Welcome to today’s daily devotional on the “Supremacy of Christ and His Church.” In this devotional, we’ll examine Ephesians 1:22-24, which conveys a potent message and serves as a forceful reminder of Christ’s supreme authority and sovereignty over His church.

Let’s get on this exploration, and together be motivated to live lives that honor our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us get started!

» Saturday, 4th March 2023 | I Stand In The Gap Daily Devotional | God’s Compassion for the Repentant

Yesterday, we shared “God’s Compassion for the Repentant”, and today’s is about “Supremacy of Christ and His Church.”

Anchor verse of the day

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. 

Ephesians 1:22-24 (NKJV)

Our anchor verse of Ephesians 1:22-24 speaks of the supremacy of Christ and His relationship with the church.

In essence, Christ is the ultimate authority and power in the universe, and His church plays a vital role in fulfilling His mission and purpose.

Themes in Ephesians 1:22-24

  • Supremacy of Christ: The verse accentuates Jesus Christ’s absolute authority as the head of the Church. All things are at His feet, and He is greater than all powers and principalities.
  • Church as the Body of Christ: The Church is the body of Christ, not only a group or a structure. Christians are the constituent parts of Christ’s body, the Church, which is headed by Him.
  • Unity of Believers: The passage emphasizes the unity of believers in Christ. Believers collaborate to carry out God’s will because they are unified in purpose and mission as members of His body.
  • Redemption and Inheritance: The text emphasizes the advantages of salvation, atonement, and inheritance that Christians enjoy through faith in Christ. They have an inheritance in Christ because He has purchased them with His blood and sealed them with the Holy Spirit.
  • Authority of the Church: Additionally, the chapter highlights the power that Christ has granted to the Church. The Church, as His body, is tasked with carrying out His work and sharing His message with the rest of the world.

Background to Ephesians 1:22-24

Paul, the author of the book of Ephesians, addressed it to the Ephesian church. Ephesus was a thriving city during the time of writing, serving as a hub for trade, philosophy, and religion.

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, which included both Jewish and Gentile believers, to bolster and train them in their faith.

The authority and power that God has given to Jesus Christ as the head of the church is described in Ephesians 1:22-23. The verse shows the unity of Christ’s followers and the dominance of Christ over all things, both in heaven and on earth.

Similar verses to Ephesians 1:22-24

And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:18 (NKJV)

The supremacy of Christ over the church as its head is emphasized in this verse. It emphasizes that Christ should take precedence in everything since He is the firstborn from the dead, symbolizing His resurrection.

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (NKJV)

As members of His body, the church, believers in Christ are one in this verse. It stresses how the Holy Spirit ties together believers into a single body with Christ as its head.

How to live your life as a Christian based on the supremacy of Christ and His Church

  • The Christian is called to live a life that is centered on Christ and dedicated to strengthening the church.
  • As a result, Christians must respect Christ’s authority and work to realize His plans for the church.
  • This essentially indicates that Christians should put Christ’s relationship first, seeking to get to know Him and following His guidance in all facets of life.
  • Also, they ought to be active members of their neighborhood church, using their skills and abilities to help others and strengthen the body of Christ.
  • They should also make an effort to maintain church unity and fight against any potential split or strife.
  • A deeper level of faith and a dedication to helping others in love is necessary for living in the context of Christ and His church as the central figure in human history.
  • Believers can enjoy the fullness of Christ’s grace and power in their lives by focusing on Him and working to strengthen His body.

Reflection

Our text today highlights the importance of Christ as the foremost figure in the church and the necessity of people submitting to His rule.

We must acknowledge that Christ is the supreme authority in both our own lives and the life of the church. He is the one who controls everything and keeps everything in place.

In order to live our lives in conformity with His teachings, we must surrender to His will.

Also, the text highlights the significance of the church as the body of Christ. The church is a living entity with Christ as its head, rather than just a structure or a group of people. Christ continues to carry out His mission in the world through the church, and it is up to us as Christians to cooperate in achieving this goal.

The foregoing serves as a reminder that the goal of life is to glorify Christ and advance His work in the world.

Let us pray

Our heavenly Father, we praise your holy name, for elevating Christ and His Church to the top position.

Today, we ask God to help us as Christians to remain obedient in strengthening His Church and submitting ourselves to His lordship.

As we navigate this life and work to achieve Your purpose for our lives, we pray for Your wisdom and fortitude.

Help us to hold fast to our faith and to our resolve to serve You with all of our hearts. May Your love and grace never cease to change us and the people around us, and may we never forget that Christ is the head of the Church.

In the steadfast name of Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.