Ephesians chapter 1. Let's read
verse 19 together. Paul has been praying for these
believers here at Ephesus. And in this prayer that he is
praying for them, he reminds them the reason they are believers. What is exceeding greatness of
His power, of God's power toward us, to us-ward, Who believe? Believing is a special thing. Believing is a work of God Almighty. Believing the truth, our Lord
said, the truth will set you free. His greatness, of His power
to usward, who believe? And we do believe by His grace.
Faith is a gift of God. But notice, according to, according
to the working Now we're going to look at that word a little
bit closely, more closely tonight. Working. It's the word energy. We believe according to the working
of His mighty, mighty power. Notice the exceeding greatness
of His power and the working of His mighty power. The dynamite
of the gospel, the explosion of the gospel, the power of God
and the salvation No wonder the apostle said, I'm not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation. What is exceeding greatness of
this power, this power? Oh, that we may know, that we
may know. I want to know. I want you to
know that we may know the exceeding greatness of his power to us. who believe. Now you think about
this. God has singled out His people,
His covenant sheep, called them by the power of the gospel, has
quickened them, given them life, and His people understand something
of God's power in calling us, in saving us, and making us new
creatures in Christ Jesus. And the more we know And the
more we understand of that exceeding greatness of His power to usward
who believe in the saving of our soul, the more we know of
His exceeding great power, the more we know also of the exceeding
sinfulness of our own nature. The more we see of His greatness,
the more we see of our sinfulness, our nothingness, our emptiness,
and it makes us appreciate His grace that much more. The more we ascribe the whole
of our salvation to His sovereign power and grace, the more we
grow in grace. The more we see of the necessity
of Christ, the more we see of God's mighty power, and the more
we see of the exceeding sinfulness of our own heart. And the more
we appreciate the gospel of God's grace, the more we appreciate
and love God's mercy to sinners in Christ Jesus, for this is
a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation, that the Lord
Jesus Christ came to save sinners. When Paul wrote back to young
Timothy, Paul in Rome, in prison, and when he writes back to Timothy,
he said, Timothy, don't be ashamed of me, the prisoner of the Lord,
for it's God who saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace, given us in Christ before the foundation of the
world. We ascribe the whole of our salvation
to His sovereign grace and power alone. Alone. And this is exceeding
greatness of God's power to usward. This word here in verse 19, according
to the working of His mighty power, it's the same word that's
used over here by Colossians chapter 2. It's the same word
that's used over here in Colossians chapter 2. Let's find that chapter,
Colossians 2, verse 9, and then we'll read a few verses. It's
the same exact word, and the word there is energy. Notice
Colossians 2, 9. For in him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in him, which is
the head of all principality and power. in whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, made without
hands, and putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision, the operation of Christ, the operation of Christ,
buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the Operation of God. Now you see that word there,
operation? It's the exact same word that's used over in Ephesians
119, working. And it's the word energy. Energy. Notice, buried with him in baptism,
wherein also you're risen with him through the faith of the
energy of God, who raised him from the dead, and you being
dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened
together with him, having forgiven you all your sin, all your iniquity."
We do believe, we do believe according to the working of His
sovereign mighty power, the power of God exerted toward us and
upon us the same mighty power as the power that was used to
raise the dead body of the Lord Jesus Christ. He raises us from
the dead and quickens us and gives us and implants within
us life and gives us faith in Christ Jesus. We believe not
by the energy of the flesh, but by the energy of God Almighty,
by the almighty power of God. You remember the scripture over
here in John chapter 1, turn over there. John chapter 1. You see, and we're going to talk
about this, what kind of power this is. In John chapter 1, you
see, we believe according to the energy of His mighty power,
working on us and in us. It's not the will of the flesh.
