COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS
LESSON NUMBER 15
Eph 1:19 "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead . . ." (Eph 1:19-20a)
BEING ABLE TO PERCEIVE THE POWER
INTRODUCTION
Even before the great apostasy, or falling away (2 Thess 2:3; 2 Tim 3:1-5), there was a tendency for those in Christ to underestimate the greatness of salvation. This was owing to the "old man," and the nature of the flesh, which remains with us. It was compounded by the fact that the redeemed must "work out" their own salvation in a hostile realm in which continued and relentless pressure is applied to think on a lower level - where the things of God are not evident. For this reason, a considerable percentage of apostolic doctrine is spent enlarging men's perspective of God, Christ, and the great salvation that is now in place. The further a people were from the Lord, the less of this doctrine they received. Churches, such as Corinth and Galatia, received a minimum amount of the "apostles' doctrine" (Acts 2:42) - that is, of the teaching that effectively communicated what God intended for His people to know. Those occupying lower realms, and thinking more like men, were given rebuke and correction more than they were of stabilizing doctrine. When religious men prefer these epistles of correction, it betrays where they are living. If a person is going to be transformed, he must be brought to view the glory of the Lord, which is found in the doctrine of reference. That is what Paul is doing in this epistle. He does not deal with the problems of the church, as he did with the churches in Corinth and Galatia. The Ephesians were more deeply involved with the Lord, and thus could receive these lofty proclamations. What we are considering must not be viewed as deep things that are intended only for leading figures in the body of Christ. These are proclamations that make for the growth and stability of all of the body of Christ. It is imperative that professing believers occupy the spiritual realms where they have been placed in Christ Jesus (Eph 1:3; 2:6), maintaining a sensitive ear and a tender heart. If this is not done, these matters will be viewed as beyond the individual's capacity. The result of this will inevitably be spiritual retrogression, for whatever is not understood is snatched from the heart by the devil (Lk 8:12).
KNOWING THE GREATNESS OF THE POWER
Eph 1:19a "And what is the exceeding greatness of His power . . ."
SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. The matter with which Paul; is dealing is spiritual knowledge, also referred to as "the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9). This is not a reference to the popular "will-of-God-for-your-life" view. It is rather the "will" that the Savior came to do (Heb 10:7-9) - the "will" of God as made known in "the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom 3:24) - that "good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Rom 12:2). In a nutshell, it is what God is doing in His "so great salvation" (Heb 2:3).
Thus Paul is praying that the Ephesians might be given "the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph 1:17). In this, they will be enlightened concerning what God is doing through Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. This kind of knowledge is necessary to successfully negotiate the pilgrimage from earth to glory.
KNOWING. This is knowledge that can only be appropriated in Christ Jesus. It is more than mere intellectual knowledge, and is woven into the fabric of eternal life. Ponder the things that the saints of God are said to be "knowing." That will testify to the nature of this knowledge.
You see that this is the kind of knowledge that is active when we are living by faith. It is like a compass that points us in the right direction, compelling us to live with spiritual realities in mind. There really is no other way to live acceptably before the Lord.
This is a knowledge that includes familiarity with the manner of God and His Kingdom. It has to do with acquaintance with God, and a certain preference for the things of God. It causes those who possess it to correlate everything they do with what is known of God and His purpose. Those who have this knowledge are conversant with what is known. They see the sense and need of it, have a preference for it, and know how to use it.
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF THE POWER. Here is the thing that Paul is praying for the people to know, realize, perceive, and comprehend: "The exceeding greatness of the power." Other versions read, "surpassing greatness," NASB "incomparably great," NIV "immeasurable greatness," NRSV "unlimited is His power," BBE "extraordinarily great," NJB"incredible greatness," NLT and "the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of the power." AMPLIFIED
No one will ever know the adverse effects that small thinking has had on the Christian community. When the eyes of the people are turned to domestic, financial, health, and national concerns a certain cap, or limit, is placed upon the thinking. Things belonging to the this world do not require the kind of power that is here referenced. There are thousands of worldly organizations that specialize in such things, and can actually bring some form of temporary relief. However, when it comes to the things of God, pleasing God, knowing God, and walking in the light, men must break out of the bubble of carnality. The focus cannot be placed upon "earthly things" without the shrinkage of the perimeter of thought. The mind will not be able to reach far enough, nor the eye to see far enough.
