The Book of Ephesians.

Chapter 1.

(Verse by verse study.)

Un-edited

 

By Pastor Nick Bibile

 

Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

 

Let us continue where we stopped last time. The power of God was manifested in the resurrection of Christ and he is seated at the right hand of God

 

To be at the right hand of God is to have equal power and glory with the Father. Christ is interceding for the saints at the right hand of God and he is governing the church.

 

Verse 21 says, Christ is above all principality (GK arche – authoritative power, rulers), and power, (GK exousia – exercise of absolute unrestricted power of authority) and might (GK dunamis – inherent power or force to perform anything in action), and dominion (GK kuriotes – comes from the GK kurios meaning Lord, power and authority in Lordship of government) and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

 

What do you see in this scripture? We see Christ ruling his kingdom with absolute authority and power. In a kingdom there is a king, the king rules his kingdom.

 

Apart from Christ being a mediator he held three offices. He was called a prophet. As a prophet he revealed the will of God to us. Christ was a priest. As a priest he offered sacrifice, he was the victim and the priest. As a priest he intercedes for his people. Also Christ is the king. As a king he rules his Kingdom.

 

Lu 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 Lu 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

 

What is the kingdom of God?

Kingdom of God is where God exercise his sovereign rule. God will gather a church from the whole human race and he will rule, preserve and defend against all enemies.

 

The kingdom of God is opposite to the kingdoms of this world rule by the devil. All are born into the devil’s kingdoms of this world but God sent his Son as a mediator into the world to gather the elect who were in the devil’s kingdom. How are the elect saved? By preaching of the gospel and by the power of the Holy Spirit working true faith and repentance in the elect.

 

Lu 4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

 

We have a powerful king. See Ephesians 1:21. He has an inherent power to bring people from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. He is above all rulers including Satan and his demonic rulers are subject to him. The effectual call of God is so powerful, one cannot resist even Satan become powerless. He rules his kingdom with absolute power and authority.

 

Mt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

The name Jesus is a powerful name. What is the meaning of Jesus? The name Jesus is the Greek equivalent to Joshua, meaning Yahweh is salvation or Yahweh saves. There are many churches believe that Jesus makes salvation possible for those who are willing to come. Here we see a powerless Savior pleading for people to repent and come to him. The man has the power to refuse him or accept him.

 

But on contrary we see we have a powerful God in flesh, Jesus. It does not say salvation is a possibility according to human will but he shall save his people from their sins. To reverence God we must reverence him as the Savior and God is worshipped as the Savior.

 

Joh 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

 

Christ the King is on the throne.

 

Read Hebrews 1:8-13

 

Back to Ephesians 1.

22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church

 

See the prophecy in Psalm 8

Ps 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.

 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.

 

When you see he had put all things under his feet means that all enemies will be put under his feet, they cannot do anything without the will of God.

 

1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

 

Who are the enemies?

 

The enemies of the kingdom of God are the devil and wicked unsaved men. Among the wicked unsaved men you will see hypocrites in the church who call themselves Christians, they have a title of Christianity, pretending to be friends of Christ. These are the ones that go to church only on Sunday but have a passion for the world and the things of the world. Satan has a firm grip on them, he has deceived them. In truth they are enemies of God.

 

Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

Back to Ephesians 1.

 

and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

 

The Bible says Christ is the head of the church. But Roman Catholicism says Pope is the head of the church. The word ‘pope,’ by which the head of the Roman Church is known, and the word ‘papacy,’ by which is meant the system of ecclesiastical government in which the pope is recognized as the supreme head of the church.

 

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.

 

 Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

 

We praise God for his grace giving us a head, a King who has unlimited power over his enemies.

 

What is the church? People who are called by God out of the kingdom of Satan into his kingdom, who gather to worship God, it is the Lord’s house as it’s expressed in German language – Gotteshaus.

Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell (hades) shall not prevail against it.

 

The true church is triumphant and militant. What is the meaning of the church that is triumphant and militant?  The triumphant are the true believers who have died now in heaven; there will be a complete triumph after the resurrection. The church that is militant are the true Christians are on this world fights under the banner of Christ against the devil, the flesh and the world. True Christians are called soldiers for Christ engaged in constant warfare. When someone asks how are you doing? Say fighting a battle.

 

When you are doing the will of God you will go through persecution and hardship.

 

2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

Ac 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

 

 There are some who are on cruise control, sailing nicely without a battle. They are not soldiers but spectators, they are not true Christians.  But the true Christians are militant. When they finish the battle they go to be with the Lord triumphantly. Rejoicing in victory.

 

Back to Ephesians 1.

 

23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

 

If there is a head there is a body. Christ is the head and the church is the body. The first Adam was the head of all humanity but Christ is the head of the church only. Meaning true believers.

 

1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

A body of Christ is a local assembly of believers. After the resurrection of Christ there was persecution came to the church, the members of this church were scattered. They went everywhere preaching the word and wherever disciples were made a church was organized. And some years later we read of the churches of Judea. When the church at Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas as missionaries, we soon read about churches of Galatia and other provinces. Today there are lots of local congregations all over the world; those who are preaching the true doctrines of God belong to the body of Christ.

 

 And no member is the head for Christ is the head and master. He made this plain when he said, "One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. (Mat 23:8) Headship belongs only to Christ and this means authority.  The pastor is the leader but not our master.  Paul made the same point when he wrote, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake" (2 Cor 4:5)

 

Pastors are not rulers but guides. They are shepherds given by Christ to his church to lead not drive. There are too many ministers and teachers like badly trained sheep dogs that rip and bite at the heels of the sheep instead of guiding them.

 

And Peter writes that the elders or pastors must not lord over God’s heritage. (1 Pet 5:3) The pastor is not a man with a big stick; he is a man with a big book feeding the sheep.

 

 

 2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

 

Christ fills the church with God’s grace. The body, the church is complete in Christ in Christ’s fullness. He fills the church with his knowledge, wisdom, righteousness, mercy, love, and patience. He fills the church with the power of the Holy Spirit with boldness. 

 

Lastly at the end after the glorification of the church, Jesus will deliver up the kingdom of God to the Father.

 

1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

 

There is a battle for the souls. There is a real invisible enemy, and then there are his follower’s demons. They are working 24 hours day and night to deceive people. The enemy had killed many Christians but God was not surprised, all happens according to God’s will, his sovereign power. The enemy killed many O.T. prophets, all the apostles except apostle John was martyred. During the reformation the Roman Catholic Church killed many, today in other parts of the world many Christians are put to death.

 

The devil will be cast into the lake of fire with all his demons along with all the non-believers and they will be tormented forever and ever. If you are not a true Christian you are an enemy of Christ.

 

Mt 12:30 He that is not with me is against me.

 

Once the church is glorified in heaven, when all the elect believers are gathered in heaven do we need a mediator? No. Christ’s ministry of the mediator will be discharged, no more to intercede for his saints as they are all in heaven. There will be no need of conversions as sin is abolished, the enemies are defeated the saints have perfected and glorified.

 

Re 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

 

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