It's not of Him that willeth nor of Him that runneth, but
it's God that gives mercy. Notice in John chapter 1, He
said, verse 12, as many as received Him, to them, This is John 1,
12, "...gave he power, right or privilege, to become sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born,
born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God, of God. We receive him, believe him by
the will of God, by the purpose of God, begotten of God and born
again by God the Holy Spirit, quickened, made alive in Christ. Now, because of our condition
by nature, which he says in chapter 2, verse 1, dead in sins, dead
in sin, because of our condition by nature, because of the corruption
of our flesh and the deadness of our flesh, it takes power
to raise us from the dead. It takes the power of God to
make us new creatures in Christ Jesus. It takes the power of
God to remove and break that stony heart and to give a new
heart, a new nature in regeneration. That takes the power of God,
the power of God Almighty. Turn over, if you will, to 2
Peter 1, 2 Peter Chapter 1 and notice he talks
about this power here in 2nd Peter 1 3 He said in verse 2
grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge
of God and our Lord Jesus Christ According there's that word again
according as his divine power. I hath given unto us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him
that hath called us to glory and virtue, whereby are given
unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might
be partakers of the divine nature." That takes the power of God to
give us and implant within us that divine nature, that nature
of God, that nature of God, that make us new creatures in Christ
Jesus, partakers of a divine nature having escaped the corruption
that is in this world through love." It takes the power of
God, the power of God. And salvation is all of God and
all of God's power. It takes the power of God, secondly,
to remove the enmity of that old nature and to give us love
for Christ. That old nature is a rotten nature. Turn to Romans chapter 8. Romans
chapter 8, look what he says here. In Romans 8 verse 7, the
carnal mind, the carnal mind, the natural mind, the old flesh,
that old Adam nature, that carnal mind is enmity against God. That word enmity is, look it
up sometime, deep-seated, deep-rooted hatred, hatred against God. Hath not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be, so then they that are in the flesh
cannot Please, God. I tell you, it takes the power
of God to remove the enmity of that old rotten nature and to
make us love the Lord Jesus Christ. That takes the power of God.
To turn a man, to turn a man from self and self-righteousness
and self-glory, to turn him completely away from his idols to the living
and true God, it takes the power of God. And that's what he says
right here. what is exceeding greatness of
His power to us who believe according to the working, the energy, the
operation of God Almighty. It takes the power of God to
remove the stubborn will, thirdly, and to cause us to set our affection
on things above. Thy people shall be willing in
the day of His power." His power. It takes the power of God. to
cause us to set our affection on Christ, our heart, our mind,
our will. Fourthly, it takes the power
of God to purge our conscience from dead works to serve the
living God. Now, I want you to find Hebrews
chapter 9. Hebrews chapter 9, it takes the
power of God to purge our conscience. It's the blood of Christ that
cleanses us from all sin. Notice Hebrews 9. I love the
book of Hebrews, it tells us so much about Christ, our great
High Priest, and that great sacrifice that's so much better, and that
great covenant that's so much better. But look at verse 14
of Hebrews 9, how much more, how much more shall the blood
of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without
spot, He's the spotless Lamb of God, the God That offering
through His blood does purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God. And for this cause, He is the
mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of transgressions that were under the First Testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. I tell you, it takes the power
of God to purge our conscience from dead works. to serve the
living God. You know, a guilty conscience
is one of those things that just really gnaws on a person. Even an unregenerate person,
if he's not a wild reprobate, even people that are unbelievers,
they yet have that conscience that God has given them. And
sometimes they even have a guilty conscience. They feel remorse
when they have done things that are wrong. And it eats on them.
You know, but the believer before God Almighty, before the throne
of His holiness, has no guilt before God, have a conscience
cleared before the throne of God, no condemnation to those
who are in Christ Jesus. Oh, I tell you, I want that conscience
purged by the blood of Christ. No condemnation to those who
are in Christ. And I tell you what it takes.
As it says in verse 19 of our text, it takes the power of God. It takes the power of God. The
religion of our generation And your generation and my generation,
the religion of mainstream what we call Christianity, it puffs
up the power of man, the will of man. Not exalting Christ and
exalting God and pointing sinners to God Almighty who has all power. They try to convince folks to
do something for God. I need God to do something for
me. I don't need, I don't need for,
I can't contribute anything to God, not at all. I need God Almighty
to do something for me. I'm the dead one. He's a living
God. You see, it's the power of God. That's why Paul said, I'm not
ashamed of that gospel and I'll preach it Lord willing as God
gives me breath. Now, in verse 20, of our text,
Ephesians 1.20, he tells us something more about this power. And he
makes this comparison, there is a great likeness between the
Lord's resurrection and our regeneration. And that's what kind of power
he's talking about. Talking about resurrection power, talking about
life-giving power, the power of God. Now watch this, when
he, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,
and set him at his own right hand in heavenly, heavenly places."
