A Study in Ephesians: Pt. 10, Ephesians 1:20-23

Ephesians 1:20-23 He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens— 21 far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.

I believe Paul had two primary thoughts in mind when he wrote these few verses. One, he wanted to highlight the matchless power of the Father. As he told the church at Colossae, everything created was created by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus (Colossians 1:16). The centrality of Christ in the plan of the Father is unquestioned, as he demonstrated in verses 3-14. In Christ, the fullness of the nature of God dwells in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). And yet, we see Christ in a submissive role relative to the Father. As we see in these 4 verses, the Father:

• Raised Christ from the dead
• Seated Christ at His right hand
• Placed Christ over all things, all rulers, and all powers for all time
• Appointed Christ as head over everything for the church

Though Christ is completely equal in essence to the Father (Hebrews 1:3), as a function of role within the trinity, the Father has authority over the One Who has authority over all things. Paul is making that clear in these verses, as well as verse 17, when the Father is described as "the God of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Two, this power described here is the "immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe" that Paul prays we will understand, and it is the power according to which the Father will grant to us the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation. There should be no doubt in the mind of any disciple who reads this letter that God is able to do absolutely anything He plans to do.

Are you facing a difficult circumstance that you see no way around or through? Have faith in God to do exactly what He plans to do. He is certainly able, and no one can thwart His plans. (Job 42:2) And regardless of what you face, if you are one of His children, bought by the blood of His Son, then nothing will ever separate you from His love (Romans 8:35-39, John 6:38-39).