Month: December 2020

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Bible Study: Hebrews 5

Day 5

Ephesians 5: 1-33

VV 1-4, 1Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, not coarse testing which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 

Given the positional truths in Ephesians 1-3, we must be imitators of God, walk in love as Christ loved and died for us. Christ gave Himself both as an offering for our sin and a sacrifice to God. We must not involve adultery, immorality, covetousness, doublespeak, and indecent jokes. We must talk about the Lord and be thankful to the Lord. 

VV 5-7, 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

No adulterer, no covetous man, and no idolater will inherit the Kingdom of God. We must not be deceived by empty talkers and have nothing to do with them.

VV 8-11, 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 

We were once darkness, but now we are the light of the world. We must walk as children of light exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law”, Galatians 5:22-23. We must have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. 

VV 12-16, 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time because the days are evil.

When the light of Christ shines, all the secret and shameful things will be exposed and revealed. Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account”. We must be awake and not be asleep or we will miss the blessing. We must walk wisely in the light of Christ. We must use our time wisely, redeeming the time because the days are evil. 

VV 17-21, 17 Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

We must seek God’s will. We must not be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must sing to ourselves and one other, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of praise to the Lord. We must thank God always for all things in Jesus’ name submitting to each other. 1 Thess 5: 16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. 

VV 22-28, 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

The wife should submit to her husband, the husband should love his wife, and both should submit to Christ. The husband should love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave His life for the Church. The husband should sanctify his wife with the word, just as Christ sanctifies the Church with His word. The husband should love his wife as his own body, just as Christ loves the Church as His own body. 

VV 29-33, 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

All Christians are members of Christ’s body, of which Christ is the head. The Church is the bride of Christ. Marriage is for eternity. Paul speaks of the marriage relationship as a great mystery. A man leaves his father and mother in marriage and cleaves to his wife.

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Ephesians

Day 4

Ephesians 4: 1-32, Unity in Diversity

Ephesians 1-3, is the doctrine regarding our position in Christ. Jesus broke down the wall between the Jews and the Gentiles to create a one new man in Christ, the Church.

Ephesians 4-6, is the practical application regarding our walk with Christ, our response to the love and grace of Christ.

VV 1-6, 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Therefore in view of all the positional truths in Ephesians 1-3, Paul implored us to walk worthy of our calling, with humility, lowliness, meekness, patience, tolerance, unity in Spirit and peace. Christians are united in one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God, who is above all, through all and in all.

VV 7-10, 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”, what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Paul quoted from Psalm 68:18, “You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the Lord God might dwell there”. When Jesus died, He descended to hell and preached to the dead. 1 Peter 4:6, “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit”.

VV 11-13, 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Jesus through the Holy Spirit gave to us a diversity of spiritual gifts, apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, and teaching for one single purpose, to build up, mature, edify, and unite the one new man in Christ, the Church.

Romans 12:6-8, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness”.

1 Cor 12: 7-10, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all, for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues”.

VV 14-16, 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Do not be shaken and deceived by every kind of controversial doctrines. Grow up in maturity by speaking the truth in love. Speak the truth, with wisdom, mercy, grace, and love. Christ is the head of the body the Church. We are the different parts of the body joined together with Him, synergistically, in unison, by love. Jesus brought everyone together in love so that all may be built up and edified.

VV 17-19, 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Do not walk as the non-believing Gentiles, who were ignorant of the truth, alienated from God, given over to immorality, their minds darkened, their hearts blinded, and their behavior flawed.

VV 20-24, 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Put off the old man and put on the new man, Jesus Christ. Be renewed in your mind and transformed in your character. Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”.

VV 25-28, 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Do not lie. If you are angry do not sin by losing control. Let your anger be short lived. Deal with it, take it to the Lord in prayer, and resolve it by the same day. Do not give any opportunity to the devil. Do not steal. If you are jobless, get a job, work with your own hand, and help people in need.

VV 29-32, 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

The words that we speak must edify and impart grace to people. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by harbouring bitterness, wrath, anger, demanding, evil speaking, and malicious acts. Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving because Christ died for you and forgave you.

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Ephesians

Day 3

Ephesians 3: 1- 21

Jesus broke down the wall that separated the Jews and the Gentiles creating one new man in Christ, the Church without a wall. This is the mystery of God’s will (Ephesians 1: 9-10) revealed. In Christ, there are no Jews nor Gentiles, no slaves nor free, no male nor female, no Greek nor barbarians, Galatians 3:28.

VV 1-7, 1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles, 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

For ministering to the Gentiles, Paul was in thrown into prison. Paul considered himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, not a prisoner of the Roman Emperor. He was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for dispensing God’s grace to the Gentiles, bringing the Jews and Gentiles together as one new man in Christ, the Church of Christ, the mystery of God’s will revealed by the Holy Spirit. Paul was made a minister to the Gentiles by the grace of God and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

VV 8-13, 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul, the greatest apostle, considered himself the least of all the Christians. Paul was so humble. He knew that he was a sinner and a saint. He was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and murderer of Christians but the Lord saved him. The riches of Christ are inexhaustible and unsearchable. God’s wisdom was revealed to principalities and powers in heavenly places. Paul’s imprisonment was part of God’s big divine plan. Therefore, do not be disheartened or feel sorry for him at his tribulations.

VV 14-19, 14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul said he can pray. There is nothing more important than prayer. Prayer is the best thing you can do for others. When you take the time to pray for others, it will have a great impact on their lives. For this reason, Paul prayed to the Father, through the Son inspired by the Holy Spirit. He prayed that Christ may be at home in our hearts by faith. He prayed for us to be rooted and grounded, firmly stabilized, in love. The width, the height, and the depth of the love of God is the cross. God’s love is long enough to be eternal and broad enough to be inclusive, and deep enough to bring us to heaven. The love of God is limitless and unsurpassable. Philippians 4:7, ”and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

VV 20-21, 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

This is a doxology, benediction, prayer, and promise to claim. If we take the time to pray regularly, persistently, consistently, and by faith, Jesus will do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we can ever imagine or think. Christ is the peace who broke down walls so that even principalities and powers in heavenly places can see it. Today If you are locked in for whatever reasons, you can free yourself in your inner man by praying.

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Ephesians

Day 2

Ephesians 2: 1- 22, One New Man in Christ.

Outline of Ephesians: Ephesians 1-3, doctrine, our position in Christ. Ephesians 4-6, practical application, our walk with Christ.

VV 1-3, 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

”He made alive” in verse 1 is a scribal error not in the original manuscript. We were once dead in trespasses and sins. Trespasses are intentional sins. Sins can be intentional or unintentional. The Greek word for sin is ”hamartia”, which means to miss the target. We were once hopelessly, helpless, and had missed the perfect standard of God. We wandered about aimlessly through life, according to the world’s direction, according to satan’s agenda, according to the flesh, dominated by evil desires and lusts. Romans 6:23, ”the wages of sin is death”. James 1: 14-15, ”but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death’’.

VV 4-7, 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We were once spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. But through grace, Christ who is rich in mercy saved and revived us by dying for us on the cross. Romans 5:8, ”But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Christ loved us to death and died for us when we were in our worst spiritual condition.

VV 8-10, 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Grace is unmerited favor, a gift of God. Salvation is by grace, through faith in Christ, not by works of the law, not by ritual observance, not by temple sacrifice, and not by religious performance. Even the faith that we have is a gift and grace of God. GRACE- God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Boasting is excluded except boasting about Christ. We are God’s workmanship. The Greek word for workmanship is ”poema”, which means poetry. We are God’s poetry, whom He predestined, and preplanned beforehand.

VV 11-13, 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands, 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We were once called uncircumcision by the Jews. We were once without Christ, without God, without hope, without covenant, without connection to Israel but in Christ, we who were once alienated from God were reconciled to Him by the blood of Christ.

VV 14-18, 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Christ, the Prince of Peace, broke down the wall of enmity between the Jews and the Gentiles creating one new man in Christ. The wall between the court of the Gentile and the Holy Place in the Temple separated the Jews from the Gentiles. Christ demolished this wall making the Jews and the Gentiles into one new entity. There is no more division between the Jews and the Gentiles. The Church is the new man, new identity, new entity, and new spiritual body. Jews and Gentiles had access to the same God, same Christ, and same Holy Spirit.

VV 29-22, 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The Gentiles are no longer strangers and aliens, but members of God’s family on earth and citizens of God in heaven. The foundations of the church are the apostles and the prophets and the chief cornerstone is Christ. The Jews built a wall to alienate and isolates the Gentiles. Jesus demolished this wall to make them into one new entity, the church. Galatians 3:28, ”There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus”. The whole world rejoiced when the Berlin wall that separated East and West Germany was demolished in 1989.

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Ephesians

Day 1

Ephesians 1: 1-23.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter when he was under house arrest in Rome around AD 62. According to tradition, Paul wrote 4 prison epistles during this house arrest which are Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, during house arrest in Rome. 

VV 1-2, 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:1 established apostle Paul as the author. In the new testament, every Christian is a saint. Christians are both a saint and a sinner. We are sinners, justified by grace, through faith in Christ, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, through sanctification. In justification, God takes us out of the world. In sanctification, God takes the world out of us. Grace is undeserved, unearned, and unmerited favor. GRACE- God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Christ paid the price for our salvation. Grace, justification, salvation, and sanctification will result in peace. 

VV 3-6, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

We have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly sphere, dimension, or realm. When we worship God, we can step out of this world and enter into the heavenly sphere. This is practicing the presence of God. Please read this short booklet, ”The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence. It is free to download from the internet. God chose us before the world began before we are even born. He presents us holy and blameless before the Father. Jude 24, ”Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy”. According to His will, He predestined and adopted us into His family as His children. We praise Him for making us acceptable to God by His grace. 

VV 7-10, 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, even in Him. 

By grace, Christ redeemed, purchased, and forgave us of sins with His blood. He gave us wisdom and prudence and revealed the mystery of His will. At the preordained time, in His second coming, He will gather all Christians in heaven and on earth to Him and we will all see Him. 

VV 11-14, 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. E13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Christ gave us an inheritance, predestined, predetermined, foreknew, called, justify, and glorify us. Calvinism and Arminianism are both too rigid and dogmatic. Salvation is a combination of Calvinism and Arminianism, not either this or that. Although God predestined us, He will not refuse anyone who comes to Him by choice and free will. God gives us free choice to choose Him. He will not force His will on anyone. This is contrary to His nature. He makes salvation available to everyone. When we are born again, God sealed us with the Holy Spirit as the down payment of our salvation. The down payment is the ernest money, that you pay upfront when you buy a house. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of heaven to Christians when they are born again. 

VV 16-18, 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 

Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians when he heard about their faith and love for God. He prayed for them to continue in wisdom, revelation, knowledge, understanding, enlightenment, and the hope of inheritance of heaven. The resurrection power of God enabled Christ to be seated at God’s right hand, enabled us to believe in Christ, and enabled Christ to triumph over all principalities and power. 

VV 22-23, 22 And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

God put all things under Jesus’ feet and gave Him dominion over all principalities and powers. Christ is the head of His body, the church. Colossians 1:18, ”And He is the head of the body, the church, He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything He might have the supremacy”.