Now, there's a great likeness between the Lord's resurrection
and our, our, and we can say it this way, our resurrection,
spiritual resurrection, because we've been raised from the dead.
You had the quickened who were dead. Both are by the energy
of God's exceeding great and sovereign power. Christ was raised
from the dead as a representative man. And what is true of the
head is true of the body. As in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive." Now, this is a key scripture.
Romans chapter 5. I want you to turn and let's
read this together. Romans chapter 5. I know these
are fundamental and elementary things. But we need to be reminded
again and again, this thing of representation and this thing
of imputation, it is a Bible truth. Romans 5 verse 19, "'For
as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by
the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover,
the law entered in that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound. that as sin hath reigned unto
death, even so might grace reign through righteousness." Now notice
this carefully. Sin hath reigned unto death.
Even so might grace reign through, through righteousness. The righteousness that Christ
established for us in His life and His death unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. And Adam all died, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive." Now, I've got three or four things
here to consider concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
Christ, His bodily resurrection, and our spiritual regeneration,
our spiritual resurrection. Now, here's the first thing.
Christ's resurrection in Scripture is called a begetting from the
dead, a begetting from the dead. Turn to Revelation chapter 1. His resurrection is called a
begetting from the dead. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15,
he's the first fruits from the dead. In Revelation 1, Revelation
1.5, it says, Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the
first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of
the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins
in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God
and his father. To him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. He's a faithful witness,
the first begotten from the dead. He's the first fruit of the resurrection. The first fruit is a guarantee
that the whole harvest will come in and be right. He's the first begotten from
the dead. And then over here in Colossians, you have that
close there, turn to Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter
1, he is called here, verse 16 of Colossians 1, it
says, For by Him are all things created that are in heaven, that
are in the earth, in earth, visible, invisible, whether it be thrones
or dominions, principalities or powers, all things were created
by Him and for Him, He is before all things, by Him all things
consist." That word there, consist, means held together. He is the
head. He is the head of the body, the
church, who is the beginning, who is the beginning, the firstborn
from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence,
for it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell. So Christ's resurrection is called
the beginning from the dead. He is the first begotten from
the dead. He's the first born from the
dead. Even so, our regeneration is
called a quickening from the dead. You have to be quickened
until we're dead. Our regeneration is called a begetting. It's a
resurrection from the dead, of which this is not optional in
salvation. Except a man be born again, born
of God, born from above, he cannot see, he cannot perceive, he cannot
understand. And then our Lord said, except
a man is born again, he will not, he cannot enter into the
Kingdom of God. You must be born of God. You must be. Our regeneration
is the quickening, life-giving life, God Almighty giving us
life from the dead, which He wrought in Christ when He raised
Him from the dead. That's the kind of power we're
talking about. Resurrection power. Resurrection power. Secondly,
something else we see in Christ. His resurrection, His bodily
resurrection, the third day He walked out of that grave, in
a resurrected, glorified body. Second thing, Christ's human
body, His humanity, was really dead. I mean by that, the Lord
Jesus Christ died for our sins according to Scripture. You know,
there are some that promote the idea that He really didn't die.
There were some who denied the gospel and say, well, he just
flapped into a coma and then, you know, he was revived later
on. That cannot be so. If that's what happened, we have
no salvation. We have no good news because
the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary tree was made sin for us. The Scripture declares that the
guilty must die. The wages of sin is death. And
when our sin was laid on Him, guilty by God reckoning our sin
and imputing our sin unto Him, the wrath of God fell on Him
without any mixture of mercy and He died for our sin according
to the Scripture. He had to. Sin demands death. And He died. He died for our
sin according to the Scripture. Even so, sinners, sinners before
conversion are totally dead in sin. Dead in sin. As one old preacher said years
ago, graveyard dead. As one other preacher reminded
me, dead and stinking, stinking dead. Without spiritual life. Without spiritual life. dead
in sin. No faculties, no spiritual faculties
to comprehend God, to believe God, to receive Him dead and
shut out, dead and separated. Our sin has separated us from
God. Dead without God, without hope,
without life, without Christ in this world. It says that in
chapter 2, verse 12. That at that time you were without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers
from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God."
