Power Under His Control

Philippians 3:20-21 - But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Ephesians 1:18-23 - I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Romans 8:29 - For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Conclusions:

• In Ephesians 1:19 Paul piles term upon term to emphasize that the extraordinary divine force by which Jesus Christ was raised is the same power at work in and through believers
• Some insist that the knowledge in Romans 8:29 is not abstract but is couched in love and mixed with purpose
• Some hold that God not only knew us before we had any knowledge of Him, but that He also knew us, in the sense of choosing us by His grace, before the foundation of the world
• Others believe that Paul in Romans 8:29 refers to the fact that in eternity past God knew those who by faith would become His people
• Predestination in Romans 8:29 is to moral conformity to the likeness of His Son
• The reason God foreknew, predestined and conformed believers to Christ’s likeness is that the Son might hold the position of highest honor in the great family of God
• All rules and titles that can be given include whatever supernatural beings Paul’s contemporaries might conceive of, for in his day many people believed not only in the existence of angels and demons, but also in that of other beings
• Christ is above all other beings
• Like the rabbinic teachers of his day, Paul distinguishes between the present age, which is evil, and the future age when the Messiah will consummate His kingdom and there will be a completely righteous society on earth
• Ultimately it is the Son of Man who rules over everything
• Christ is not only head of the church, but also head over everything

Application:

• Is Christ's power at work in and through you?
• Did God foreknow, predestine and confirm you to Christ's likeness?
• Do you believe that Christ is above all things?
• Is Christ head over you?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible