The Position of Conquest (Ephesians 1.22)

It has been some time since we’ve done a study in Ephesians. Here are a couple studies you might want to check from this section:

God’s Indescribable Power – four studies from Ephesians 1.19
Christ’s Sitting Position (Ephesians 1.20)
Far Above (Ephesians 1.21a)
The Name (Ephesians 1.21b)

And He put all things under the feet of Jesus, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1.22-23

Paul is describing the overwhelming, indescribable power of God at work in the life of Jesus. He has already said that Jesus was raised from the dead and now sits in a place of power, authority, and intimacy at the right hand of the Father (Ephesians 1.20). Jesus is in a position that is far above and greater than any other power or influence (1.21). And He has a Name that is unlike and greater than any other name (1.21).

Paul then shifts and begins to talk about Christ’s position of conquest.

Position of Conquest

Throughout history, feet are often symbolic. I was at an art museum a couple days ago and there was a statue of a man with his foot on the top of his enemy. More was going on then merely a man wanting to stand atop another person. It was symbolic of his power, control, and authority over him whom he stood upon. Think about pictures you may have seen of Roman emperors or Egyptian Pharaohs – often portrayed with one foot confidently placed upon a nation or another king. The picture suggests that the one who is under the feet has no power over the emperor or Pharaoh. The same is true in our passage.

And He put all things under the feet of Jesus … 

What is the significance of this statement? It is that ALL things are underneath the power, authority, and control of Jesus! What is even more exciting is that the word “things” is not in the original Greek, so a correct translation would read: “And He put all under the feet of Jesus …”

Everything, everywhere, at all times is placed beneath His feet! There is absolutely nothing that is too big or too great in your life or this world that Jesus does not have authority, control, and power over it (which should make sense because He is God). But think about that reality: Jesus has ALL authority, ALL control, ALL power … ALL!

Biblical Pictures

This isn’t the only place where this idea pops up. Look at a few passages:

Psalm 8.6: You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all [things] under his feet…

Psalm 110.1: The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Hebrews 2.7: You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.  You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

Psalm 110 is interesting in referring to the enemies of God as his “footstool.” Do you know what you do with a footstool? You plop your feet on it. There is never a worry or fear that the footstool may one day cause an uprising and overtake you. No, it is merely a place for your feet to rest and relax. Do you not see that every power, influence, and enemy is the footstool of Jesus? He is not concerned about whether the enemy will gain an advantage (they can’t); there is no power or authority greater than Jesus – and so He merely rests His feet on top.

Our Position of Conquest

Now take this idea one stop further. Ephesians 2.1-10 says that if we are found in Christ and our position is IN Him, then we are seated with Him in the heavenly realms at the right hand of the Father. What is going on in the life of Jesus is now going on in us … not because WE have any power or ability, but because we are in Him and He in us. If that is true, then the position of conquest Jesus has is also our position of conquest.

You can see this clearly in our passage. Ephesians 1.22-23 again reads: “And He put all things under the feet of Jesus, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

If Jesus is the head and we are His body, then whose feet does everything come under? Yes, it is the feet of Jesus, but in a spiritual reality, it is also our feet. Everything, ALL, comes beneath our feet! Let me make this clear – it is not underneath your feet because you are special or you have some talent, wisdom, or influence … the ONLY reason everything can come under your feet is because you are IN Christ. When we find ourselves IN Him, then His position becomes ours as well.

The Gospel of Victory

What would happen if you saw this in your life as reality? The Christian life is one of victory, triumph, and freedom! Yet we resign ourselves to continual defeat, depression, and doubt. What if we realized that ALL comes under the feet of Jesus, in fact, His feet are firmly atop as if everything were His footstool. I, as a Christian, am in Him and thereby all things are beneath my feet as well.

I CAN live in freedom. I CAN live in victory. I CAN live the life I’m suppose to live. I CAN have hope. I CAN have purity. I CAN have triumph. Why wouldn’t I want to? But it is ONLY found in Jesus.

Ephesians 6.15 makes an interesting statement. In talking about the armor of God, we discover one of the pieces is “having shod your feet with the gospel of peace.” One simple understanding of “peace” is the removal of all enemy faction. It is a place of absolute victory and triumph. Do you not see that the Gospel we proclaim is one of freedom, victory, triumph, hope, and true life!?!? It is a Gospel that proclaims that you don’t have to keep living the way you are – there is another way – found only in Jesus. It is a Gospel where every enemy we face is in reality beneath the feet of Jesus and we can therefore live in peace and victory because the battle has been won.

What about you? Do you have freedom, victory, and triumph in your everyday life? Do you have peace and hope? Would you find yourself IN Christ and begin to live in a new reality today?

Question: How does seeing Christ’s position of conquest change the reality of your day today? Comment below.