Mary's Favorite - Pt 8

“…according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:20-21 ESV).

In this final installment of our series let me piggyback off yesterday’s declaration that Jesus is the depository of the greatness of God’s power now toward those who believe. Let me suggest just five things this means for us. First, the power of God toward us now is like the great might “that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead” (v. 20). God raised Jesus from the dead, never to die again. The point here is that the power of death is broken for all who are in Christ Jesus. The enemy, death, is defeated. For Paul, the death of Christ was the death of death. O yes, believers die. But the sting is removed. The poisonous event has become a pathway to paradise. Death is swallowed up in victory. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Second, God “seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places” (v. 20). That power that installed Jesus at God’s right hand has put us there also. The power that took Jesus from death and put him eternally in God’s presence put you there too, and keeps you there. Third, God set Jesus “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (v. 21). At the cross God “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Christ.” So when Jesus rose from the dead, he was exalted over all the hosts of hell. They are a defeated foe. They are not yet out of the world. And battles are yet to be fought; however, the outcome has already been determined. Fourth, God “put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church” (v. 22). The risen Jesus Christ is “head over all things.” He is the authority and conscious active rule over all history, all human beings, all demonic powers, disease, disability, all nature, weather, hurricanes, lightning bolts, tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, global warming, all businesses and industry, healthcare, sports, inventions, media, Internet, iPad mania, military might, governments, presidents, kings, chiefs, religions, universities, solar systems, stars, galaxies, molecules, atoms, subatomic particles, and ten thousand things no man has ever yet discovered. Jesus is now head over them all. And, even better he is given as head over all to the church. Finally, we are “his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (v. 23). I’m not sure I can express this. But I’ll try. God’s power toward us intends to fill the universe with the authority of his crucified and risen Son. And, though it takes your breath away, he intends to make us, the church, those who believe, the means of that fullness. That is, where he rules we will rule. He created human kind in the beginning to inhabit a beautiful creation and to subdue it, and enjoy it, and reflect his glory in it. Sin is defeated at the cross; yet sin remains to be fought. Satan was defeated at the cross; yet Satan remains to be fought. And for this fight, may God answer Paul’s prayer in our lives! May we know the power of God toward us who believe, to live and die for the glory of Christ.