Praising God For His Exaltation of Christ (Eph. 1:20-23)

When God  raised Jesus  from the  dead  it proved   His power.  he  further  showed His power  when  He seated  the Lord Jesus at  His right  hand. This  terminology refers  to Jesus receiving a position  of high  authority and power.

Eph. 1:20 refers that  this  took place  “in the heavenly  places.”  Denny Petrillo writes, “This phraseology means that  Jesus was  exalted above  all other authorities, including those in the  demonic  realm. This is illustrated by  his  far above statement, where Jesus  is  above:

(a) every  authority and

(b) every name–either past, present or  future.”

In  verse 22 Paul has  one  more aspect that  he wants to  elaborate on. It is one that he will focus on in the remainder of the  epistle. The  Father  gave  Jesus a  high  position in regard to the  church.  To be  head of  something means  He  is the sole  authority.  God’s people are the  church.  The  church is made up of  believers.  We are the  ones  who have  received all the spiritual  blessings that are only  found in Christ (Eph. 1:3-14).

In verse 23 the  church  is called  His body. This term is one  of  Paul’s favorite descriptions on the church. Denny Petrillo writes these  words, “The body indicates  closeness…”  Paul is  saying that Jesus, as head over the  church, is filling [the church] in a  special way with His Spirit, grab and  gifts; it is His  fulness. As a  church we are  entirely dependent on Christ. The church is full, complete, lacking nothing.  As the  hymn writer says, “The Church’s one foundation is  Jesus  Christ her  Lord…”

-Larry Miles, April 30, 2015 in Mangum, OK

Larry Miles lives in Louisville, KY and is Co-Editor of Word and Work Online