Ephesians 1:3-14 Part 3

Review  What is the focus/main point of Ephesians 1:3-14?  Praise/worship of God for his work of salvation  What aspect of the nature of God does Paul emphasize by talking about the work of God in three different sections?  Triune nature of God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit  What is the work of the Father?  He chooses us  He predestines us to be his adopted children  He works all things according to his will/purpose  What is the work of the Son?  He redeems us  He reveals God’s plan to us  He provides an inheritance for us

God the Son’s Work (vss. 7-12)  Jesus has redeemed us (forgiven us) through his blood shed on the cross  Vss. 7-8  Gives wisdom to understand the revelation of God’s will  Vss  Provides an eternal inheritance for those who are united to him by faith  Vss

Wisdom to Understand the Revelation of God’s Will Ephesians 1:8b-10 “in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

The Revelation of God’s Will in Christ  God makes known his eternal plan in Christ.  What is mystery in the Bible?  Something once hidden, but now revealed.  What is this specific mystery?  That Christ will unite all things in heaven and on earth.  Creation, Fall, Redemption (Illustration)

The Revelation of God’s Will in Christ  This uniting of all things takes place because of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.  Not only are human beings saved and delivered, but also the whole creation  Romans 8:19-23  The creation will be restored and made new

Provides an Eternal Inheritance Ephesians 2:11-12 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

We Have an Eternal Inheritance  Again, notice “in him.” The inheritance we have is only because of being in Christ.  As Peter wrote, we have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:4)  What is our inheritance?  Eternal life and all the blessings that go along with that.

Purpose of Having an Inheritance  The praise of his glory!  Same as vs. 6 and vs. 14  God gives as an eternal inheritance and we give him eternal praise.  Paul and the Ephesian believers ”hoped in Christ” and the result of their hope and eternal life would be the praise of God’s glory!

God the Holy Spirit’s Work  Seals the believer  Vs. 13  Guarantees our inheritance  Vs. 14

Seals the Believer Ephesians 1:13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

The Sealing by the Spirit  In the ancient world, “a seal was the mark of ownership and authenticity. It was used for cattle, and even slaves were branded by their masters” (Tony Merida)  The idea of being sealed by the Spirit is two-fold:  We are God’s possession, owned by him. He is our master and Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  We are genuine and authentic believers. The Holy Spirit in our lives reveals that we truly are Christians. (Romans 8:9)

When are we sealed with the Spirit?  When we hear the truth, the gospel, and believe.  Word of truth – this is important to remember in a pluralistic society. The Christian faith is an exclusive faith, meaning that it is either true (and all other religions are false), or it is false (and some other religion is true).  Gospel of your salvation – good news of what Christ has done on your behalf to save you from your sins.  Believed in him – we believe in the living person, Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect life, died an undeserved death, and rose from the grave to reign forevermore.

Guarantees Our Inheritance Ephesians 1:14 “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

Guarantee  This is the idea of a down-payment.  When a down-payment is made, it is made as a guarantee that the rest of the payments will be made in the future.  The Holy Spirit, when He seals us as genuine Christians who belong to the Lord, he guarantees our future inheritance.  How long does this guarantee last?  Until we acquire possession of it.

Question:  If the Holy Spirit guarantees my future salvation, why should I try to obey God in the present, knowing that my future is already secure?  True/genuine believers will WANT to live in a way that is pleasing to God. If you are trying to find loopholes to avoid obeying God, you need to examine yourself and repent.  God assures our salvation AND commands our obedience.  The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which is the guarantee of our salvation, WILL result in a life that pleases God (Galatians 5:22-26; Romans 8:13)

What is the end goal of the Spirit’s Work?  Just as in vs. 6 and vs. 12, after the work of the Father and the Son are described, the goal of the Spirit’s work is “the praise of his glory.”  God’s work of salvation in our lives is intended to bring glory to his own name by revealing his grace towards sinners and his sovereignty in working out his eternal plans.

Ephesians 1:3-14 – Conclusion  Paul, writing from prison, opened this letter with a doxology (praise of God) emphasizing the glory of God revealed in the redemptive work of each person of the Trinity. God chose and predestined; Christ redeemed and revealed; the Spirit sealed and guaranteed. No matter what circumstances the believer may be facing, he or she has sufficient reason to praise God and bless him, for He has certainly blessed the believer!!!