5. GOD IS GRACIOUS IN ALL THINGS. (1:7-12)
Earlier, in Paul’s salutation, we were not only hearing of the faithfulness of the brethren in the Ephesian congregation but also of their (and our) need for God’s rich Grace in our Christian lives. The pastoral care and loving heart of Paul and of the elders for their flock was clear to see in Acts 20. The Gospel Band’s collective pastoral care and concern has focused our understand on the process necessary to plant and maintain a congregation of believers in Christ. We will be learning more about the spiritual growth processes of this congregation as we consider the six or more calls to responsibility in this Epistle.
5.1 TALKING POINTS: GOD REDEEMS THROUGH CHRIST. (1:7)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
Our release from Slavery - Romans 6
Isaiah prophetically announced and later our Lord Himself would read these words: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners…” Redemption is the act of paying the price to free one from captivity. The rather unusual word, “propitiation” is used by John to describe the meeting of the requirement of a Holy God – the satisfaction price –
That this redemption process is not available to the whole world is totally unacceptable to the message of God’s Word. The propitiation (or satisfaction) of God’s divine and equitable Justice in regard to our sin is simply not limited to “our (sins) only, but also is applicable to the whole world.” The benefit of Christ death for mankind is universally available and universally possible by faith in Jesus Christ. The fact that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” -- simply flies in the face of any possible idea that the Gospel invitation is not for all!
5.2 OUR SAVIOR’S RICH GRACE. 1:7b– 8a
“….. according to the riches of his grace
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
5.3 SUMMING UP ALL THINGS IN CHRIST. 1:8b-10 (10 minute) APPLICATION
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
FOR YOUT THOUGHT OR DISCUSSION...
Ask yourself: Just what the mystery of His will is…?
Also ask yourself: How God has made this mystery - the mystery of his will, known?
Could you summarize: What his good pleasure (or kind intention) is?
What Scripture supports your thoughts on the “gathering together in one place? - ?
The message (telios) or purpose of Paul is clear in all that he has said – so far: God is all-wise and He is at this unique time acting through the “insights” of His Divine Wisdom to unfold the mystery of His will. Out of our Heavenly father’s kindness and kind acts He is explaining simply and comforting surely that all things are being finalized – summed – up in the saving work of Christ which all along the Father was overshadowing by His mighty power.
For us, as those who have placed our trust in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord, we too see our whole relationship in Christ coming to a wonderful finality of victory in Jesus, our Saviour and Lord! Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer helps us appreciate how wonderful our own purpose is being brought to a grand summary in Christ. In our new lives in Christ, we as believers become real and active --- “members of Christ’s own Body, as a branch is to a vine so are we to Christ, we are a stone in the building of which Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, we are the sheep of His flock. As believers we are also the Bride of Christ, we are priests in a Kingdom of Priests over which Christ is the High Priest forever, and we are part of the New Creation over which Christ as the Last Adam is Head.
SUMMARY: PREDESTINED TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. 1:11
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
According to the purpose of Him (1:11)… Later, in the Second Chapter, Paul is clear that salvation is from God “by grace” and “through faith” and “not of ourselves.” Thus it is clear that our blessedness: moral and spiritual separation unto Him and our accesses to come before Him has absolutely no relationship to any type of ‘holiness’ or any ‘sense of blamelessness’ that we might attribute to our own good works.
In Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians he emphasizes this truth in Philippians 3:9 “And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.”
Now allow me to speak to those who are already believers, and to those of us who are pastors, as well. When Paul the Apostle was first busy planting the congregations in the city of Ephesus, he reminded the pastors to shepherd the flock of God cautiously and carefully since each one of these dear people were forming the very “body of Christ” – “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” None of us are “just” Christians! No, not at all! We are all, by grace through faith, the redeemed, the purchased, the freed, the liberated prisoners … men and women bought by the very blood of Christ.
