Christ in the Heart, Strength in the Soul: Rediscovering Ephesians 3 in Historical Context

 "I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."

— Ephesians 3:16–17 (CSB)

In today’s church vernacular, we often hear phrases like “invite Jesus into your heart.” It’s become shorthand for personal conversion—true and powerful, but for some I fear have missed actually having Him in their heart.  As we read these verses I wonder if this is where people get the idea of "inviting Jesus into our hearts".  I can testify that this is how I came to Christ for I "invited Jesus into my heart" at the age of 6, and He came in.  However, Paul’s words in Ephesians 3 offer a deeper, more layered vision of how Christ inhabits our lives. When we slow down and consider the language, history, and sequence of these verses, we begin to rediscover an ancient pattern of divine transformation that still holds power today.

Strengthened Within: Ephesians 3:16 and the Spirit’s Role

Paul first prays that believers would be strengthened with power in their “inner being” through the Spirit. In the Greco-Roman world, this phrase would have struck a deep chord. The “inner being” wasn’t just emotions—it referred to the core of personhood: thought, will, character. Strengthening here isn’t about self-improvement—it’s about divine empowerment.  It is not something that is worked up through human determination.

• “According to the riches of His glory” points to inexhaustible resources, not limited human capacity.
• “Through His Spirit” marks a supernatural Divine intervention, not mere mental resolve.

Paul’s listeners—surrounded by philosophies emphasizing rational strength or heroic virtue—would recognize this as a totally different source of power: one flowing directly from God into the soul. 

Christ Dwelling Through Faith: Ephesians 3:17 and the Heart as Temple

Then Paul pivots. He asks that the Father would grant that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Not as a visitor, but as a permanent resident. The Greek word implies establishing a home, claiming full authority—not staying temporarily.

In the first-century Mediterranean world, gods lived in stone temples. Paul flips that model on its head: the resurrected Christ now dwells in human hearts. Not just individually, but communally (this is an idea I will take up in another blog post in the near future). Through faith—not ritual, not heritage—the risen Jesus comes to make a home.

This reshapes modern phrases like “inviting Jesus into your heart.” For Paul, it was not just a moment of prayer—it was a conversion with lifelong implications rooted in trust, nourished by the Spirit, and cultivated daily.

Comparing the Parallel Petitions

These two verses aren’t isolated; they form a sequence:

Ephesians 3:16	Ephesians 3:17
Strengthened with power	Christ dwelling within
Through the Spirit	Through faith
In the inner being	In your hearts
Divine empowerment	Divine presence

Paul sets a foundation: the Spirit equips your soul, preparing you to host the presence of Jesus. The power and the presence go hand-in-hand.

Why does this matter? 

When we over-simplify phrases like “ask Jesus into your heart,” we risk losing the depth of what Paul envisioned—a full-bodied spiritual renovation, anchored by ongoing faith and sustained by Spirit-empowered strength.  We can miss experiencing the actual reality of having Him in our hearts and lives through faith.  The fruit of the Spirit is the evidence of a person who has "Jesus in their heart".  

Understanding this passage historically helps us:

• Reclaim deep formation rather than fleeting decisions.
• Challenge reciting shallow prayers that lack active trust ie…True Saving Faith.
• To teach presence and empowerment, not just an outward motion.

Reflection for the Journey

Whether you lead a church, a small group, or your own family, consider these questions:

• In what ways are you cultivating Spirit-strength in your inner being?
• Are you helping others move from a momentary “invitation” to a lived awareness of Christ’s dwelling presence?
• How might historical understanding enrich how you preach, teach, and guide others in their spiritual formation?
• Are you consistently displaying the fruit of the Spirit which is the evidence of the life of Christ within?