The "exceeding greatness of the power" of which Paul speaks demands that it be used for transcendent purposes. It simply is not designed for the lowlands of the flesh. It is a power that cannot be harnessed to pull the affairs of this life. Unless the individual is moved to seek the things that are above (Col 3:1-2), there will actually be no perceived need of this transcendent power. It would be like having a gigantic steam roller moved into the house to crush bothersome gnats. Yet, if believers do not know this, they will live too low and access too little. All of this will impact directly upon the degree to which they are prepared to stand in the day of judgment.
TO USWARD WHO BELIEVE
1:19b " . . . to us-ward who believe. . ."
Paul is not dealing with this power in a theoretical way, tantalizing the intellect and awakening curiosity. This has everything to do with being saved, living by faith, and walking in the light. It directly relates to working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12), and making our calling and election sure (2 Pet 1:10).
The carrying out of such mandates as "put on the whole armor of God" (Eph 6:10), "be ye steadfast and unmoveable" (1 Cor 15:58), "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12a), and "lay hold on eternal life" (1 Tim 6:12b), absolutely require the power of reference. Exhortations to "be strong" (1 Cor 16:13), "resist the devil" (James 4:7), and "in understanding be men" (1 Cor 14:20), necessitate the appropriation of this power. And what of words like, "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Pet 1:15), "sin not" (1 Cor 15:34), and "walk as children of light" (Eph 5:8). Or dare we forget the challenges to "run with patience the race" (Heb 12:1), "seek the things that are above" (Col 3:1-2), "be ye transformed" (Rom 12:2), and "glorify God in your body and in your spirit" (1 Cor 6:20)?
None of these things are optional - and yet the modern church is not being apprized of their essentiality. Hardly a soul can be found who takes these words seriously - -and yet they are attended with the greatest sobriety, urgency, and sense of necessity.
When a person - any person - takes these words seriously, the need for transcendent power will become obvious. One will search in vain through libraries and bookstores to find the secret of actually accomplishing these things. There are no speciality groups that can successfully enable a person to do what God requires of them. I frankly do not believe the average professing Christian knows or believes this. Unless that circumstance is resolved, they will be among those who "deny the power" (2 Tim 3:5), actually ignoring what God has provided in Christ Jesus. If that seems too strong, know that it is actually an understatement. There is no language that can state this case with the intended clarity. That is [precisely why Paul is praying for the enlightenment of the Ephesians - and for you.
TOWARD US. Other versions read, "toward us," NKJV "for us," NIV "in us," RSV "working in us," CJB "exercised for us," NJB and "in and for us." AMPLIFIED I prefer the word "us-ward," or "toward us." That places the emphasis on where God is directing this power. It is directed toward a certain body of people, and it simply is not possible for it to be experienced by anyone else.
The word "us" is used 277 times in the epistles, and almost always refers to those who are in Christ Jesus. These are the people God recognizes, and is "not ashamed to be called their God" (Heb 11:16). It is also the body of people whom Jesus is "not ashamed" to call "brethren" (Heb 2:11). The importance of being able to identify yourself with these people is apparent.
WHO BELIEVE. Paul does not take the intended recipients of this power for granted. It is not simply for all the people in a particular sect, or who belong to a specific institution. It is not directed to people according to their gender, or nationality, or social status. It might surprise you how much is being offered in the name of Jesus these days for particular roups of people. It may be men, women, or children. Perhaps it is a special measure of grace for those enslaved to some form of narcotic, or for the divorced, etc. However noble such things may appear, there is nothing like that in salvation. In Christ, everything is for everyone. All spiritual blessings are for all who have been seated in the heavenly places. All things pertaining to life and godliness are for all who are striving to live godly. The treasures of wisdom and knowledge are for everyone who is in the Son - and there are no exceptions!
Here Paul affirms that this exceedingly great power is directed to those "who believe." Other versions read, "who have faith," BBE "who trust Him," CJB and "are believing." YLT Grammatically, the word "believe" is in the present-active voice. That is, it refers to those who are presently in the act of believing. This remarkable power is not directed toward those who have believed, or who will believe, but who are presently believing, trusting, and depending upon the Lord. Doctrinally, these are the people who are living by faith. This power is not toward those who are living "after the flesh" (Rom 8:1), minding the things of the flesh (Rom 8:5), or minding "earthly things" (Phil 3:19). It is not directed toward them, and is not intended for them.
This power is not for those who are not "looking unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1-2) - it is not toward them. When professing Christians are weak and vacillating, it is because they are not in the path of power. They are walking in a realm toward which the power is not focused.