To be without God is to be without life, to be without salvation
in this world. That's our condition by nature,
dead in sin. Therefore, therefore, we cannot
give ourselves life. A dead man cannot raise himself
from the dead. It takes power outside of us
to operate upon us and to give us life in Christ. And that's
what he's talking about here, this resurrection power, resurrection
power. Thirdly, the resurrection of
Christ was the pure power of God alone and a display of His
mighty power. The resurrection of Christ was
by the pure power of God alone. Even so, our regeneration is
by the pure unaided power of God which is begun, carried on,
and finished wholly by God's grace and purpose. You hath He
quickened who were dead. God who hath begun a good work
in you, He will finish it. He will complete it. He will
perform it. He will perfect it in the day
of His power. Fourthly, the resurrection of
Christ led to His exaltation at the right hand of God. Notice
what it says in the text, "...when He raised Him from the dead,
set Him at His own right hand in heavenly places." Now, it
would be an interesting study sometime, and we're going to
look at this a little bit, to see how many times that it's
mentioned in Scripture how the Lord Jesus Christ is ascended
and seated. the right hand of God. It says
this in Scripture many, many times. Christ's resurrection
led to His exaltation at the right hand of God. Set Him in
His own right hand when He was delivered for our offenses and
raised again for our justification. It says in Hebrews 1-3 that He
purged our sin by the sacrifice of Himself and when He did, He
sat down. Where did He sit down? the right
hand of God, a place of preeminence, a place of power, a place of
love, a place of authority, seated at the right hand of God. Now you think with me. I'm not
going out on a limb here, but now think with me. That day when
the Lord ascended to glory, it's recorded in Acts chapter 1, the
body, the glorified body of the Lord Jesus Christ, those apostles
stood there and watched his body. Where is the body of the Lord
Jesus Christ? There's a man in glory with nail
prints in his hand. What does that mean to me? He
is our forerunner. He's entered in for us. And he's
seated at God's right hand. And you know what? He's seated
at God's right hand. And you know who else is there?
The whole church of Christ is in him. The whole church of Christ
is in him, seated. You know what says that in chapter
2 of Ephesians? Look what it says there. Look
at verse 4. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace
are you saved, and raised us up together, made us sit together
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Now, and representatively,
in my substitute, what's true of the head is true of the body.
Where the head is, that's where the body is. The believer in
Christ Jesus is already seated in the heavenlies in Him, in
my substitute, in my representative. We say, well, you're still here.
Well, I know that is true. But I'm also in Him. I'm also
in Him. That's true as well. We're already
seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, and one day we'll come
to the full realization of what He's already purchased for us.
Being one with Him, with Christ, we're already seated in glory
in Christ Jesus. Now what does this mean when
it says here, seated at the right hand of God? What is that? What's
the significance of that? What is the significance of being
seated at the right hand of God, seated on the throne in glory,
wherever that is. It's somewhere. The throne of
God is somewhere, it's everywhere, and Christ is on it, wherever
it is. I can't explain that. I just
know it's so. Seated at the right hand of God.
What does this declare about the priestly work of Christ?
Three things. First of all, it declares that
His priestly work is complete. Complete. It's finished. Our
Lord Jesus Christ said in John 4, 35, He said, I came, my need
is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work. And then He prayed in John 17.
He said, Father, I've glorified Thee on the earth, I've finished
the work You gave Me to do. And then on Calvary's tree, he
declared plainly, the last word that he uttered, it is finished. It's done. It's over. Complete. I have finished the
work you gave me to do. Now, back to the book of Hebrews,
chapter 10 this time, I want you to see this. You who are
students of the Old Testament and students of the law, You
know, as you study the tabernacle, Hebrews chapter 10, I want you
to turn there and look at verse 11. Hebrews 10.10, we'll start
there. Well, let's go to verse 9 too.
