My recent blog posts (here and here) highlighted George Barna’s research showing only 13% of born-again believers possess a fully biblical worldview. This presents a church in crisis. When only a fraction of born-again believers view the world through the Bible’s lens, we have a major problem.
The survey data from 2023-2025 revealed that the number of Americans who experience anxiety, depression, and fear is on the rise. Federal government agencies state that 23% of American adults suffer from some sort of mental health problem. Barna’s research suggests that “individuals who lack a biblical worldview are more likely to struggle with these common mental health issues.”1 He concludes that some people (not all) receive a mental illness diagnosis when they actually suffer from lacking the assuredness a biblical identity and purpose provide.
Simply put, remove the Bible’s moral focus and hope, and people start unraveling! The Bible gives us the deep truths that steady our hearts when life is uncertain. It gives us the foundation we need to stand firm when the world feels chaotic.
The Human Need for Certainty
Paul understood the need for certainty. He prayed that God would open believers’ eyes to three truths: the hope of God’s calling, the riches of His inheritance in the saints, and the greatness of His power:
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms (Eph. 1:16-20 BEREAN).
Hope
Biblical hope differs from a mere wish. When we wish for a million dollars while blowing out birthday candles, we don’t really expect to get it. In contrast, hope is something you both desire and expect to happen. The Greek word in v. 18 which our Bibles translated as “hope” is elpis (ἐλπίς). BDAG defines elpis as:
“the looking forward to someth. with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment, hope, expectation.”2
What things do Christians desire and expect to obtain? Here are just a few:
- Resurrection and eternal life: 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 speaks of the resurrection of the dead, with Christ as the “firstfruits” and believers following in their own time.
- Salvation and redemption: Romans 8:23-25 talks about the “redemption of our bodies” and the hope of salvation.
- Glorification: Romans 8:30 mentions glorification as part of God’s plan for believers. Matthew 13:43 says, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”
- New heavens and new earth: 2 Peter 3:13 mentions the hope of “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
The Bible paints a bright future for believers.
Inheritance
We need to pay close attention to what the text says in v. 18 because it is easy to misread. This verse is not speaking about what we will inherit. Instead, it’s talking about what God will inherit; namely, believers. Klyne Snodgrass elaborates:
“Paul points to the tremendous glory that is present when God inherits the people he has set apart for himself. It is the Father’s inheritance that Paul refers to, not that of believers (cf. 1:14). ‘In the saints’ means that the inheritance is found in, or consists of, these people. The revelation of who God really is and enjoyment of him will take place when God inherits his own people. His glory will then be made manifest.”3
Even though it clearly says “his inheritance,” we may read it as our inheritance unless we pay attention. In what sense are God’s people His inheritance? Several Bible passages speak of God’s people as His inheritance. Here are some examples:
- Deuteronomy 32:9 – “For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.”
- Psalm 33:12 – “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”
- Micah 7:18 – “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”
The Theological Implications of God “Inheriting” His People
The concept of God “inheriting” His people is metaphorical and carries several theological implications:
- Ownership: Just as an inheritance belongs to the heir, God’s people belong to Him.
- Value: An inheritance is precious to the one who receives it. This suggests that God treasures His people.
- Chosen relationship: Inheritance implies a special relationship, often familial. This metaphor emphasizes the intimate connection between God and His people.
- Purpose: An inheritance is often used or managed according to the will of the one who grants it. Similarly, God calls His people to fulfill His purposes.
The metaphor emphasizes the special status and relationship of God’s people to Him.
God’s Power
Paul employs four Greek synonyms to convey the immensity of God’s power:
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power [δύναμις] toward us who believe, according to the working [ἐνέργεια] of his great [ἰσχύς] might [κράτος] (Eph. 1:19 ESV)
- δύναμις (dynamis): Generally denoting ability to accomplish something
- ἐνέργεια (energeia): Suggesting inherent strength or power
- κράτος (kratos): Possibly indicating power to overcome obstacles
- ἰσχύς (ischys): Potentially referring to the exercise of power
By “piling up” these synonyms, Paul attempts to exhaust the Greek language’s resources to impress upon his readers the sheer scale of God’s might. This power is multifaceted, encompassing:
- Life-giving power that raised Christ from the dead (v. 20)
- Revelatory power at work in Paul’s gospel (Eph 3:7)
- Power available for believers to appropriate in their lives
In essence, Paul is conveying that the same immeasurable power that orchestrated Christ’s resurrection is now oriented toward believers, available for our spiritual enlightenment, transformation, and empowerment in living out our faith.
A Biblical Worldview Cultivates Confidence
Paul’s prayer addresses the crisis Barna describes by providing what anxious hearts lack. Hope assures believers their story ends in glory, not despair. Inheritance confirms their worth because God treasures them. Power guarantees God works within them with the same strength that raised Christ. These truths confront the fear and uncertainty that plague those without a biblical worldview. They give believers a stable identity, a secure future, and a present filled with divine help. Paul directs our eyes to what God already provides, and these realities steady our minds when the world feels unstable.
Barna says, “God wants us to thrive. He gave us biblical principles and commands to facilitate human flourishing.”4 This echoes Jesus’s own words: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10 NKJV).
References
- Barna, George. American Worldview Inventory 2023-25: The Annual Report on the State of Worldview in the United States. Glendale, AZ: Arizona Christian University Press, 2025. 105-107.
- BDAG, s.v. “ἐλπίς,” 319.
- Snodgrass, Klyne. Ephesians (The NIV Application Commentary Book 10) (p. 74). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
- Barna, George. American Worldview Inventory 2023-25: The Annual Report on the State of Worldview in the United States. Glendale, AZ: Arizona Christian University Press, 2025. 115.