Kingship of Christ in Ephesians 1:20-22

Driving home: The Bible makes it very plain that we must not press again a wooden kind of literalism upon the figures of the Bible.

Martin explains that 'seated at the right hand of God' is figurative language, as God is Spirit and has no literal hands or throne. He uses the example of Christ also being described as standing or walking to show that these figures convey different dimensions of His activity and position, not literal posture.

They are given to illustrate and to make clear the great realities of God and His relationship to His world and to His people. And the Bible makes it very plain that we must not press again a wooden kind of literalism upon the figures of the Bible. You'd have real problems then if you say, well it says seated at God's right hand, that means Christ must be seated at His right hand. Well what will happen then when you find in other passages that He is standing?

14:38 - 15:07 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The Bible makes it very plain that we must not press again a wooden kind of literalism upon the figures of the Bible.

He explains that in Eastern culture, a monarch seating someone at his right hand visibly indicated sharing dominion and authority. This illustrates the meaning of Christ's position at God's right hand.

So it is a figure of speech. And what does the figure convey? We don't have time to trace this out, 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.

15:50 - 16:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin details Christ's exalted position, first explaining the figurative language of being 'seated at the right hand of God' as signifying shared authority and dominion. He then…

Martin mentions an old Puritan expositor who wrote many pages attempting to detail various ranks of angels based on Paul's terms ('rule, authority, power, dominion'). He uses this to illustrate a potential over-analysis of the terms, suggesting Paul is using a rhetorical device for emphasis.

Well, some expositors have taken that position. One old Puritan gives us six to eight pages of fine print and spins out a very elaborate system of angeology attempting to show that there are all various ranks of angels and archangels and archangels and archangels and archangels and archangels and archangels and all the rest. And what Paul is saying is that Christ is supreme above all of them. Well, I don't fall to man for trying to go to great lengths to show Christ great supremacy above the angels, because that's a wonderful truth.

18:43 - 19:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Often in the pursuit of the very most practical concerns, profound truths are casually assumed or asserted, not even stopping to prove them.

He references a previous sermon on the crucifixion, where it seemed God had 'taken His hands off' and the devil was doing his worst. This illustrates how God's secret and mysterious subjection of all things works even under the apparent triumph of evil, fulfilling His eternal designs.

Surely at times, secretly and mysteriously, that subjection is worked out under the veil of the apparent triumph of the very thing that's beneath his feet. Did we not have a marvelous exposition of that last week? When it appeared that God had, as it were, a battle to do His worst, as though God for a moment in history took His hands off and said, Devil, I will exercise no restraints over you. And the devil instigated the crucifixion of Christ.

25:11 - 25:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin invites the listener to imagine the Ephesian believers hearing this letter read, living in a pagan world under Nero's rule, with widespread Diana worship and internal…

Martin asks the audience to imagine the Ephesian church meeting in the school of Tyrannus, receiving Paul's letter. This helps the listener contextualize the sermon's message within the real-world challenges faced by the original recipients.

Well then, how are these Ephesians to think of the Lord Jesus after receiving this letter? Can you put yourself backwards now almost 2,000 years? For a while we know they met in the school of Tyrannus. I always feel a little bit more apostolic in New Testament when we're renting a school.

28:22 - 28:40 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin invites the listener to imagine the Ephesian believers hearing this letter read, living in a pagan world under Nero's rule, with widespread Diana worship and internal…

He paints a picture of an elder reading Paul's epistle to the gathered Ephesian believers, describing their anticipation and how they would have received the profound truths about Christ's kingship amidst their pagan surroundings.

It wasn't quite a school after this sort, but we read in the book of Acts that the church met for a while, at least two years, in the school of Tyrannus. Well, maybe they're still renting that school. Picture now what it would be like, some Lord's Day morning or evening, and 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.

28:42 - 29:08 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin invites the listener to imagine the Ephesian believers hearing this letter read, living in a pagan world under Nero's rule, with widespread Diana worship and internal…

Martin contrasts the reality of Nero on the throne, Paul in prison, and rampant Diana worship in Ephesus with the assertion that Christ is 'Head over all things.' This highlights the counter-intuitive nature of Christ's present kingship in a hostile world.

Your concept of Christ would be one in which you could view him in no other light than that of supreme kingship and power presently realized and presently active for the salvation of believers. Now think of their circumstances. Had they seen what some call the latter-day glory? Had they seen such triumphs of the gospel that caused Nero, to run from his throne and invite a Christian to take over the reigns of Roman rule?

30:25 - 31:02 Read in full sermon