1 Eph. 1:19-23 That You May Know the Power of Christ (part 1) The context of verses 19-23 is still Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. In v. 17 he prays that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Why would he pray anything else? There is no greater knowledge than what can be found in Christ. He is the image of the invisible God. He created all by the word of his power. In him all things consist and all things are held together. All the treasures of God are found in Christ. This is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. And, this is his prayer for all believers. In these verses Paul prays that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened that they may know 1) the hope of their calling, 2) the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and 3) what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. In vv. 19-20 Paul says that this power is the work of God in Christ. Then, in vv. 20-23 Paul gives 4 truths, explaining exactly what is this power. And the reason he does this is so that his readers might understand this immeasurable power. So, today, we must understand these truths if we are to grow wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Let's begin. I have two points with some comments at the end. 1. We see the power of Christ in the resurrection. The very first way we see the power of Christ is in the resurrection. Look at v. 20: "that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead." It is interesting in these verses that Paul does not elaborate on the death of Christ. He does in so many other places. But, death is associated with weakness, not power. Here, he says that in order for us know the immeasurable power of God's working in us (v. 19), we must know that Jesus is alive. He did not stay in the grave. Death could not hold him. He rose from the dead. Of all things for us to know, it is the resurrection that shows the decisive demonstration of God's power. Throughout history, we have seen great displays of power. We have seen earthquakes destroy entire cities. We have seen tidal waves devastate everything in their wake. We have seen great storms make man helpless. And when these things happen, all of us can only put our hands over our mouths at such displays of power. In WW II, the world stood in awe of the great power of destruction that came with the atom bomb. All of these powers, and others, are on display in the world today, but none of these compare with the resurrection of Christ. All of these powers can be measured by their destruction. Even the power of creation is measured by the universe. But, the power of God goes way beyond creation to the point that Paul even says that it cannot be measured. It is because the power of God goes beyond the universe. 2 Chron. 6:18 says: "Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain God." The big difference between these powers and the power of God in the resurrection of Christ is that these powers are the cause of pain and suffering and death. But, with the resurrection of Christ, death is conquered. Since the fall, sin has been working to produce weakness and death. But, Christ came to defeat this enemy. So, Paul tells us that if we want to know the power of God, look to the resurrection of Christ. This is the power of life. This is the power that gives us hope. This is the power that will raise our dead bodies and transport us into the heavens with God. And this power will never be measured. If you could limit this power, you could limit God. And this is the power that works in those who believe.
2 In Col. 2:12 Paul speaks about this working of God. He says: "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." In 1 Cor. 6:14 he says, "And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power." In Rom. 1:4 he says that Christ, "was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead..." In Phil. 3:10 Paul prays for himself saying, "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection." So, what does this mean for us? It means that this same immeasurable power is the same power that works in those who believe. There is no difference. This means there is great hope for the believer. As you consider the grave of Christ, remember the words of the Angel: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!" (Luke 24:5-6). This means that you also will rise! Jesus has conquered death! Christians are the only people on the earth that should not fear death. Another application is that the power of God working in us is designed to work through weakness. Concerning the weakness of Paul we read: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9). In 2 Cor. 13:4 we also read: "For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God." This means that no matter how weak you become whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, God's power will sustain you and carry you through. To God be the glory! For: "We have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you" (2 Cor. 4:7-12). If you want to see the immeasurable power of God, look to the resurrection of Christ. Meditate on those verses that speak of the resurrection. Preach the resurrection to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. 2. We see the power of Christ in his exaltation. Look at the 2nd part of v. 20: "and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places." Christ did not simply rise from the dead. He rose to the exalted position at God's right hand. After his resurrection Christ ascended to a position of unparalleled honor and universal authority. In order to understand this truth we must go back to the OT. Remember, Paul did not have the NT. His thoughts and understandings of God came from the OT, especially prophecies associated with the coming Messiah. He would have remembered the words of David in Ps. 110:1 which says: "The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." He would have recalled Ps. 8:6 which says: "You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet..." Do you remember when Jesus was on trial before the Sanhedrin? The high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at
