2 Cor 13:3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
2 Cor 13:3 tells us that The Christ which has been given to live within us, is always mighty and powerful in ability. His might and ability becomes a reality in proportion to His revelation.
4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
The Greek further tells us in verse four, that in the same way that a tree lives from its roots as they get nutrients found in the soil, we must live our lives rooted in the power of God, as it is released in proportion to the revelation of Christ.
Philip 3:21 Who shall change our lowly body, that it may be fashioned like his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself.
Another vital treasure dwelling within Christ, and one, which we will refer to in the rest of this study, is “the Christ whom subdues all things to Himself.”
To subdue, is a military term comparable to a general with an army in perfect submission, hierarchy, and order, beneath him.
One of the most important desires of Christ is to subdue all that is not of Him in this military and hierarchical order. The verses immediately below all use the very same Greek word found for the subduing in Philippians 3:21; thus showing a vital part of the mind of God towards us in the finished work of Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1 Corinthians 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power (dominion) of his might (inner strength).
Christ ability to subdue is an absolute necessity for you, since it is the work of Christ to set us free.
Subduing however, can also have a very negative connotation. Dictators, such as Hitler, Castro, and others, focused their whole lives on the subduing of people.
Christ, likewise, focuses much of His work in subduing, but only of things that are evil and harmful to humanity.
In the case of evil dictators, the subduing of people is called dominating, or exercising dominion over them. This evil exercise of dominion accomplishes a power as it is carried out, called the power of dominion or domination, in proportion to the strength of the dictator.
In Eph 6:10 we find this exact principle at work. Translated for us it commands us to be empowered in the Lord and in the domination or dominion exerted by His strength.
This dominion or domination is what gives the Lord the ability to subdue all things unto Himelf.
Are we beginning to get the picture? The revelation of Christ within us, triggered by the law of the cross through our obedience, reveals the Christ who dominates and subdues all, thus setting us free!
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened(dominion) with might (dunamis power) by his Spirit in the inner man;
Greek: That God’s power deposited into your inner man through the Holy Spirit will be seen or translated as Christ’s dominion within you.
The results of this subduing or dominion whisks us right into verse seventeen.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
To dwell, is defined as a inhabitant being in comfortable control of his home, thus allowing him to live in the peace and authority which has been purchased through that control.
Christ desires to dwell in this very fashion within our hearts. He can only do so in believers that fully obey Him, allowing “the Christ that dominates and subdues all evil” to set them free, so that He may dwell and exercise the full authority of the kingdom, through them.
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty( inward strength) power,(outward dominion)
The exceeding greatness of this power is funneled into those who continuously believe. The inward strength of God, which is displayed as His outward dominion, is translated as the exceeding greatness of His power, which is funneled into the believer. This funneling is limited to the continual believing of the Christian, which in turn is defined as the uncompromising moment-by-moment obedience to God’s rhema word.
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
He wrought: This is very powerful!
The Greek perfect tense is used with this verb. As we know, the Greek perfect tense is an accomplished event in history, having an eternal impact.
Which He wrought, can be defined, as the working through, or the accomplishing of something with absolute effectiveness, resulting in its becoming fully operational.
The exceeding greatness of God’s power; the translation of the dominion of the strength found within God, is fully and eternally operational inside the Person of His Son! This very Christ lives within us, beloved!
The effective and full operation of this dominating or subduing power can be proved in that Christ sat down at the right hand of the Father after His resurrection. One who sits down can only do so after conquering all; it is the position of rest.
This is why we always see Christ sitting down in the parables of His kingdom and glory. His sitting down is the result of His absolute victories, thus allowing for the release of His glory through the works of the kingdom
Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Herein is another aspect of God’s dominion fully operational within Christ, in that He was raised FAR IN DISTANCE above all that is opposed to Him.
22 And put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
The full and effective operation of the exceeding greatness of God’s power inside of Christ, is not only witnessed that in all things to Christ, He rose far above them in physical distance, but they are now likewise subdued in a military fashion under His feet.
Finally and most important, THIS VERY CHRIST which has the full operation of the exceeding greatness of God’s power resident within Him, has been given to live within us!
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Greek: Fills all things in all people.
To fill all things in all people, is the fullness of Christ’s revelation, which reveals the Christ who has the full operation of God’s dominating power, which sets us free!
Jose and Mary Alvarez 