Useful Bible Studies > Ephesians Commentary > chapter 1
Christians are right to speak much about Christ’s resurrection, the fact that he became alive again after his death. That event proves that Christ has defeated the power of death for all God’s people (1 Corinthians chapter 15).
However, perhaps Christians today are less aware of Christ’s ascension, the fact that he rose from earth to heaven (Acts 1:6-11). There, God the Father gave him the place of greatest honour and authority in heaven, on his (God’s) own right side (Psalm 110). The ‘right hand’ (side) refers to a tradition at great meals. The host would give the place on his right to the person to whom he desired to give the greatest honour. If the host was a king, that place might go to his first son, or to the leader of his army (1 Samuel 20:25). Christ is both the son of God and the leader of heaven’s armies (Revelation 19:11-16). His place, at the right side of God the Father, gives him authority over all things (Philippians 2:9-11).
The first Christians spoke much about the ascension (for example, Acts 2:32-36). The disciples (Christ’s special students) had seen when Christ rose into heaven (Acts 1:9). As Stephen died, he saw Christ in the place of greatest honour in heaven, at God the Father’s side (Acts 7:56).
In that place of honour, Christ prays for God’s people (Hebrews 7:25). God has given him that place to show that he has accepted Christ’s death for them. Therefore, God will save (rescue) his people completely from all their troubles in this world. He is acting powerfully on their behalf because of their relationship with Christ. The fact of Christ’s ascension is therefore very important to Christians.
Next part: Christ rules over all (Ephesians 1:21)
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© 2019, Keith Simons.