Although this little word NOW
, may be a conjunction, a noun, or an interjection, it is most of the time
used as an adverb and has to do with time. It is used 8 times in
Ephesians. Now let us study now
.
1. 2:2. Here we read of a spirit
that now works in the children of disobedience. And the next
verse indicates that it had formerly worked likewise. It is a spirit that
resides in Children of wrath. So this is something that works
now and worked then.
2. 2:13. This is a contrast of
now and then. At one time the Gentiles were far off, even when
under the gospel of the grace of God in Acts. But
now in the administration of the mystery it is revealed that these
Gentiles have been made nigh by the blood
.
3. 2:19. Up to Acts 28:28
the Gentile believers had been strangers
from the covenants of promise and aliens (foreigners) from the commonwealth
of Israel. There was no joint relationship, for the Gentile believers were
simply a wild olive branch depending on the roots of Israel for blessings.
Now in the administration
of the mystery, Israel is out of the picture, and the Gentile believers have
their own citizenship in the holiest of all and make up a new household, as
firstborn, of God.
4. 3:5. There has been a steady increase in the revelation of Christ
from Gen 3:15 up to the time of
the beginning of the administration
of the mystery. But nothing like what is
now made known through the apostles and prophets of the mystery
church. For the mystery of Christ is completed by the revelation of His
Headship of all things in creation.
5. 3:10. Up to Acts 28:28
God's program was an earthly one, making known the name of Jehovah to the
nations of the earth by means of His people Israel. But
now the church is making known the manifold wisdom of God to beings
in the heavenlies. This is a part of the program of the administration
of the mystery. It has to do with the heavens.
6. 3:20. This is one of the most beautiful of all the doxologies in
the Bible. And it comes after the mention of the love of Christ which was
so broad that it included both Jew and Gentile, so long as to extend from
before the overthrow unto the ages to come, so deep as to pull us up from
the depths of trespasses and sins, and high enough to seat us in heavenly
places at the right hand of the Father.
Now is a good time for our highest praise.
7. 4:9. There is an indication that the descent of Christ and His
humiliation was into the lowest parts of creation, that is, the earth. But
now He has ascended and
given gifts to the church in the form of a foundation of apostles and prophets,
and added to that, for the work, are evangelists, pastors and teachers.
No gifts to members as such.
8. 5:8. At one time the Gentiles walked in the darkness of sin and
ignorance. But now they
have the light of the gospel of the administration
of the mystery. And since our citizenship is in the holy of holies where
the Shekinah glory dwells, we should walk as children of light. That is
now.
Now is the time for all good believers to study the Word of God
to see what is truth for now
.
