Series: Ephesians
Title: The Greatness of his
Power
Text: Ephesians 1: 15-23
Date: February 7, 2013
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
The mystery of God from the
beginning is:
Ephesians 1: 10: That in the
dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things
in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
Our text tonight will an
overview beginning in chapter 1: 15 through chapter 2. We will take it a few
sections at a time.
Ephesians 1: 15: Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in
the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16: Cease not to give thanks for
you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17: That the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of him: 18: The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened;
The Ephesian were already
born again of the Spirit of God, given faith in the Lord and love toward all
saints, as is the case with many here. But
Paul desired that God might give them greater wisdom and revelation, that their
spiritual eyes, their spiritual understanding, might be further
enlightened. Brethren, my sincere prayer
to God and desire for us all here is the same. Verse 17 says, the way this
wisdom and revelation is given is by God giving us a greater “knowledge of
him.”
Ephesians 1: 18:..that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. 19:
And what [is] the exceeding greatness
of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power…
I want to know more of Christ
and the power of his resurrection, don’t you? What God the Father did for Christ
Jesus when he raised him from the dead, God did for those he put in Christ by
his electing grace. Knowing more of the exceeding greatness of this power, is
how we shall “be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…filled
with all the fulness of God.” By “him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” (Eph
3: 16-21)
I. THE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION--Ephesians 1: 19: the exceeding greatness of
his power to us-ward who believe, [is] according to the working of his mighty
power 20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in the heavenly [places,]--[and
when Christ rose all the elect of God rose in him]—Ephesians 2: 5 Even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and
made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Power of God’s Glory and Grace
This POWER is greater than
God’s sheer creative power. This is the power of God’s glory and grace. The
resurrection of Christ from the dead is the power of a creation that greatly
exceeds, even the first creation. This is the power by which Christ reigns as
the GodMan Mediator. His resurrection power is the power by which Christ sends
the gospel to his people in truth. It is
power by which he makes us willing to cast all care into Christ’s hand and
follow him. It is the power by which he
works in our midst both to will and to do of his good pleasure. This is the power wherein Christ makes all
things new—which shall have its end in the NEW heavens and the NEW earth. This is the power that many with a form of
godliness deny.
Abased and Exalted
In exceeding great power, God
has highly exalted Christ giving him all glory and all power because Christ
highly exalted him. For God his Father and for his people, Christ
Jesus willingly abased himself to the very least—even, the death of the cross.
God the Son became a man,
uniting in one body the human nature of his elect together with his divine
nature. He was made of a woman (formed
in the lowest parts of the earth). Our Savior came down, made under the law, to
redeem them that were under the law. Then
he came down taking all the sin of all the elect upon himself, being made a
curse for us. He came down taking all our punishment on
the cross. And when Christ had taken away all our sin, he even went down into
the grave. Christ went as low as one
can go. He gave all that one could give, for God his Father and for his people. It was the highest act of obedience to God,
and the deepest act of love to man.
By this ultimate depth,
Christ highly exalted God. In Christ the
righteousness of God is manifest: God is just and the Justifier of his elect; in
Christ is the manifestation of the holiness of God: holy justice, holy love,
holy mercy, holy faithfulness, holy salvation.
Everything God is and has for his people, is revealed in that one glorious
person and the glorious work he accomplished.
By being made the least, Christ highly exalted God.
Philippians
2: 9: Wherefore God ALSO hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is
above every name. 10: That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; 11: And that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
By raising Christ from the
dead to his own right hand, God the Father manifest his power and grace and
faithfulness towards Christ and toward us in him. In raising Christ from the
dead, God declared that sin is put away, the law is magnified, divine justice
honored, the law and the prophets up till then were fulfilled (some yet remain
to be fulfilled and Christ will fulfill them), every perfection of God is
glorified, every attribute magnified and God is well-pleased in him!
Raising him from the dead, God
the Father "declared [Christ] to be the Son of God with power." (Rom.
1:4.) It is the fullest declaration that can be made that Jesus of Nazareth, who
his enemies crucified, who this world despises and rejects, is exactly who he declared
himself to be, the Son of God. (Acts 2:23, 24.)
The prophets foretold it.
Psalm
110: 1: «A Psalm of David.» The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right
hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2: The LORD shall send the rod
of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3: Thy
people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness
from the womb of the morning: [the new day of grace] thou hast the dew of thy
youth. 4: The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchizedek.
