Good morning. It truly is a blessing for us to worship our great and mighty God with you this morning. Please take your Bibles and turn to the book of Ephesians chapter one. Ephesians chapter one.
The book of Ephesians is a pastoral and theological letter written to Christians. That is, those separated to God to fortify church unity. First, with what is to be believed, orthodoxy, and then that which is to be practiced, orthopraxy. So we'll read the first chapter of Ephesians.
We'll read the whole chapter. Ephesians chapter one.
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. To the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, in him.
In him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory. In him You also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession to the praise of his glory. Therefore, I also After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know What is the hope of His calling? What are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints?
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe? 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.
Opening Prayer
Our great God, Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you that you have revealed yourself to us both through nature and through divine revelation, that you have given us truths that we may know more about you and about your wondrous works. And I pray this morning, Lord, that you would Open our eyes to the great truths contained in your word, that you would edify the saints, and that if there are any who have not closed with Christ here this morning, that you would make them alive, that you would call lost sinners into marvelous light. We pray above all, Lord, that you would be glorified.
We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Introduction
Now, the first chapter in the book of Ephesians speaks of God's purpose of reconciliation by the covenant of redemption. In verses 3 to 14, and then the apostle explains that he does not cease to pray in thanksgiving and intercession for the saints, which is a community of people chosen by God. those who are chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed with the Spirit, or those purposed, purchased, and claimed by God. Paul explains that he intercedes for the saints for increased spiritual understanding, that they may know the hope of his calling the riches of the glory of the inheritance, and the exceeding greatness of God's almighty power. Today's sermon will be on the exceeding greatness of God's almighty power, and our text will be verses 19 to 23.
And it is the apostles' prayer that the saints may know the exceeding greatness of God's almighty power. This will be examined, first of all, the supremacy of God's almighty power, second, the demonstration of God's almighty power, and third, the immensity of Christ's exaltation.
God's Power and False Dilemmas
Everyone here has probably heard somebody trying to trick you in some manner by presenting this false dilemma, by asking the question, if God is all-powerful, can he make an object that's so big that he himself can't move? Now, this false dilemma is a false dilemma because two options are given, and both options presume upon something that is not correct, and it's intended to trap you, to get you to admit to something that is inaccurate. It presents two options, both of which are based on a faulty understanding of God and his power. It is the trap to confirm error and is a deficit understanding of God's almighty power.
It presumes that if God can do something, then therefore he must do it upon our wishes. And therefore, if he is neither able to do it or not powerful enough to make it, then it presumes that all-powerful is synonymous with do-anything. However, God, as we know, in fact, cannot do anything. The divine being cannot act contrary to his nature.
He cannot sin, he cannot change, he cannot lie, he cannot die. God can do All things congruous to the divine will in harmony with his perfect, infinite wisdom. What he does do is he does according to his holy, divine will. So what is the key takeaway of this?
It's that God is all-powerful. All power is derived from and delegated by God. God is almighty.
Supremacy of God's Almighty Power
So our first point is the supremacy of God's almighty power in verses 19. Now, in order to best understand God, and in order to best understand the exceeding greatness of the almighty power of God, then we must unhitch our assumed perceptions of God from our creaturely finite limitations and weaknesses. We want to think that if we cannot understand or experience something, then we can't acknowledge that God can. However, God is not dependent or contingent upon any of his creation, nor are we God.
So our text says, the exceeding greatness of his power. Now, by way of creating all things of nothing, by the word of His power, God's almighty power therefore exists before the foundation of the world. Let me explain. We think of time.
Time is measurement of irreversible succession of change, or of movement, or of one-directional progression. It is based upon daily rotations of the Earth and annual orbiting of the Sun. The Earth and the Sun are both the result of God creating the cosmos. That is, the beginning of time, or in the beginning.
Therefore, prior to the beginning of time, prior to the beginning of the cosmos, God existed. Now, this isn't a matter of turning back a clock for additional reverted increments of time, nor is it a matter of extending the timeline backwards for unrecorded succession of change. However, God fills all time and space. God's existence is infinitely timeless.
This means God doesn't wait. This means God doesn't learn. This means God doesn't react. And God is not caused.
There is nothing that is antecedent to God. Therefore, God's power is unsurpassably absolute. This means that God is not influenced, forced, or overpowered. He does not act upon information or undergo change or suffer under anything.
Nor is he moved into or out of his perfection. He is absolute. God doesn't outsource power. God doesn't obtain power.
Rather, by virtue of his very essence, God himself is power. He is not just all-powerful. God is omnipotence itself. God is power.