He taketh away the first that he may establish a second. But
if you study all the articles of that old tabernacle in the
wilderness, there wasn't a chair. The priests never sat down. when
he was about his priestly duties in the holy place or in the holy
of holies, he never sat down. Hebrews 10.10, he takes away
the first and he may establish the second, that's the eternal
covenant of grace, by the which will we are sanctified through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest
standeth daily ministering, offering oftentimes the same sacrifices
which can never take away sins. But this man, After he had offered
one sacrifice for sins forever, he sat down on the right hand
of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his
footstool, for by one offering he hath perfected forever them
that are sanctified." Oh, he's seated at the right hand of God.
His work is done. Done. That's what it means, complete. Secondly, it means this, it means
it's accepted. Accepted. His atoning work and
the shedding of His blood was full payment for our sins, satisfying
to God's law and justice. I want you to find Acts chapter
2. Acts chapter 2. Satisfying to
God's law and justice. God spoke from heaven and said,
this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. His atoning work is accepted
of God Almighty. How do we know that? He raised
Him from the dead. But look what it says right here,
in Acts chapter 2, verse 32. If you're familiar with this
text, this Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we're all witnesses,
therefore being by the right hand of God, exalted, having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost which He shed
forth, which you now see and hear. For David is not ascended
to the heavens." Where is the body of David? He's talking here
about the body of David, King David. He could probably point
over here to his grave. There's David's sepulchre. For
David is not ascended to the heavens, but he saith himself,
the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, till I
make thine enemies thy foes. The greater David, the Lord Jesus
Christ, he did ascend. He is seated on the throne. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit
thou with my right hand, till I make all thine enemies thy
footstool. That is Psalm 110. Therefore
let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God had made that
same Jesus whom you crucified, Lord and Christ. Seated at the right hand of God
means His work is complete, means His work is accepted, accepted
of God. Accepted of God, don't turn,
let me just get this for you quickly here. In Hebrews 8, 1
it says, "...now the things which we have spoken, this is the sum. We have such a high priest who
is sat on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the
heavens, a minister of the sanctuary of the true tabernacle which
the Lord pitched and not man." We have a great high priest.
The forerunner has entered in for us, and he's seated. God's
right hand. Do you know what he's doing there?
He ever lives to make intercession for us. That's the third point
of this. What's he doing at the right hand of God? He makes intercession
for us. I want you to find Romans 8.
I told you we were going to turn to some Scripture, but I want
you to see this. You don't mind, do you? Romans
chapter 8. He ever lives. What is his Ascension and His
enthronement means His work is complete, it means He is accepted,
and it means that He ever lives to intercede for us. Romans 8,
verse 32, "...He that spared not His own Son, but delivered
Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give
us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God that elect? It is God that justifieth. Who
is He that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea,
rather than have risen again. who is even at the right hand
of God," what's He doing there? "...who also maketh intercession
for us." And He does this according to the will and power of God.
It says in Hebrews chapter 7, verse 28, He's able to save to
the uttermost all that come to God by Him, seeing that He ever
lives. He ever lives to intercede for
us. He's able. Oh, He is able. Look
that up sometime and run that out. He is able to save to the
uttermost all that come to God by Him. It says in 1 John 2,
1, He says, My little children, these things I write unto you
that you sin not. But when you do, when you do,
and I don't want to sin, but when you do, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He's my mediator. He's my advocate, yet right now
He intercedes for me this very moment. For us, as we worship
Him, He bathes our worship in His blood and presents it to
God Almighty. Now, aren't you glad He's at
the right hand of God, on the throne of God? His work complete,
His work successful, and He ever lives to intercede for us. Now,
back to the text. Ephesians 1 verse 21. Now notice, His enthronement. He's far above, far above all
principality and power and might and dominion. And every name
that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which
is to come. How high is the Lord Jesus Christ
exalted? How high? It says there, far
above all, far above all, over and high above all things. We see something of the extensiveness
of Christ's kingdom and the eternality of it. You cannot exalt Him too
highly. or you cannot give too much honor
unto the Lord Jesus Christ. I'd like to be guilty of that.
