Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 1:16-23

"cease not to give thanks for you, making mention [of you] in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." — Ephesians 1:16-23 (ASV)

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 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: and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.

Calvin has a striking remark on this verse: "the Church is the fullness of Christ." He adds: "This is the highest honour of the Church that, until Christ is united to us, the Son of God reckons himself in some measure imperfect;"

And so he is, for what would a king be without his subjects? A mockery. Indeed, all the members of Christ's mystical body—the Church—are necessary to make a whole Christ.

If the very least believer is absent at last, Christ will not be complete. It is not possible that one of those whom his Father has given him should not at last be found at his right hand. All the sheep of the good Shepherd will be gathered into the heavenly fold.

We rejoice to know that there is such a connection as this between ourselves and Christ; here is our glory and our boast; and here is our trust. We believe that–

His honour is engaged to save
The humblest of his sheep;
All that his Heavenly Father gave
His hands securely keep.
Nor death, nor hell, shall ever remove
His favourites from his breast;
In the dear bosom of his love
They must forever rest.