God is almighty. Or to put it another way, I'm sure you've heard, all that is in God is God. So then you might naturally ask, well, what is God? God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
God's power is as God's being, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. Timeless, transcendent, self-existent, self-sufficient, independent, uncaused, most absolute and supreme. So what are the implications of this? The implications are eternal, perfect actuality or pure act.
He eternally accomplishes his holy will, ultimate, efficient, causal power. God is most powerful and that without change.
Power That Cannot Be Depleted
Now, if I said, let's all sprint to Chilliwack Lake and back together, we would find very quickly that we tire, we deplete our energy source, and that we decline and that we fail. However, God's power is infinite, it is boundless, it is immeasurable, it is inexhaustible, non-depletable, unthwartable, and immutable. This means that God's creation cannot deplete or exhaust God's power. It cannot overthrow Him, nor thwart Him, frustrate, confound, nor exasperate Him.
It cannot cause God to suffer under it, or cause God in any way whatsoever. God's creation cannot overpower God. God is Almighty. So you might say, well, that's all in good, and it's easy to read that in a book or write it on paper or to just preach it from a pulpit within the walls of a church, but what about actual historic events throughout history?
God's Power in History
For example, what about the serpent deceiving Eve in the subsequent fall of all humanity into sin, misery, and condemnation? Even there, God is all-powerful. But what about the Egyptians enslaving and oppressing God's chosen nation? Even there, God is all-powerful.
But what about the Babylonians sieging, destroying, and exiling God's city, temple, and people? Even there, God is all-powerful. What about the Romans arresting, mocking, reviling, and crucifying the Messiah? Even there, God is all-powerful.
But what about Nero persecuting, destroying, and exiling Christians? Yes, even there, God is all-powerful. Even the Roman Colosseum, public spectacle of brutality, brutally and violently persecuting martyrs of the faith? Even there, God is all-powerful.
What about the Pope, usurping the place of Christ and deceiving multitudes? Even there, God is all-powerful. But what about Henry VIII declaring himself to be head of the church and shortly after Bloody Mary executing faithful Christians for preaching justification by grace alone, through faith alone, and Christ alone? Even there, God is all-powerful.
But what about government sanction, affirming, celebrating, promoting, or legislating the murder of the vulnerable, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, sovereign self-autonomy, expressive individualism, godlessness, sodomy, homosexuality, homosexual marriage, gender dysphoria, and subsequent rewarding of the evildoer while punishing those who do good? Yes, even there, God is all-powerful. Now, as we contemplate God's almighty power and how we apply it to historic life events, perhaps it's a better way to ask questions such as this. What about when God judges the living and the dead and brings all things into unity under Christ, when earthly rulers past, present, and future are brought before the throne of God, where will their power be then?
What about Satan and his evil forces of darkness? Some have a tendency of dualism in their thinking of God and Satan as though equal in power and infinity, but Satan, just like the Egyptians, just like the Babylonians, just like the Popes, and just like the rulers. Satan also is one of God's creatures, and whatever power he may have is entirely from God and at his disposal. God alone is all-powerful.
Revelation 19 says, And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. So what do you fear? Or better yet, who do you fear? If you are not in Christ, then fear God and His wrath upon all who do not believe, who do not repent and turn to Christ alone for salvation.
Psalm 34, verse 4 says, I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. If you are in Christ, what do you fear? Just as Noah and company were carried safely through the deluge of judgment, so also those in Christ will pass safely into glory. Nothing in death can overthrow the power of God, and so also nothing in life can overthrow the power of God.
God is all-powerful. Isaiah 41 says, Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you.
I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. The exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. Our text continues, 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.
The exceeding greatness of God's almighty power is here demonstrated in the resurrection and exaltation of Christ.
Demonstration of God's Almighty Power
Which brings us to our second point, the demonstration of God's almighty power. Namely, in Christ's resurrection and Christ's exaltation.
Christ's Resurrection
So first, the demonstration of God's almighty power in Christ's resurrection. Our text says, raised him from the dead. That is, death to life. Firstborn from the dead, resurrected and victorious.
He was raised because buried, buried because dead. So this necessitates questions. Well, why did he die? He died because he suffered and died to satisfy the wrath of God and to purchase a people for his own possession.
Well, why was this necessary? Because the wages of sin is death. Why are the wages of sin death? Because all of fallen mankind is lost in sin, in need of redemption.
Why so? Because God is holy, and God is righteous, and God is just. So, he was raised because he was buried, he was buried because he was dead, because we see here what we read in the Son of God, accomplishing the work of redemption for us. He was raised, but raised to what?
