March 23: Living 3:16—Alive with Power

Wiley Richards is a retired professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville.

Exciting times followed Jesus’ followers, especially when He sent out 70 of them to prepare cities He planned to visit (Lk. 10:1). He empowered them to heal the sick among them who received them on His behalf (vv. 8, 9). Upon their return, they reported that even demons were subject to them as they preached in the Name of Jesus (v. 17). Peter performed miracles in the Name of Jesus (Acts 3:6, 7). Signs and wonders characterized the ministry of the early evangelists (Acts 4:30; 14:3; Rom. 15:19). God may grant a new outpouring of such events as the Lord’s second coming draws near, but in the meantime what power is promised believers?

We can begin by noting the power of enlightenment (1:18-21). The unsaved person cannot comprehend the glorious promises offered by God. They include three wonderful insights accompanying the new birth. First, there is the hope of Christ’s calling. It involves the call to salvation as well as the call to Christ’s service. Believers participate in a program of world changing. Second, they gain insight, wonderful glimpses, into the riches of the inheritance in store for God’s saints, the ones made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus. Third, they participate in the exceeding greatness of Christ’s resurrection power. Their lives have been radicalized by the change brought about by faith in Jesus.

One of the most exciting revelations concerns Christ’s enthronement at the right hand of the Father in the heavenlies (v. 20). The Bible lists four spiritual levels which are subject to Christ, as mentioned also in 6:12 in connection with evil forces. (1) The principalities describe princes of high rank. (2) The word power refers to potentates, whereas (3) might and (4) dominion allude to their authority and controlled area. Christ reigns supremely and serenely over all of these. Additionally, He rules every possible name one might mention, both in this age and the one to come.

As though these revelations were not enough, the Bible describes the moment in the heavenlies when all believers will be seated (2:4-9). It treats this astounding future event as having already occurred. Because of His great love for us, God made us alive together with Christ Jesus and seated us in the heavenlies with Him. He purposed to put on display now and forever the exceeding riches of His grace toward us in Christ Jesus. The Bible then reminds us that we were saved by grace through faith in which we could not boast of anything we have done. It is all about what Jesus did for us. He displays before the world the evidence of His workmanship, that is, His beautiful poem addressed to the world. Our mission, then, consists not in the working of miracles but in being evidence of God’s miracle-working power in us.

To accomplish God’s mission for us we have been strengthened (3:16-21). God has not left us to our own devices in fulfilling His purpose because Christ now dwells in us. The Holy Spirit is at work in the inner person, resting and grounding us in love.

In God’s example to the word, the believers gain insight into the love of Christ as they comprehend its width (the world), length (the giving of His Son), the depth (whosoever believes), and height (everlasting life). I am grateful to J. Sidlow Baxter who noted the wonderful way John 3:16 intersects with this passage. The love of Christ is packaged for us in all of its far-reaching dimensions.

As we begin to experience the love of Christ in its uniqueness, it is truly an awareness that passes all human knowledge (v. 19). As a result, God is able to work through us to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think,” according to the power that works in us. In these words we begin to glimpse why God has withdrawn the working of signs and wonders by the church. These would call attention to the preacher rather than to God’s working in the believer.