3 the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Matt. 26:63-64). After Jesus' resurrection the Apostle proclaimed this very fact. One commentator says there are over 30 quotations or allusions to Psalm 110 and the exaltation of Christ. The resurrection of Christ proved he was the Messiah and the Son of God. Now, his ascension, or exaltation to the right hand of God declared his Lordship. Today, the resurrection proclaims: "He lives--and that forever." The exaltation proclaims: "He reigns--and that forever." The Son being seated by the Father points to the completion of his earthly mission. And, WHERE He sat down, that is, at God's right hand, is as significant as the fact THAT he sat down. Just this week I watched a special show about the night Osama Bin Laden was killed. All the important people in President Obama's cabinet and heads of the military gathered in a secret room below the white house where they could monitor everything that happened. Well, there was a long table with a chair at the head for the president. And they were all seated. As the helicopters took off and the event started to unfold, everyone was looking an listening to a general in the Air Force at the other end of the table. Obama got up from his prominent seat and sat down on a small stool beside the general. For, it was obvious who was in practical charge of the mission, and the place of prominence was given to him as the president took his place beside him. Now, I know this isn't the best example. But, it may help us to understand what it means to be seated in a place of honor. In the OT, to be seated at someone's right hand is to be in a place of special honor and privilege. In 1 Kings 2:19 we read: "So Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. And the king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat on his throne and had a seat brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right." In the OT the right hand of God was a place of favor. In Ps. 80:17 we read: "But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!" The right hand of God was a place of victory. Ps. 20:6 says: "Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand." The right hand of God was also a place of power. In Is. 48:13 we read: "My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together." When Jesus told the Sanhedrin that they would see the Son of God seated at the right hand of God, they knew exactly what he meant. He was claiming the honor, the favor, the power, and the victory of God over all creation. Make no mistake. For Christ to be seated at the right hand of God means nothing less than sharing his throne. Look over at cp. 2:6 with me. Paul says we are also seated with him in the heavenly places. But, he never says that we are at God's right hand like the Son. For though we are seated with him positionally, we can never take his exalted place. Christ's exalted position cannot be shared. Notice also that Christ "sat down." When you look through the OT, you don't see men and women who come face to face with the living God taking a seat. They bow. They get on their knees. They fall on their faces. Angels stand or fall in worship in God's presence. But, when Jesus was exalted, he sat down. He did not bow. He did not drop to his knees. He did not fall on his face. He sat down. The exalted Son of God sits. "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he
4 upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..." (Heb. 1:1-3). We see the great power of Christ in his exaltation. So, in the exaltation of Christ, we see the immeasurable power of God. I would like to end this morning with a few comments as we consider Christ's exaltation. I will first state the obvious and clear point Paul tried to make as he prayed for the Ephesians. 1) There is a "Higher Power." If you are a believer in Christ, the very same power that rose Jesus from the dead and exalted him to the right hand of the Father is the very same power that works in you. As the Ephesians looked to "lesser" powers and worshipped things that were created, trusting in "created" powers, Paul says to them, "you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (v. 3). He was saying, "Do not concern yourself with such things." Their powers are limited. They are of the created order. But, it is not so with the immeasurable power of God that rose Jesus from the dead and exalted him to his right hand. For us, this means that there is a "higher power." But, it isn't a subjective, abstract power "out there." It is in the person and work of Christ. It was seen historically and objectively in the resurrection and the now exalted position of our Lord. This means that there is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved than the name of Jesus. For there is no higher name than Jesus, the eternal Son of God. 2) Because Christ was exalted, we also will be exalted with him. When people think back to the Garden of Eden, they often say, "If only Adam and Eve wouldn't have sinned, just think where we would be." I understand what they mean when they say this. When we think like this we are considering the sinful world around us and the mess we see. But, consider this. Adam was merely a man. He could never ascend to the heavens with God. But, Christ is the heavenly man. Only Christ can take us into the heavens into the very throne room of God. Jesus said, "I go and prepare a place for you." I want you to be where I am." 3) Because Christ was exalted and now sits at the right hand of God our center of reference has shifted from earth to heaven. In Eph. 2:5-6 Paul says: "Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved-- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..." Because Christ was exalted and we are seated with him in the heavenly places, we are now able to understand and think about heavenly things. Look over at Col. 3. Starting in v. 1: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Now, look at v. 5: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with
5 one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body." Today, the exaltation of Christ is essential to our godliness. Because He is exalted, we have the power to live godly, heavenly, lives in this world. I hope that in some small way through the teaching of the Word this morning that we might grow through the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge as we consider the power of God in Christ. This morning as we go our separate ways, consider the immeasurable power displayed in the resurrection and the exaltation of Christ.