Christ was exalted to the utmost heights of glory. He was seated at the Father's right hand in the heavenly places.
Anthropomorphic Language and the Doctrine of God
Now you might hear that and you might think, but I thought you just said that God is a spirit. How, if God is a spirit, how can the Father have a right hand in the heavenly places? What we have here is called an anthropomorphism or anthropomorphic language, which means having a human form. It is figurative language in scripture.
It figuratively attributes human characteristics to God. And we know that it's figurative because in John 4.24 says God is spirit. It is creature accommodating language. We cannot relate to God, so we cannot understand as God is.
As we are God's creatures, it is creature-accommodating language. It is not literal, materialistic view of the divine. Rather, expressions meant to accommodate man's temporal standpoint. We want to be able to relate or to imagine something in order to grasp it.
However, we are not God. We are God's creatures, so we cannot relate to God, nor can we imagine God. However, we can account for God as he has revealed himself. The doctrine of God is the foundation interpretive key for all subsequent theological discourse.
So, for example, when a text speaks about the external works of God as unfolded in time to his creatures, we don't isolate that from the rest of scripture to try to define who God is by his eternal essence. We take that which scripture speaks about God, of his essence, to formulate that doctrine and bring it with us when we then subsequently understand the works of God as unfolded in time to his creatures, communicated to us according to our temporal standpoint. So the doctrine of God, by the doctrine of God, a careful formulation of God that we take with us as foundational building blocks of interpretation. So right hand, seated at the Father's right hand, figuratively means the place of greatest honor, nobility, dignity, and authority.
The humanity of Christ invested with highest exaltation and blessing while the divinity of Christ always eternally co-equal with the Father and undivided in essence and glory without conversion, confusion, or blending of divine essence with the human nature. Seated hymn also means a completed work. Christ, the triumphant messianic branch of David, abiding in the Holy of Holies, with the Father, in an everlasting kingdom of glory. John 12, 41 says that Isaiah saw Christ's glory and spoke of Him.
What is this in reference to? What did he see? Isaiah 6 says, In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up. And the train of his robe filled the temple.
Above it stood seraphim, each one had six wings. With two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory.
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
Christ's Exaltation Above All Powers
So we see the demonstration of God's almighty power in the resurrection of Christ, and secondly, in the exaltation of Christ. In our text it says, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, far above all, Christ exalted to the greatest power, worldly and heavenly. material and immaterial, current as well as future, far above all and above every name that is named, all under his feet, at his command and absolute disposal. In Philippians 2 we read, The exceeding greatness of God's almighty power is demonstrated and the immensity of Christ's exaltation of universal power and authority.
Immensity of Christ's Exaltation
So that brings us to our third point, which is the immensity of Christ's exaltation, namely, universal power and authority. So the universal power and authority of Christ's exaltation, first of all, to all creation. says all things, all things under his feet. Again, this is figurative language, meaning total subjection to the power of Christ who reigns on high. Both in heaven and on earth, there is nothing that is not subjected to him.
He is King of kings, Lord of lords, faithful and true, the Lord God Almighty. Universal power and authority Second of all, to the church militant and the church triumphant. Christ's kingly power to subdue, rule, and keep those whom he purchased with his precious blood in an undissolvable union. Third, the relation of Christ as head over the church.
It is not as though he is in deficit and in need Rather, the Church, which is Christ's body, is filled by Him, the fullness of Him who fills all in all, and communicates all good things to the Church with power over all things for her good. Christ fills His body, the Church, with all its members, and the gifts and graces of the Spirit. Christ as head and representative. We do not stand before God self-represented.
We do not stand on our own, by our own merits, by our own works, attempting to plead our own cause. Rather, Christ, as a lamb that had been slain, pleads our cause by his blood and merits. Christ is the church's beloved and friend. the chiefest among 10,000, preeminent, full of glory and majesty. Christ to the church is altogether excellent, altogether glorious, altogether admirable, altogether precious, altogether desirable.
He is altogether lovely. Nothing can be desired that compares with him. Christ is holy to be feared, desired, and loved. John Owen wrote, Glorious in his way of rule and the administration of his kingdom, full of sweetness, efficacy, power, serenity, holiness, righteousness, and grace, in and towards his elect, of terror, vengeance, and certain destruction, towards the rebellious angels and men, Glorious in the issue of his kingdom when every knee shall bow before him and all shall stand before his judgment seat
God's Power Toward Those Who Believe
Now it is this power the exceeding greatness of God's almighty power That is the power of God towards those who believe First of all being preserved by God's almighty power Our text says, "...towards us who believe according to the working of His mighty power." That is, the working of faith in believers itself is an instance of God's almighty power being called, drawn, and quickened by the power of God and also kept by the power of God. The power of God in the whole of our salvation. 1 Peter 1 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith, for salvation, ready to be revealed at the last time. Just as by God's power we are born again, so by God's power we are kept regardless of various trials. In fact, by God's power we are kept through trials.
