(Eph 1:22) “ And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”What does the Bible mean when it says the church is the body of Christ? It means we represent Him to this world and are left here upon this earth for that purpose. When He saved your soul He could easily have taken you on to Heaven. Instead, He left you among sinful man to suffer this world. Why? We have a work to do! We are to live as saints among this world. We are to speak of God’s goodness and sacrifice as we live among the lost. We are His body in His absence. He lives in us through the Holy Spirit for that purpose!

(Eph 1:22) “…and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,”  The church is not the building, but the born again children of God. We are to conduct ourselves as a body and individually day to day according to what He has decreed in His Word! Believer, even when you are not assembled with the saints, you are still a part of the church. Whether at home, work, or play, you are still to walk in obedience to the Head (the Lord Jesus), for the world is watching and judging Him by you!

(Eph 1:20)  “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  (21) 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: (22) And hath put all things under his feet,….”  Compared to the person, the character, the holiness of Christ Jesus, this is man’s rightful place, at the feet of Jesus! This is pictured Palm Sunday, when He rode the donkey into Jerusalem. They put their coats down for the donkey to walk upon. Jesus made even that donkey too holy to walk this earth. As John the Baptist said, (Joh_1:27)  “He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.” 

(Eph 1:19) “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) 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:”  There has never been a greater person than Jesus Christ. There is no greater person than Jesus Christ. And there never will be a greater person that Jesus Christ! He is the only sinless person who has ever lived. He alone paid the penalty for our sins. He alone is the Son of God! Praise His Name!  ! 

(Eph 1:19) “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”  Notice that the greatness of His power “us-ward” is His resurrection. Later, in chapter 2, we will see this more precisely revealed to us. But….all that is applied to us is based is based upon the resurrection of Jesus from death! Point: Christ overcame death; so, He can do anything; He can even save you! Praise His Name! 

(Eph 1:18) “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”    Notice the word “in” that is part of the phrase “what are the riches of His (God’s) glory of His inheritance in the saints” – not “of” the saints. WE, the born again through Jesus’ sacrifice, are HIS inheritance! (Psa 2:7)  “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (8) Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance,”  It is hard for me to accept that my Lord Jesus would want me. Yet, here it is! I, as one of the saved, am His inheritance! 

Eph 1:18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling….”  The word, “hope”, in Scripture is not used as it is in our day and time. We think of “hope” as the desire for something that may of may not happen. The Bible uses it in only a positive way – the expectant looking for a sure coming event!  I look by faith expecting the Lord either to come for me or all the saved at any time of the day! I look for meeting the saved who have passed on before me. I look for an eternity right with my God and fellowshipping with my Savior! It will take place!  

(Eph 1:18) “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;…”  This is one of the blessings associated with the Holy Spirit already revealed in this chapter as the seal of the Believer’s soul and spirit. The Lord Jesus said the Spirit would guide us into all truth. “enlightened” – made to see what one could not see otherwise. The Bible is a closed book to the unsaved. Sure, they can read and understand facts, but there are spiritual truth held within its pages which can only be revealed through the gift of the Holy Spirit given at the time of the salvation experience.

(Eph 1:16)  “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 

(17) That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”  He prayed that the saved would receive the “spirit of wisdom…..in the knowledge of Him”! Saved child of God, there is much to learn of our Lord! We should avail ourselves daily to the Word of God plus our church when the doors are open! Oh, the knowledge of God is sweet to the soul!

(Eph 1:15)  “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, (16) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;”   How often today we speak “I will pray for you” and never pray! It is a very pious statement. It makes us sound very spiritual. Yet, if we do not actually do it, we have misled the individual and mimicked the Pharisees by our actions (praying both publicly on street corners and saying long prayers only to be seen of men). God help us to be genuine.