God’s power is resurrection power

Power is a major theme of this letter. The Ephesians lived in a city where witchcraft abounded, and it was a city where spiritual power resided. And Paul says, No! God has power that is greater, that is working in you: the power of his grace. Paul has a great prayer at the end of chapter 1. He prays that they, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened,  …may know what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe. You know, Christians need to know this today: the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe… that he worked in Jesus when he raised him from the dead  (Ephesians 1:18–20). Paul does not say that God has power for you that is like the power by which he raised Jesus. He says, God has power for you that is the power by which he raised Jesus Christ, and he can raise you up in the newness of life. God has graciously given resurrection power so that we would live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8b): that we would be a redeemed people leading holy lives to the praise of his name.

Now, do you doubt if that is possible? Do you look at yourself and say, How could I ever be changed? How could I lead a redeemed life that is only to the praise of his name? And the answer is by grace, by the power of God that is available to you through Jesus Christ. Paul says at the end of chapter 1: Oh, I pray that you would know it! That you would know the power of grace that is available for you in the Lord Jesus Christ. You say, Oh, it’s impossible, and Jesus says, With man it is impossible; with God all things are possible. His grace is a power at work in our lives.¹

Dr. Richard D. Phillips