Matthew Poole wrote that all the parts and steps of spiritual life, from the first beginning of grace and regeneration to the consummation of it in glory, are of God. The power of God towards those who believe, secondly, at the resurrection of the dead. With Christ raised and exalted as our head or as our public figure or representative or federal head, of those whom have been purposed, purchased, and claimed by God. Colossians 2 says, buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith and the working of God who raised him from the dead.
Christ is the basis of our hope. He is the basis of our hope in the resurrection. He is risen and exalted and sits as our head, our representative, our mediator, and our advocate. In Romans 8, we read that, if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you.
Application
In conclusion, what blessed assurance. Saved to the uttermost, not by my power or lack thereof, but God's almighty power. And Christ our Redeemer is exalted on high, and ever lives to intercede for us. Hebrews 7 tells us that, but He, because He continues forever as an unchangeable priesthood, Therefore, he is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
John Flavel wrote, think how safe the people of God in this world are, whose head is in heaven. Why do we tremble thus? Do we not see our head above water? If he lives, believers cannot die.
John 14, 19, Because I live, ye also shall live. Yes, it is true that no man may come to Christ except by the power of God. John 6, 44 says, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. But embracing Christ, that is, receiving and resting on Christ, is not forced or driven involuntarily.
The unregenerate, by fallen sinful nature, does not seek after God and rejects Christ in opposition to him. So you're probably asking, how then does a rebellious nature in opposition to and at enmity with God come without being forced involuntarily? By the power of God, the old man dies in Christ and is made new in Christ. That is, a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5 says, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
All things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. And the new man, drawn by the Father, is now genuinely and earnestly willing, not by self-generation of fallen human nature, but by the power of God. Psalm 110 says, in the day of God's power.
I'm sure you're all familiar with Ezekiel 26. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and will keep my judgments and do them.
Now, when we consider a grafted branch that's grafted to a rootstock, The branch that's grafted, it doesn't sever itself and relocate itself onto the rootstock. It cannot do that itself. However, when it is severed and when it is affixed to the rootstock, then it must take hold and live. If you have not taken hold of Christ, then abandon any hopes of a self-generated righteousness or justification.
Come unto Christ, all who are weary and burdened, and He will give you rest. Take hold of Christ, receive Christ, rest on Christ, embrace Christ. John 6, 37 says, All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out. Give praise to God, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.
Let's pray.
Closing Prayer
Our eternal almighty God, Lord, we acknowledge that you are the one true living God. It is you who created all things. All things are from you and through you and to you. You have created us and sustained our lives and it is for your purpose.
Lord, we praise you for your power, that you are not limited as your creatures are, for you are an eternal creator and we are your creatures. And as we cannot comprehend your existence. Thank you that you have revealed yourself to us both in nature, that man is without excuse, and by your special revelation, that we might account for who you are. And as you have revealed yourself to us, I pray that you would open our eyes to your greatness, to the greatness of your almighty power, and that you would cause us to revere you more.
So I pray that you would increase our faith. I pray that you would also expand our understanding of your truth, that we might have the wisdom to apply these things in daily life. whether there are times of prosperity, that we would acknowledge that it is by your hand, by your power, and to praise you and to thank you, or in times of various trials and adversity, that nothing has overthrown you, that none of your creatures has overpowered you, whether that be rulers or dark forces, Nothing overpowers you. You alone have. You alone are all-powerful.
You alone are almighty. Help us, I pray, Lord, to trust you, and I pray that you would grant us the grace to glorify you in all situations, whether it is what we would desire or for our ease, but acknowledging you are good, and you are almighty. So, Lord, we praise you. Pray also that you would advance your kingdom here locally.
And again, if there are some here who have not closed with you, I pray, Lord, that you would shine light in darkness, that you would make dead sinners alive, that you would call lost dead sinners into marvelous light. Pray that you would be with your people. Pray that you would bless your people. And we pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen. To close our morning worship service, we're going to turn and sing the doxologies that's found on page 570 in the hymnal. Stand with me together as we sing the doxology. ♪ Praise ye the Lord ♪ Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise Him above all the earthly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Seated for a brief time of meditation. When the piano is finished, you are dismissed.