The Lord’s redemptive plan is according to His Holy Nature and His Divine Attributes – totally unlimited and ever and forever caring for us … “according then – to the riches of our Saviour’s grace” … our God sets out to lavish on us riches – riches beyond our imagination! Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, one of histories’ greatest fundamental and evangelical theologians – a godly man - truly faithful to the Word of God, outlines “Thirty-three Riches of Grace” or the “thirty-three Divine undertakings in the salvation of the soul.”
I summarise them as:
1. The Father planned and bestowed a new position of blessedness in Christ. Eph. 1:3
2. The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed – bought us out of the slave market. Gal. 5:1
3. By the work of Christ on the cross we were reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20
4. With His own blood Christ paid our purchase price to freedom and eternal life. 1 Jn. 2:2
5. Made-alive (quickened) together with Him, we have been forgiven of all sins. Col. 2:13
6. Joined in Christ death and resurrection we are judged and made alive in Him. Rm 6:8
7. Under Grace we rest in the merits of Christ and are no longer under the Law. Rm 6:14
8. We are now the children of God, born-again or regenerated by the Spirit. Titus 3:5
9. The Adopted – adult heirs of a divine inheritance. Eph. 1:4-5
10. We have been “made accepted in the beloved” able to be in union with Christ. Eph. 1:6
11. Justified and lifted above generosity to enjoy imputed righteousness and peace. Rm 5:1
12. No longer strangers we have now been “brought near” by the blood of Christ. Eph. 2:13
13. We’ve been delivered from Satan’s domain of darkness. Col. 1:13
14. We have been translated or transferred to the kingdom of light. Col. 1:13
15. We are building on our foundation or Rock who is Christ Jesus. 1 Cor. 3:11
16. We are love gifts from the Father to the Son. John 17:2,6,9,11,12,24 & Heb 12:2
17. We have been circumcised – without hands - in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:11; Col 2:11
18. We have been made a Holy and Royal Priesthood. 1 Pet. 2:5, 9
19. We are a Chosen Generation, a Holy Nation, a Peculiar People. 1 Pet. 2:9
20. Our citizenship is in Heaven and the Heavenly Jerusalem. Ph. 3:20; Heb 12:22
21. We are in “the family of faith & the Household of God.” Gal. 6:10, Eph. 2:19
22. We enjoy the unity of the Spirit - within the fellowship of the Saints. Eph. 4:3
23. We are partners in a heavenly association in life & service with Christ. Col 1:27; 3:1
24. Christ is our access – our mediator to God, our Father. Rom. 5:2, 2 Cor 13:14
25. We are objects of His care, peace and comfort. 2 Thess. 2:16-17
26. We’ve been made the inheritance of Christ. Eph. 1:18
27. We’ve been blessed with an incorruptible inheritance. 1 Pet. 1:4
28. We are now made the refracted “light of the Lord” to the world. 2 Cor. 4:6
29. We are vitally united to the Triune God! 1 Th.1:1; Eph. 4:6; Rom. 8:1,9 Jn 14:20
30. We’ve been blessed with ‘the pledge of God’ – the Spirit indwelling us. 2 Cor. 1:22
31. We are guaranteed the blessing of being with Christ when He is Glorified. Col. 3:4
32. We are complete in Christ! Col. 2:9-10
33. We are in possession of every spiritual blessing. Eph. 1:3
It is quite amazing, or rather – at least for me - disturbing – to watch some of the finest evangelical academics seem so fixed on adding information to the Scripture’s text that simply is not to be found in the Scriptures themselves. It might be by defining a technical term, or theological phrase; or possibly by using the pre-existing assumptions of deductive reasoning, rather than by the use of inductive study of God’s Word – letting God’s Word speak for itself. One of the most obvious mistreatments of Scripture is to be found in these verses. When all along Paul was doing nothing more than simply stating that God had intended that they who had placed their hope in Christ would ultimately live their lives (as apostles) to bring (or give testimony – see the Amplified Bible) praise to His Glory.