II. CHRIST JESUS IS THE RESURRECTED ALL-POWERFUL GODMAN, MEDIATOR
Be sure to note who it is that
God has given this power unto. When Christ came down, he came as God the Son.
When Christ ascended back, he went as the God-Man, glorified human nature
together with his divine nature. It was as
the glorified GodMan, that God gave all power in heaven and in earth to Christ.
Ephesians 1: 21:
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: 22:
And hath put all things under his feet
All power over all things
belongs to God our Savior, Christ Jesus.
Right now, the GodMan Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King off his
people, is reigning over all.
Over the Devil and Wicked Powers
Christ destroyed him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil. (Heb. 2:14.) Christ has bruised
Satan’s head as the Lord said he would
in Genesis 3:15. Christ has bound the strongman. And Christ is spoiling
his goods. Christ has taken captivity
captive.
Colossians
2:15: And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.
By the greatness of his
power do you see the sure hope of his calling?
It is our risen Christ himself who reminds us through the Holy Spirit,
through apostle Paul that:
Romans
8: 37:…in all…things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38:
For…neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, 39: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
III. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH—Ephesians 1: 22…and gave him
to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the
fulness of him that filleth all in all.
God gave Christ to be Head
over all things to the church. This is the gift of God to Christ as Mediator. It
is God the Father glorifying him giving him all pre-eminence in all things!
And what a gift to us,
brethren! He who loved us and gave
himself for us, is now head "over all things" to us. He overrules all
things for our good. Whatever it pleased God to do for his church, however it
pleased God to save us, Christ has power to perform it. Whatever we need,
Christ is head over all things to provide it. Do you see the riches of his
inheritance in the saints?
The church is Christ’s body,
the fullness of him. He said in
Colossians, ‘Ye are complete [all fullness] in him’ Here he says, his church is
“the fullness of him.” That means Christ will not lose one.
And be sure to get the
nugget, “Christ filleth all in all.”
Christ is the Prophet, Priest and King—our Head—the one who is filling
all in all his people through the gospel through the Holy Spirit.
A Picture of Headship and True Headship
Under the old covenant, to
show us a picture and type of this spiritual reality of Christ being the Head, you
had several pictures of headship.
Head Over of One Nation
First, a nation pictured
this. There was that earthly, political
Israel which was the earthly head of all nations. God said, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom
of priests, and an holy nation” (Ex 19: 6). But the nation over all other
nations in the earth is his regenerated people. Look down to chapter 2.
Ephesians
2: 19: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellowcitizens with the saints,…
“Fellow-citizens” is the
language for one belonging to a nation.
But it does not say fellow citizens with Israel or the Jews—that distinction
is gone in Christ.
Galatians
3: 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27: For as
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28: There is
neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29: And if ye be Christ’s, then
are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Get this blessing,
brethren. By Christ our Head, every
believer is a fellow citizen with the saints.
It means we are a part of the one holy nation over which Christ is the
Head.
Philippians
3: 20: For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven;
1
Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye
should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into
his marvellous light:
The Prophet, Priest and King
Secondly, there was a
picture of headship in the prophets, priests and kings. In political Israel, there were earthly
prophets, priests and kings who were the heads over that nation. For example:
Moses was a prophet, Aaron was a high priest and David was a king. All three were types of one, Christ Jesus our
Head. Now Christ is that One Head.
Christ is the only one to hold all three offices at the same time and he
is our Prophet, Priest and King for all eternity.
Hebrew
6:20: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest
for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (the King-Priest).
John
6: 14: This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.
Revelations
19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING
OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Head of One House or Temple
Thirdly, there was a picture
of headship in the earthly house or temple.
It was the head of worship because it was the one house that the
children of Israel flowed unto from all parts of the earth to worship God. But now there is only the household of
God. Christ is the sanctuary and his
people his tabernacle. Believers are…
Ephesians
2: 20:…of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. 21: In
whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord: 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through
the Spirit.
It says we are a holy temple
in the Lord. And it says we are a
habitation of God through the Spirit—one in one. The LORD God promised this would be the case
in these days. The first scripture below shows how the LORD God promised in the
prophets that he would be the sanctuary of his people. And the second scripture below shows how the
LORD promised to put his sanctuary in his people thus sanctifying them (this is
Christ in you the hope of glory, taking up habitation in you by the Spirit.)
