The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 40

<'mpirc; to b11.ve all creak>d things and beings as his subjects; to be supreme Adminie- tr11tc,r under the infinite Father ;-this must have been a mighty and a joyful experience for the risen Christ. III. THE F ATIIER SHOWED HIS MIGHTY POWER IN PlJTI'ING ALL THINGS UNDER CHRIST'S FEET. (Ver. 22.) The administration is thus guaranteed to be triumphant. Some portions of the VBSt empire· may be rebellious. They may refuse the reign of the Man Christ Jesus. Their rash words may be," We will not have this Man to reign over us." But they are only putting themselves under the feet of the reigning Christ. Their defea.t is certain; the Father's mighty power is pledged to Christ's supremacy. And though, in the words of the Epistle to the Hebrews, " we see not yet all things put under him, we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of de.ath, crowned with glory and honour," and this is the Father's pledge of •ultimate triumph. IV. THE FATHER SHOWKD llil! l[JGJiTY POWER IN GIVING CHRIST THE HE.ADBBIP OF THE CHaiCR. (Vers. 22, 2-3.) Now, the administration of a state and the headship of a Church are very distinct things. If the Church is the body and Christ the Head, then it stands in closer relations to Christ than subjects do to any sovereign. Christ thinks for the Church; the Church acts for Chris'- Just as the body is the instrument cf the head, carrying out in the details of practical life the commandments of the head, the seat of the mind and will, so the Church is designed to be the instrument in the hand of Christ for the carrying out of his purposes. What a mighty power is needed to bring about a relation so close as this! What gracious power is needed to subdue the individual self-will, and enforce submission to the will and the word of the living Head! This intimate and glorious union between believers and their Lord is what the mighty power of the Father has brought and is bringing about, and this again must be a glorious experience on the part of Christ. Here, then, we have resurrection, ascension, enthronement, and headship all secured to the once dead Christ by the mighty power of the Father. In such a system _what possibilities are opened up for ea.eh of us I If this is the measure of the Father's mighty power, which Paul invoked on behalf of hie Ephesian converts, truly they may lift up their heads in hope of redemption, complete and glorious, drawing nigh. The more we medit.ate upon the mighty power of the gracious Father, the more we are =ed that mighty grace shall be manifested to us as we need it. When our Lord has had i;uch experience granted him, his members may expect similar experiences in their season. We shall see a parallelism in the experience when we advance to the succeeding section.-R. M. E. Vera. I. 2.-.Add-resa and salut.atwn. The great verity of which the Epistle to the Ephesians treats is the Church of Christ. It has its place along with other everlasting verities in the twelfth chapt.er of the Hebrews. It exists in no visible community as it erists in the mind of God. This letter is addressed to the Ephesian Church ; but there is nothing peculiarly Ephesian about it. There are no Ephesian errors which are combated.. There are no salut.ations sent to particular members of the Church o( Ephesus. This gives it a catholic form; and it may have been that it was addressed wi a circular letter to a number of Churches of which Ephesus was the centre. L .ADDB.EBS. 1. The writer. "Paul." He was the founder of the Ephesian Church, as of many Churches besides. Of all Christian workers he clearly bears the palm. It seems &B if it would t.ake many of our lives to make up what he succeeded in putting into the latter half of his. And yet what was Paul? He at once brings himself into relation to two personalities, two and yet one. For the first mentioned, Jesus (.Accom- plisher of salvation) is the Christ (the Anointed) of the second mentioned. (1) His relation to Ghrist. "An apostle of Christ Jesus." He was subordinated to Christ. He is the great efficient Cause who saves (in the fullest sense) by hie Word, by his blood, by his Spirit. To him, therefore, must be all the praise of ~lvation. "Unto him that loved us." But yet he stood in an important relation to him as an apostle. He was not the only apostle, but he was as much an apostle as an,r. He_ was sent fr?m qh~st (with special authority), as Christ was sent from God. With special powers his m1ss1on was to bring the salvation that was in Christ to man, and to build up the Church. (2) Hu relation w Gc-d. "Through the will of God." This was at once his abase-  oa. L 1-23.) THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 37