June 27th, 2014. WATCH THE RESURRECTION And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He operated in Christ. Ephesians 1:19- 20 On one hand, through Christs death we see how our relationships in the old creation were terminated; on the other hand, through His resurrection we see how our relationships were recreated in Him to make us His one Body. In Ephesians 1 Paul describes how this one Body was produced in resurrection. He is praying for the saints to see something related to the resurrection. Watch the resurrection. Look at its process. Look at what is happening in this resurrection. Verses 20- 21 say, 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. Keep watching the resurrection. Verses 22- 23 say, 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 the One who fills all in all. By considering these verses, we see clearly that the one Body, the mystery of Christ, was produced through death and resurrection. When Paul speaks of the resurrection, you have to follow it all the way out of the tomb, into the heavens, to the throne, to the descending of Christ as the Head into all the members, and to His baptizing us as an organic part of Himself to make us His Body. Now there is a Body of Christ. Christ has a fullness. Look at the church. Look at the saints. Look at their lives. Look at the expression of the Head in His members. That is Christ in His enlargement. That is Christ living, filling, flowing, expressing Himself. He is the One who is now filling all in all. This one Body was not only conceived in Gods heart, but through Christs death and resurrection it was produced. and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us- ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, [Eph. 1:19¬20]. According to the working. Some consider this clause as referring solely to the word believe, which comes immediately before it; but I rather view it as an additional statement, tending to heighten the greatness of the power, as a demonstration, or, if you prefer it, an instance and evidence of the efficacy of the power. The repetition of the word power, (δυνάμεως) has the appearance of being superfluous; but in the former case it is restricted to one class, — in the next, it has a general application. Paul, we find, never thinks that he can say enough in his descriptions of the Christian calling. And certainly the power of God is wonderfully displayed, when we are brought from death to life, and when, from being the children of hell, we become the children of God and heirs of eternal life. Foolish men imagine that this language is absurdly hyperbolical; but godly persons, who are engaged in daily struggles with inward corruption, have no difficulty in perceiving that not a word is here used beyond what is perfectly just. As the importance of the subject cannot be too strongly expressed, so our unbelief and ingratitude led Paul to employ this glowing language. We never form adequate conceptions of the treasure revealed to us in the gospel; or, if we do, we cannot persuade ourselves that it is possible for us to do so, because we perceive nothing in us that corresponds to it, but everything the reverse. Pauls object, therefore, was not only to impress the Ephesians with a deep sense of the value of Divine grace, but also to give them exalted views of the glory of Christs kingdom. That they might not be cast down by a view of their own unworthiness, Foolish men imagine that this language is absurdly hyperbolical; but godly persons, who are engaged in daily struggles with inward corruption, have no difficulty in perceiving that not a word is here used beyond what is perfectly just. As the importance of the subject cannot be too strongly expressed, so our unbelief and ingratitude led Paul to employ this glowing language. We never form adequate conceptions of the treasure revealed to us in the gospel; or, if we do, we cannot persuade ourselves that it is possible for us to do so, because we perceive nothing in us that corresponds to it, but everything the reverse. Pauls object, therefore, was not only to impress the Ephesians with a deep sense of the value of Divine grace, but also to give them exalted views of the glory of Christs kingdom. That they might not be cast down by a view of their own unworthiness, he exhorts them to consider the power of God; as if he had said, that their regeneration was no ordinary work of God, but was an astonishing exhibition of his power. According to the efficacy of the power of his strength. There are three words here, on which we may make a passing remark. We may view strength as the root, — power as the tree, — and efficacy as the fruit, or the stretching out of the Divine arm which terminates in action. 20. Which he wrought in Christ. The Greek verb is ἐνέργησεν, from which ἐνέργεια is derived. It might run thus, According to the efficacy which he effected. But the translation which I have given conveys the same meaning, and is less harsh. With the greatest propriety does he enjoin us to contemplate this power in Christ; for in us it is hitherto concealed. My strength, says he, is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9.) In what do we excel the children of the world but in this, that our condition appears to be somewhat worse than theirs? Though sin does not reign, it continues to dwell in us, and death is still strong. Our blessedness, which lies in hope, is not perceived by the world. The power of the Spirit is a thing unknown to flesh and blood. A thousand distresses, to which we are daily liable, render us more despised than other men. Christ alone, therefore, is the mirror in which we can contemplate that which the weakness of the cross hinders from being clearly seen in ourselves. When our minds rise to a confident anticipation of righteousness, salvation, and glory, let us learn to turn them to Christ. We still lie under the power of death; but he, raised from the dead by heavenly power, has the dominion of life. We labor under the bondage of sin, and, surrounded by endless vexations, are engaged in a hard warfare, (1 Timothy 1:18;) but he, sitting at the right hand of the Father, exercises the highest government in heaven and earth, and triumphs gloriously over the enemies whom he has subdued and vanquished. We lie here mean and despised; but to him has been given a name (Philippians 2:9,) which angels and men regard with reverence, and devils and wicked men with dread. We are pressed down here by the scantiness of all our comforts:but he has been appointed by the Father to be the sole dispenser of all blessings. For these reasons, we shall find our advantage in directing our views to Christ, that in him, as in a mirror, we may see the glorious treasures of Divine grace, and the unmeasurable greatness of that power, which has not yet been manifested in ourselves. And set him at his own right hand. This passage shews plainly, if any one does, what is meant by the right hand of God. It does not mean any particular place, but the power which the Father has bestowed on Christ, that he may administer in his name the government of heaven and earth. It is idle, therefore, to inquire why Stephen saw him standing, (Acts 7:55,) while Paul describes him as sitting at Gods right hand. The expression does not refer to any bodily posture, but denotes the highest royal power with which Christ has been invested. This is intimated by what immediately follows, far above all principality and power:for the whole of this description is added for the purpose of explaining what is meant by the right hand. God the Father is said to have raised Christ to his right hand, because he has made him to share in his government, because by him he exerts all his power; the metaphor being borrowed from earthly princes, who confer the honor of sitting along with themselves on those whom they have clothed with the highest authority. As the right hand of God fills heaven and earth, it follows that the kingdom and power of Christ are equally extensive. It is in vain, therefore, to attempt to prove that, because Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, he dwells in heaven alone. His human nature, it is true, resides in heaven, and not in earth; but that argument is foreign to the purpose. The expression which follows, in heavenly places, does not at all imply that the right hand of God is confined to heaven, but directs us to contemplate the heavenly glory amidst which our Lord Jesus dwells, the blessed immortality which he enjoys, and the dominion over angels to which he has been exalted. June 27 MORNING WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND? Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiners fire, and like fullers soap. I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands.-- These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.... They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.-- Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. REV 6:17. Mal 3:2. Re 7:9, 14, 16, 17. Ro 8:1.-- Ga 5:1. June 27 EVENING Enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Let him take hold of my strength, [that] he may make peace with me; [and] he shall make peace with me.-- Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.-- A man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ.-- By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight. By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. PSA 143:2. Is 1:18. Is 27:5.-- Job 22:21. Ro 5:1.-- Ga 2:16.-- Ro 3:20. Ac 13:39. 1 Co 15:57.
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 19:24:57 +0000