Ezekiel
11:16: Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far
off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries,
yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall
come.
Ezekiel
37: 26: Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an
everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and
will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. 27: My tabernacle also
shall be with them: [note this: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my
people.] 28: And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel,
when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
Now listen to Paul. This is the divine commentary of the Holy
Spirit on what we just read, declaring we are the temple of God.
2
Corinthians 6: 16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and
walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
So the house, the church of
which Christ is Head is his regenerate people, called and assembled by him, us
worshipping in him and he dwelling in us.
It is a spiritual church, a spiritual house, just like it is a spiritual
nation and kingdom.
Head Over One Mount and One City
Fourthly, there was a city
in a mount which showed a picture of headship.
Under that old covenant, the picture which showed all of this was in
earthly Jerusalem, in earthly Mt. Zion. That spot of ground was the head over
all the earth. But now, for those in whom God has written the New Testament, that
city and mount are the spiritual and heavenly place where Christ dwells.
Hebrews
12: 18: For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched,… 22: But ye are come unto
mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
This is that city which
Abraham sought by faith in spirit and in truth, whose builder and maker is God. It is the exalted place spoken of by the
prophet Micah.
Micah
4:1 But in the last days it shall come
to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the
top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall
flow unto it.
Head over the Angels
Even all the holy angels and
authorities and powers are in subjection to Christ. They do Christ’s bidding, ministering to his
church as Christ directs. Christ is the
Archangel.
1
Peter 3:22: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels
and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Hebrews
1: 13: But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand,
until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14: Are they not all ministering
spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
The Book of Hebrews Declares the Types Fulfilled
Christ, through the Holy
Spirit, declares throughout the book of Hebrews that the fulfillment of all the
types and shadows of the old covenant is Christ. We are given the divine commentary on Psalm 8
in:
Hebrews
2: 7: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst [Christ]
with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8: Thou
hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in
subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see
not yet all things put under him. 9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little
lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and
honour;
Now, let’s put everything we
have seen here together. Hebrews 7 and 8
does it wonderfully and all we have to do is read it. Oh, I do pray God would enlighten your eyes
that you might see. This will give you
such a greater hope of his calling and bring you into such a greater assurance
of the riches of his inheritance. Read
this carefully with me and prayerfully with me.
Ask God to open our eyes.
Two things have
changed—there is a new Head. Our Prophet, Priest and King is Christ. And the law
has changed—the old covenant is abolished in the hearts of his people when he
writes the law of the everlasting covenant of grace and peace.
Hebrews
7: 12: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change
also of the law. [Skip to verse 18 to stay with the covenant.] 18: For there is
verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and
unprofitableness thereof. 19: For the law made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God…22: By so
much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Now, let’s see the change in
the Headship shown by the priesthood.
Hebrews
7: 15: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16: Who is made, not after the law of
a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Next, the Spirit of God sums
it all up for us.
Hebrews
8: 1: Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an
high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens; 2 A minister of THE sanctuary,
and of THE true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man….6: But NOW
hath [Christ] obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises…8:
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of
Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant
that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead
them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I
regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, [these are the days after those days] saith the Lord; I will put my
laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me a people: 11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the
greatest. 12: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins
and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath
made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish
away. (see also (Micah 4: 1-7; Gal 4: 26; Joel 3: 17; Php 3: 20; Heb 12: 22;
Rev 3: 12)
Did you see it all in
Hebrews 8: 1-2. It is the same as our
text in Ephesians.
Hebrews 8: 1: Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have
such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in the heavens; 2 A minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man…
Listen to the apostle Peter
describe this spiritual Head, our spiritual house, our spiritual worship, our
spiritual nation—those that worship God must worship him in spirit and
truth. Without the Spirit these things
are foolishness to a man because they are spiritual discerned.
1
Peter 2: 4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men,
but chosen of God, and precious, 5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6: Wherefore also it is contained in the
scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he
that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7: Unto you therefore which believe
he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of
offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto
also they were appointed. 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which
had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Paul said, “That I may know
him, and the power of his resurrection, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” (Php 3: 10)
What a blessing to not be
confounded, to not stumble at the Cornerstone, but to believe on Christ in his
holy nation, to worship him in spirit and in truth in his spiritual temple and
house, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, the calves of our lips with you, my fellow
kings and priest unto God, all by the exceeding greatness of his power!
“Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph 3:
16-21)
Amen!