“The Lord of the Church”

  Ephesians 1:19-23

Introduction:

1.         The New Testament Scriptures pulsate with excitement about the Lord Jesus Christ. The knowledge of who and what Christ is overwhelmed his first followers (Jn 1:40-41,45). After Christ rose from the dead and ascended in to heaven, an enriched understanding of him energized their lives (Ac 3:11-13; 4:30-31; 5:41-42). Sadly the contemporary church lacks this excitement about the risen and ascended Jesus. Oh, some may be excited about the group and worship dynamics of their local church, or about some other program. But I don’t hear much talk about being thrilled about the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope that better things can be said of you.

2. Review: Last week we saw that the Ascension means that Christ has been exalted by God.  Now we want to begin to consider what that exaltation means.

3.         Context:  Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. [Start reading at 1:15]

Exposition:

I.          The fact of his exaltation (1:19b-21)

A. The ascension is linked with his resurrection.

1. This is the usual New Testament practice, as we saw last week. Consider also Rm 8:34; Eph 2:6; Col 3:1; and 1 Pt 3:21b-22.

2. Notice that this is the work of God the Father. He glorifies his name by honoring his Son.

B. The ascension brought Christ into a greater glory in which he exercises absolute lordship over all (Rm 14:9-12; Jn 5:22-23).

1. A lordship that is absolute in extent (1:21a). He is Lord over all angelic powers, whether elect or evil (Col 1:16; Eph 6:12).

2. A lordship that is absolute in time (1:21b). He is Lord throughout this ages and the ages to come. There is more to come in human history. We will see more of the reign of the Lord Christ.

Appeal:  Christians, think of what is true about you, since you are united with Christ.  He is Lord, exalted by God the Father and seated him in the heavenly realms?  Then you also are seated there in him!  Look at 2:6. Since he reigns, we will also reign with him (Rev 5:10).

II. Two aspects of Christ’s headship (22-23)

A. General — “all things under his feet”. Cf. 1 Pt 3.22.

1. Jesus controls the overall course of human history.

2. Jesus is sovereign over our lives. This means that we must obey him.

B. Particular — the Church

1.         The Church is under his authority. Cf. Col 1:18. This means submission to his will. Cf. 5:24

Comment: Obedience to Christ is a mark of a true church.  Therefore, even if a group of people calls itself a church, it is not a church unless it practices obedience to Christ.

                        2.         The church is in the hands of Christ.

Illustration: That’s a lot better than Allstate!

a. He works for the church’s good — “for”.

b. Nothing is able to defeat Christ's purpose for his people — “over everything”. Cf. Rm 8:28ff; 1 Cor. 3:21-23.

3. The Church is filled by Christ — “the fullness” (meaning “that which is filled”).

a. Thus it is in the closest possible relationship to Christ.

Quote: “So we must not think of Christ as some kind of great power-house to which we can occasionally be connected, as if by a switch. We are always ‘in him’, we are members of His body, He is the Head and we are His members and there is this vital, indissoluble connection between us. As our eyes are opened to this truth we can take fresh courage, and take up our task again and say: In Christ I cannot fail, I must not fail, He will not allow me to fail.” [Lloyd-Jones, p. 430]

b. If Christians realized the full extent of the relationship of Christ to the Church, they would have less difficulty over the doctrines of grace.  For example, the Security of the Saints.

Application:

1.         Reject attempts to circumvent Christ’s headship.  People are prone to wander from the Head that God has appointed.

Illustration: Religiously, people like detours.

            a.         Theologically

                        [1]        Heretical opinions  (Col 2:8).  Like those that say:

                                    [a]        Christ is not that great -- Arianism, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses etc.

                                    [b]        Christ is not that sufficient - Sacramentalists, Judaizers, Romanists, etc.

                        [2]        Strange experiences that become the norm or standard, instead of Christ (Col 2:18-19)!

            b.         Organizationally

                        [1]        A group of churches that rules the affairs of a local church

Clarification: I am not arguing against an association of churches of like faith. And please do not infer that I have a secret agenda about joining an association. I do not.

                        [2]        A local church in which a group tries to steal Christ’s authority (3 Jn 9-10;  contrast 1 Pt 5:3).

2.         Is Christ the Head of the Church?

            a.         Then we must praise and worship him as such.

                        [1]        We should properly estimate his greatness.

                        [2]        We should be excited about him.   Don’t be afraid to say “Amen!” or “Praise the Lord!”

                        [3]        We should be filled with zeal, so that others would also worship him.

                        [4]        We should be reverent. We come to worship the Great Lord of all.

            b.         Then our lives must demonstrate the effects of his headship.

                        [1]        By putting away anxiety.  Worrying is a slap at, a denial in practice of the exaltation of Christ.

                        [2]        By exhibiting true hope — confident expectation.

            c.         Then we must promote unity in truth and love  (4:1-6).

            d.         Then our families must reflect his authority (5:22-6:4).

Conclusion:

1. Is Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?

2. Are you a member of his body?