom eschatology is inaugurated both in terms of time and place. The believer is 'blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ' Eph 1:3. The Spirit is the seal and deposit of our future inheritance, Eph 1:13-14. He also bridges the gap between the believer on earth and the exalted Christ at the Father's right hand so that in him we have already drawn up a chair in the heavenly places. Our being there, while still here guarantees that we shall be forever with the Lord in the Father's presence by the power of the Spirit in resurrection glory.

All to the praise of our God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has generously tied up his supreme glory with the redemption of rebel sinners.

1 comment:

Jake said...

"All to the praise of our God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has generously tied up his supreme glory with the redemption of rebel sinners."

What an outstanding line my friend!! Beautiful, marvelous truth.

"And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the Body of His Flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in His sight..." Colossians 1