JESUS IS THE EFFULGENCE OF HIS FATHER. As the Son, He is the very brightness of His Father, the shining forth, the complete expression of all the brilliancy of the Glory of the Father. As the Son, He was the EXPRESS IMAGE, perfect likeness, and exact copy of His Father. He bore the very stamp of the nature of His Father. It is Jesus who maintains the order of the universe. He existed before creation and was involved in the same. Now, the preservation of the order of the whole of the universe is in His control. Col. 1:17 It is He, who has purged our sins and brought to us cleansing from all our sin and guilt. Matchless and absolute forgiveness is found in Christ Jesus. Having done the perfect will of His Father, Jesus has been exalted on high and once again situated on the throne of God. Heb. 1:3 When He offered Himself He made an offering for sin which embraced all men, both old and new testament saints. There is no other sacrifice which could possibly bring relief from the guilt of sin. Heb. 7:27 Through His death on the cross He made possible the forgiveness of sin and a knowledge that we possess eternal life, in Him. He is our mediator before His Father, the only true advocate. 1 Tim. 2:5
THAT I MAY KNOW THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION. It is very apparent that the resurrection of Christ from the grave was not just a casual happening. It was a mighty demonstration of the power of the Almighty. It is this power which the Apostle Paul is desirous of knowing and experiencing in his life. Phil. 3:10 That he had succeeded in achieving a great measure of that power in his life, there is no doubt. However his appeal suggests a strong craving for a full and complete knowledge of all that was available in Christ Jesus. The Bride of Christ will know fully and completely the fullness of that resurrection power.
THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER. We do not question the mighty power of the Lord. It is most certainly unlimited. He is absolute power. Jesus said, that ALL power, in two worlds, heaven and earth had bee delivered to Him. Mat. 28:18 There is no power beyond or greater than He. The astonishing thing is that He, who is that power, is making it available to the believer. The same identical miracle, wonder working power which Jesus demonstrated is yours in Christ Jesus. As always, in order for that which is promised to be in operation, there are certain requirements. Goals are only obtainable through much effort and work. In order to attain to the demonstration of the power of the Lord there must be a proper and fitting walk or pattern of a Christlike life. Spiritual fruit is also a divine requirement. Included also, is the strong necessity that there be a constant growth in a knowledge and understanding of the Lord. Something which can only be accomplished by a persistent and concise study of the Word of the Lord. Col. 1:10 The promise to His church is that she shall be strengthened and empowered with ALL MIGHT in the same manner in which Christ received and exercised that GLORIOUS POWER. Col. 1:11