<Eph 1:18-23>
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and (that you may know) his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
To know who God is
* <v17>: “So that you as the church may know HIM better” – Knowledge of God.
* <2 Ti 4:3-4>: Abandoning of sound doctrine; Gathering of great numbers of teachers; Satisfying the itching ears of ungodly people.
Believers to know 3 things relating themselves:
1) Hope to which we’re called to.
2) Inheritance which Christ will receive among us.
3) Power for us who believe.
<v19>: and (that you may know) his incomparably great power for us who believe.
- Incomparable Power
- To KNOW about it.
- With those who BELIEVE
<v19ii-20>: That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he (God) exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.
What kind of Power?
- Raised Christ from the dead.
- Has Christ seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.
* Honor and Authority
* <Php 2:9> 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.
<v20-21>: he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Christ’s honor and authority are superseding.
- Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion.
* Good or evil?
* <Eph 6:12>: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
* <Heb 1:17>: In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”
* <Heb 1:5>: For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
- Above every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
<v22>: And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.
- Christ is the Controller of the universe.
- Whatever that is mentioned about Christ is ALREADY true!
- Do not let the coming kingdom rob us of the reality that the Lord Jesus is reigning now.
<Php 2:6-9>: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place. 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth…
* Jesus, the Son of Man has been exalted.
* HUMAN NATURE has been exalted to the greatest height of glory!
* God has raised human nature in Jesus and with Jesus to the right hand of God!
* <Heb 2:16-17>: 16 For surely it is not angels he (God) helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.
* <Eph 1:22>: God appointed him to be head over everything FOR the CHURCH.
* What is TRUE of Christ is TRUE of me (the Church)!
* <Eph 2:6>: And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
* <Heb 2:8-9,11>: In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone… 11Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
* <1 Cor 6:2-3>: Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? … Do you not know that we will judge angels?
* Beware of foolishness and worldliness!
* <1 Cor 4:8>: Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
Important Applications
1) Be assured of the security of our position in Christ.
* <Ro 8:34>: 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
* <Heb 4:15-16>: 15F or we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need
2) Be aware of the privilege of our position in Christ.
* <Col 3:1-2>: 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3) Learn the mystery of our position in Christ.
* <Ro 8:17>: Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