Paul was not addressing the issue of God’s rights, omnipotence, or how he was the ultimate cause, or if He made His decisions on His omniscience or His foreknowledge. No, he was focusing us on our hope – a sure hope in Christ.
In the blessedness of salvation from sin, slavery and guilt comes a great positive word of encouragement - “we have obtained an inheritance” planned beforehand – an inheritance that we have now and yet will even more fully enjoy and all of this will be ours through our simple faith relationship with Christ (in Him).
By “predestined” the Greek says only this: that we have an inheritance that has had its boundaries or limits marked-out beforehand. The term “counsel” speaks of the intelligent and deliberate decision to reassure God’s children regarding the blessings He, the Lord God, has always planned for them. This THE LORD will do for ALL who BELIEVE in the saving, and keeping, work of His dear Son on the cross, in HIS resurrection victory, in HIS care, and His ongoing mediation for us even now – today! ALL …“unto the praise of His glory.”
NOTES:
Chafer, L. S. Dr., Chafer Systematic Theology, Soteriology, Dallas, Dallas Seminary Press, 1948, (227-233). Listings on Volume Three, pages 234-265
Ironside, Dr. Harry A., In the Heavenlies, Practical Expository Addresses on the Epistle of the Ephesians, New York, Loizeaux Brothers, 1937 /1961, p. 20. In Dr. Ironside’s personal Bible – the marginal notes have handwritten “The Heavenlies our present portion.”
Zodhiates, Spiros, discussion of in what sense God in the Old Testament period: “… passed over the sins previously committed…” The Hebrew Greek Word Study Bible,, Chattanooga, AMG Publishers, 1990, p.1489. Note: Romans 3:25
Zodhiates, Spiros, The Hebrew Greek Word Study Bible, Chattanooga, AMG Publishers, 1990, p.1489., “proorizo” (4309) “to determine or decree beforehand. Ephesians:1:11. It is a word that has caused a great degree of division within the Christian Church as if it attributed to God absolute and capricious determination of who would be saved and who would not. A careful examination of each instance of its occurrence is important. (1.) in 1 Cor 2:7 it has a thing as its object, namesly the wisdom of God. The purpose was our glory which mean our proper recognition of what we were. This is in no way condemnatory. In Acts 4:28, the verb is followed by the inf. ‘Genesthai’ (1096), to be done. Here reference is made to the actions of Herod and Pontious Pilate in regard to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in doing only what knew and permitted them to do. This concerns Jesus Christ and His position in history in that it was not of man but of God. (2.) In Romans 8:29 it is used with a personal object, the relative pron. ‘hous’, whom, in the pl. – This personal pron. Applies also to the previous verb ‘progeno (4267), foreknew. The translation is “Fpr whom he foreknew, He also predestined.” The purpose of this foreordination is expressed in the phrase “to be conformed to the image of His Son.” In Ephesians 1:5 the purpose of the foreordination is the adoption, which means the placing of those who were born of God into their proper position (huiothesia, 5206), from ‘huios’ (5207) which means “Son” in His personal and voluntary conformity to the character of God, and the verb ‘tithemi (5087), to place. This is not condemnatory but rather beneficient for the believer. In v. 11 it is used again and the purpose of it is explained in v. 12 in the inf., “That we should be to the praise of his glory.” (eis to einai, “for the purpose of being”) This purpose is benevolent. Rom. 8:30 is to be explained by v. 29 in which it is clearly stated that this fore ordination was not capricious or an independent concept or complete in itself. It was conjoined with the verb “foreknew.” The important thing for us to consider when this word is used is not who are the objects of this predestination, but what they are predestined to. They are always predestined to salvation, or to glory, etc.” [p. 1870-1871]
6. RELATIONSHIPS by the Spirit Ephesians 1:13
6.1 THE SAVING RELATIONSHIP “IN” CHRIST. 1:13
All that you and I enjoy through the ministry of the Spirit of God we have nonetheless obtained through our relationship “in Christ.” This fact is important in this day when there are Charismatic groups claiming this is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy – a time when the Holy Spirit according their interpretation and their doctrine has ascended to priority and power. We consider this the Age of Grace not the Age of the Spirit, although we do believe the Spirit is given in this period in a new and unique way!
