1:19
“and His incomparably great power for us who believe”. Remember that Paul is writing this letter from a prison cell, this is no airy-fairy flight of fancy. Paul knew what God was achieving through his ministry and what God could achieve through the lives of believers. We need to know that His power is with us. We also need to understand the nature of this power. Remember that this letter will also focus on down to earth practicalities of life, especially in chapter 4 and 5. Just getting on with living life in a godly way, with loving people in a Christlike way, is a battle. It is difficult, but God’s power is for us.
1:19b,20
“that power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when ...” In order for Christ to be raised He had first to die. As Jesus said in John 12:24, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it will not produce fruit. This power is not for an easy life, but one in which we are sharing in Christ’s sufferings. Some focus just on the power, doing away with the sufferings. This is a most unbiblical approach. But it is equally unbiblical to focus on the sufferings without the power. When we suffer with Christ God will achieve things through us. Despite all the forces arrayed against Christ, He was raised up and seated in the heavenly realms at the right hand of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment