Ephesians 1:19-23
“… and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, 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. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”
Through the resurrection and exaltation of Christ (verses 20-23), God has given a public demonstration of the greatness of his power. Paul refers to three successive events that demonstrate the power of God:
- First, the Lord demonstrated his power by raising Jesus from the dead (verse 20).
- Second, the Lord seated Jesus at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all competitors (verses 20, 21), and has put all things under his feet (verse 22).
- Third, the Lord has made Jesus the head over all things for the church, which is his body (verses 22, 23).
The resurrection and ascension were a decisive demonstration of the Lord’s power. Evil and death are two powers which man cannot control, but which—without God’s intervention—hold man in bondage. Man is mortal; he cannot avoid death. Man is fallen; he cannot overcome evil. But God in Christ has conquered both, and therefore can rescue us from both.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise us from the dead, and the same power that seated Christ at God’s right hand in the heavenly places will seat us there with him. In the meanwhile, that resurrection power is available to us right now that we might live and work for the Lord.
In summary, Paul prays that we will understand the hope, riches, and power that we have by virtue of our relationship with Christ. Further, Paul reminds us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, a position of supreme authority. And it is that same Jesus who loves us and has saved us and who indwells us through his Spirit.
At this point in Ephesians, Paul has not told us to do anything. No commands or directives … yet. That is coming later, but right now Paul simply wants us to understand who we are in Christ.
