Ephesians 1:3–14
In Ephesians 1, Paul lays out a template for the rest of his letter. The vision in Ephesians 1 is a grand telling of how they (we) fit into the glory of Christ, and what that means for them (us).
Paul says that God “with all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
It is no accident that Paul specifies what is being gathered up, and that all things in heaven and on earth are set forth in Christ, for good pleasure. We must then consider, what does it mean for the plan to be set forth in Christ? What is the plan for the fullness of time? What happens when God gathers up?
And, rather than bluntly tell you how to connect this to abolition, I want to challenge you to see and envision this yourself. I want you to use your imagination. Actually take the time to answer these, maybe in a notebook or journal or with words yourself right now.
If God’s plan is set forth in Christ, what do we see in the life and mission of Jesus that relates to today? Is it solely a spiritual salvation, for a select few? Or is it an expansive vision of all people being saved, not in their ethereal soul alone, but in all of their being?
God’s plan is for the fullness of time. Does this mean God’s plan is meant for today as well, not just for an “end time” to come?
How can God gather up all things? And, if all things are gathered up in God, how can God’s people ever cast anything out as not of God?
Mitchell Atencio (he/him/his) is a discalced writer and photographer based in Arizona.