But for all who are actually working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, making their calling election sure, and laying hold on eternal life, they are to be apprised of the fact that the "exceeding greatness of the power" is focused toward them! All they have to do is know this, in the sense of our text, and the power will do its work. Such people will not seek to do mediocre things. Their aim is not simply to get along, so to speak. To be sure, believing does have its indispensable benefits - and not believing puts one under the cloud of God's wrath.
THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY POWER
1:19c-20a " . . . according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead . . ."
This power is so superior that a special demonstration of it is required for it to be profitably known. In defining this power, Paul does not point to Noah being saved from the flood. He does not draw the attention of the people to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. He will not make us aware of Israel defeating the Amalekites while Moses hands were held up, or Joshua commanding the sun to stand still. This is not the place to mention David and Goliath, or Samson and the Philistines. The parting of the Red Sea and the River Jordan are not cited as examples of this mighty power. All of those displays go far beyond mere human strength, but they are not enough to ground the faith of the saints of God. In order to safely pass through this world, we will need more power than was displayed in those epochal events.
I want to again emphasize that this kind of power is necessary to live unto the Lord, perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord,
and live in a manner that pleases the Lord.
THE WORKING OF HIS MIGHTY POWER. Other versions read, "the working of the strength of His might," NASB "the working of His mighty strength," NIV "the working of His vast strength," CSB "the operation of the might of His power." DOUAY How this power has been employed will dictate the manner in which we think about it. It will also determine how we seek to employ this power, and when we will especially endeavor to procure it.
HE WROUGHT IN CHRIST. Other versions read, "worked in Christ," NKJV "brought about in Christ," NASB "exerted in Christ," NIV and "put this power to work in Christ." NRSV
It is absolutely essential that we perceive what is now affirmed. When delineating the employment of this power, Paul does not refer to the earthly ministry of Jesus. He makes no reference to the many miracles He did - casting out demons, healing the sick, multiplying bread and fish, walking on the water, or commanding two great catches of fish. He does not recall the calming of the storms, or the cursing of the fig tree, or a fish delivering a coin to Peter. That was surely power, but not the kind that has been directed toward those who are believing.
He certainly does not cite the feats of Moses, or Joshua, or Samson, Gideon, or David. Those were great works, to be sure, but what he now addresses is a different order of power.
WHEN HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. Here is where the exceeding great power that is toward believers was put on display - when Jesus was raised from the dead! Here was the greatest work of all - the overcoming of the last and greatest enemy: death. Jesus is the first One who was raised from the dead. That is the proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus is "the firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18; Rev 1:5). Again it is declared that He should "be the first that should rise from the dead" Acts 26:23).
One might object, saying others were raised from the dead: the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs 17:17-23), the Shunammite's son (2 Kgs 4:32-37), the young man at Elisha's grave (2 Kgs 13:21), the widow of Nain's son (Lk 7:12-15), Jairus' daughter (Lk 8:49-55), Lazarus (John 11:43-44), saints that arose when Jesus died (Matt 27:52), Dorcas (Acts 9:37-40), and Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12). But none of those were resurrections in the proper sense of the word. True resurrection involves dying no more - which is the manner is the manner in which Jesus was raised: "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him" (Rom 6:9). Jesus is the first one raised in that manner! His resurrection was a complete overthrow of death, which was not the case in the others who were raised from the dead. They were not raised to put on immortality, which resurrection shall occur at the end of time (1 Cor 15:53-56).
The kind of power it took to raised Jesus from the dead is the kind of power that is required "live unto Him" who died for us and rose again (2 Cor 5:15). That is the kind of power that is "toward" - focused upon - those who are believing. This assists us in understanding more fully why Jesus said those who believed on Him would do "greater works" (John 14:12). They would be works driven by the greater, and exceeding power that is toward them. "Greater works" are those that employ resurrection power.
Each person is responsible for comprehending the greatness of the power that is focused toward the believers. This begins by giving heed to the proclamation of the truth concerning this matter. The salvation of God must be seen as precisely that - the salvation of God. The power that is focused upon the believers was introduced by delivering them from the power of darkness - raising them from death in trespasses and sin. However, the bulk of the work requiring this power is AFTER we were delivered. It is to be employed in maintaining the status of "accepted," going on to perfection, and becoming a vehicle through which this power can effectively work for the glory of God. Paul himself is an example of the successful employment of this power. It did not make him impressive after the flesh. In fact, he was not the center of attention, but rather what he was doing in the name of the Lord. His eyes had been opened to the power.