01.13. The Operation of God

The argument which we have been following has been thus far centered in the Epistle to the Ephesians. We pass, for a few minutes, to the Epistle to the Colossians, that we may view from a different standpoint how completely this whole matter of the Authority of the Believer is based on the working of the Father, and how the efficacy of that working depends on the correlated truth of the subjection of Christ to Him. Though coequal with the Father, the Eternal Son accepted a subordinate place, and undertook the task of reconciling, through the blood of His cross, all things unto God (Ephesians 1:20). Having for this purpose yielded Himself under the power of death, He was quickened by "the operation of God" the Father (Ephesians 2:12).

Let us read carefully Ephesians 2:12-15, noting that the working here indicated is all on the part of God the Father. It is He who (Ephesians 2:13) quickened the saints together with Christ and forgave their trespasses. It is He who (Ephesians 2:14) blotted out the adverse decrees of the law, which stood in the way of His people, and nailed the canceled handwriting to the cross of His Son. It is He who (Ephesians 2:15) spoiled lap-ekdusamenoj, completely stripped) the mighty principalities and powers that had opposed the resurrection of the Lord, and led them captive in triumphal procession in Christ. A frequent misunderstanding of this passage is that the Lord Jesus "stripped off" from Himself the clustering powers of darkness overthrowing and putting them to an open shame. But a correct rendering shows clearly that the Agent is God the Father. Of what does He "strip"the powers of the air? Of the authority that had been theirs. Death is the penalty of sin; and when Christ, bearing the burden of the world’s guilt, went down to death, they sought to exercise their ancient prerogative and hold Him under its power. But, in the wisdom of the Father, the yielding of the Righteous One to death discharged the long-established bond of the Law. Exultantly, the Father nailed the cancelled bond to the cross of His Son; then, "stripping" of their authority the discomfited principalities and powers, He handed this authority to His Son. The "show" (triumphal procession), which the apostle figuratively uses, corresponds to the elevation of the Son above His enernies, mentioned in Ephesians.

Thus, in Colossians there is stressed the Father’s working in the active thwarting and overthrowing of the hostile powers, and their subjugation to His Son; while in Ephesians the Son is seen seated above these in all the authority of the Father’s throne. The Authority of the Believer is not taught so fully in Colossians, although the statement is made that, in Him His people are "complete" (literally, made full). That is to say, through union with Him, they partake of ’; the fulness of the Godhead, which is practically another form of `being "blessed with all spiritual blessings."