according to the working of His mighty power which 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 principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:19b-23)
The Exceeding Power of Christ in the Believer
Paul prays that we will know the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe. The Greek word for power in Ephesians 1 is dunamis, from which we get the word dynamic. The Spirit God gives us is not idle; God sent Him to take action and influence our lives. As long as we pursue the will of God, He can accomplish great things. Paul wants us to comprehend how God’s power works in us, describing it as the power that raised Jesus from the dead.
Witnessing the Power of Christ through Resurrection
When I became a Christian, God gave me His Spirit, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. By that Spirit, I put to death the deeds of the body. This is the power of Christ at work in those who follow Him. By that same power, God set Jesus at His right hand, making Him the pre-eminent being in the universe. He is far above all principality and power and might and dominion. All authorities in heaven and earth are subject to Him.
Christ as Head of the Church
Everyone who is saved is saved by the name of Jesus. As Peter told the Sanhedrin in Acts 4, there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Finally, Jesus alone is the head of the church. Man has often tried to create better leadership structures, such as popes or cardinals, as intermediaries. However, from the beginning, local churches were subject to Christ alone. He is the head, and we are His body; no man or institution stands between us.
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