Kingship of Christ in Ephesians 1:20-22

Ephesians 1:20-22 Here We Stand

Pastor Martin expounds Ephesians 1:20-22 as the third major epistolary passage for Christ's present kingship. In the middle of Paul's prayer that the Ephesians may know the exceeding greatness of God's power toward believers, the apostle asserts that the Father raised Christ, seated Him at His right hand far above every rule and authority and name, put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church. Martin walks through Christ's exalted position (figure, plain language, and time-span) and His exercised power, showing that these Ephesian believers in Nero's day were to view their King as enthroned now, drawing comfort, direction, and warning, while unconverted hearers are called to flee to the enthroned Savior whose hand still bears the scars of the cross.

4 illustrations in this sermon

Christ in His Exalted Position: The Figure of Sitting at God's Right Hand

compare analogy

A Monarch Seating You at His Right Hand

When an Eastern monarch seated someone at his right hand it was a visible, object-lesson declaration that he was sharing his dominion and authority with that person — the cultural background of 'sat down at the right hand of God.'

It's a fascinating study in the Scriptures. But suffice it to say that the figure employed concerning Christ being seated at the right hand of God is a figure that has its roots way back into the Old Testament and in the entirety of Eastern culture. For a monarch to seat someone at his right hand was to indicate in a visible, as it were, in an object-lesson manner, that he was sharing his dominion and the authority of his throne with that person. In the book of the Revelation, you remember Jesus gives this promise to the overcomers in Revelation 3.

15:55 - 16:35 Read in full sermon

Imagining the Ephesians Hearing the Letter Under Nero

person anecdote

An Apostolic Letter Read at the School of Tyrannus

Pastor Martin imagines one of the Ephesian elders standing up on the Lord's Day in the school of Tyrannus, looking bright and cheery with a secret to disclose, and beginning to read a newly arrived letter from Paul.

at least two years in the school of Tyramus. Well, maybe they're still renting that school. Picture now what it would be like some Lord's Day morning or evening when the people of God are gathered together. And one of the elders looks especially bright and cheery that day, as though he has a secret he just longs to disclose.

28:48 - 29:08 Read in full sermon

person anecdote

Walking Past Diana's Temple on the Way to Church

An Ephesian believer walking past temples to the goddess Diana seeing the majority of his countrymen flowing into the pagan worship — discouraged about the advance of the gospel as the letter arrives declaring Christ is on the throne.

Head over all things with a wicked Nero on the throne, with all of the animosity to believers building in his heart until it will break forth in this mighty tide of persecution. Christ is above all rule and all authority and every name of power. That's what he wants them to believe. Perhaps on the way to church that morning they had walked by the temples to the goddess Diana and had seen the majority of their countrymen flowing into those heathen temples.

31:17 - 31:49 Read in full sermon

Appeal: The Scepter Is in the Pierced Hand

palette metaphor

The Pierced Hand Holding the Scepter

The point: Flee to this King now — account that the longsuffering of God is salvation, and come while the scepter of mercy is still extended from the pierced hand.

The scepter that seals the destiny of every man, woman, and child is held in a hand that was pierced for sinners — and the King still receives those who deserve only to be crushed.

Can come under the rod of His gracious government Because the hand that holds the scepter was pierced for sinners Oh, my unconverted friend Will you not flee to such a Savior? How long will He bear with you? You say, I don't know why he's born this long, Pastor. Why has he born this long?

44:17 - 44:43 Read in full sermon

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