I'd like to be guilty of giving Him too much glory, too much
honor, and exalting Him too high. He's King of kings and He is
Lord of lords. He rightfully deserves all honor
and glory. He bought us with His blood.
High above all principality. That word there means ruler rank.
The Lord outranks all. There's none higher than Him.
Over all authority, might, and lordship among men. In regard
to civil rulers, He sets up. He sets them up. He puts them
down. They rule by Him and are accountable
to Him. The powers that be are ordained
of God. Even Mr. Obama. He's under the
rule of God Almighty. The King's heart is in the hand
of the Lord and He turns it like a river, wheresoever He will. He will. High above, the Lord
is on the throne, ruling and reigning over all things. That's
what He says right there. Over all power, might, dominion,
over every name. Every name that is named. Persons
of fame, title, renown, kings, emperors in the world. He rules
over all. He has complete authority over
all. His lordship is an absolute lordship. The last words he told
his apostles, he said, I have all power in heaven and earth.
Go ye therefore and preach the gospel, knowing I'm on the throne.
And I have all power. And lo, I'm with you always,
even to the end of the earth. He has complete power and authority. Verse 22. and put all things
under His feet." All things are under His dominion. All enemies
are under His dominion, under His rule. And God Almighty gave
to Him to be head, Lord, over all things to the church. To
the church. The Lord Jesus Christ is certainly
head and Lord over His church. The whole body of His elect.
In Matthew 16, I preached from this scripture, part of it this
morning. Our Lord said, I'll build my church. I will build
my church. And the gates of hell will not
prevail against my church. The gates of death, whatever
enemy you want to name, cannot prevail over God's purpose in
Christ Jesus. I'll build my church and none
can prevail against me. He loved the church and gave
Himself for it. He hath put all things under
His feet and gave Him to be Lord over all things to His church."
His body. His body. He loved the church
and gave Himself for it. He rules over all things for
their eternal and spiritual good. His church. And that word there
is not talking about a denomination. That word there actually means
those who are called out. That's His body, those who were
called out of darkness into light, those who were called out of
death into life in Christ Jesus. He's head over all things to
the church. He rules over all things and
He communicates all things for the care of His church. All things
He cares for us. He meets all our need according
to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus. That's a glorious
verse. In closing, verse 23, he rules
and reigns over all things, but with a special, special, intimate
regard to his covenant people. He said, I know my sheep by name.
I know them, I call them by name. Matthew, follow me. Irresistible call of God. He
rules and reigns over all, His body, His church. Look at verse
23, I've got to quit. Which is His body, the church
is His body. It's the fullness of Him, the
fullness of Him that filleth all in all. The church is His
body. By the one Spirit are we all
baptized into the one body. I Corinthians 12. Now notice
this, this church which he bought with his blood, the church of
the firstborn, the church of the living God, this church is
his body, now notice this, the fullness of him, the fullness
of him, the church is his body, it is a filling up of him or
the completion of Him, that is His church, His body. All the elect of God, all the
church of God will be gathered together in one in Him, making
Him complete. Now see what I'm saying? The
church, His body, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which
is His body, it's the fullness of Him. That is, of the Lord
Jesus Christ, those elect, those given to Him, of how many of
those will He lose? Huh? He said, All that the Father
hath given to Me, they will come to Me. And those that come to
Me, I will in no wise cast out. I came down from heaven, not
to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And of all
which He hath given Me, I'll lose none. But raise it up again at the
last day. I love that scripture over in
Hebrews 2 verse 14 where it says, Behold, I and the children were
all here. The fullness of Him were His
body. He won't lose one sheep for whom
He died, for whom He chose, for whom He redeemed and justified.
by His blood. All the church, He redeemed all
the church with His own blood. He loved the church and gave
Himself for it. He purchased the church with
His own blood. You see, it's the fullness of
Him. And then the second part of that, that filleth all in
all. Christ fills His body. He fills
His body. He fills every saint. every empty
vessel of mercy, their hearts with joy, their minds with knowledge
of Him, their conscience with peace, their wills with spiritual
desires after Him, their affections with love for Him, and His people
with Him. Of His fullness have we all received
grace for grace." He put all things under His feet, gave Him
to be head over all things to the church, which is His body. the fullness of Him that filleth
all in all.