The Biblical principle being taught in Ephesians and many other New Testament Scriptures is simply that there is no work of the Spirit or power or authority made available to us by the Spirit except that which is accomplished through the saving work of Jesus Christ. This work of Christ is both understood as a work He accomplished by 1st., His atoning sacrifice and 2nd., His resurrection power. Then, in keeping His promise the Spirit of God comes into our lives to finalize and secure our saving relationship with and through Christ.
We live in a world that is confused and regrettably much of the Christian world has for so long walked outside of a committed love for God’s Word that they too are confused. Confused? Yes really and truly confused about the Truth, itself and then confused about the Spirit of God, Himself, as well. Are you one who is just too busy to take the time to work through your own spiritual confusion? Are you so preoccupied with the cares of life and maybe with your work? Worried and stressed beyond measure – few people today can concentrate on much of anything – not for long. The reality is that almost any sort of mental diversion and almost any or all form of entertainment is accepted (by most people today) as essential to surviving in our post-modern world!
THE TRUTH? How very sad it is that so few people can be found who believe that the truth can really be known! How regrettable it all is that there are so few people really willing to take the time or effort to pursue the Truth! Housewives are just too preoccupied being “mom’s taxies” and with catering to the whims of their children’s lives – Few Moms really take the time to know the Truth or Him who alone is Truth. Husbands are to a great degree lost in the business of a world of their own. It is common to even find ‘church attending’ Christians so busy with family, work and social life that they too are allowing the demands of life to ‘sideline’ their relationship with the Lord. Work related stress is joined with the many interruptions of school programs, sport and projects and then further filled with regular family holidays until all this pushes-in ahead of the Lord and His Word as a priority in life. Office and factory workers, alike, are caught up in the ‘hum-drum’ of lives that are pressured into a form of thoughtless slavery and these also are too busy with the demands of life to take any real time for the Truth. To think that our generation – possibly the best educated in all of history, has effectively lost our memory of the Truth – the Truth of God’s Word.
Then, of course, with the loss of memory also comes a loss of any real appreciation of Truth’s potential or powerful role in our lives! What is life without God – what life have we found if it is to be a life lived without fellowship with our Creator and Loving Redeemer? Only a life that is facing its problems and finding genuine resolution is living life, as God would have it lived. Peace, Joy, Hope all are founded in God’s grace and our faith but this comes to us only through His Divine Truth! The Truth … this special revelation of God - is the basis for life lived in the very love of God! Only the life that is formed and fashioned by the Word of God can really be called “LIFE, lived to the full!”
THE GOSPEL is the Power of God unto Salvation. As such it is the will of God. The power is in the fact that it is God’s will to save us from our sinful rebellion and disastrous sinfulness. The power is in the decision of God to save and forgive us. Just as He exhibited His power in the creation by speaking – determining or willing – the creation of the world, so too – is His power revealed by His desire to save us. Just as he spoke the light into the world – He by the incarnation of His dear Son in the form of human flesh has by His will brought light again to the darkness of a sinful world. Just as He willed the creation, now too He wills the re-creation, rebirth or regeneration of each one who believes into a new life – in Christ!
But wait, please! Go no further without understanding what is meant by the truth! The truth is not only facts about God, or even just limited to a revelation of His wonderful attributes and holy nature – no, the truth – as it is presented in this verse of Scripture – is Good News – news to be heard and accepted! The truth is not just interesting and certainly not just entertaining, no – not at all! The Truth is the good news about God’s love for you – it is all revealed, centred or focused around one issue – it is YOU!
The Truth of the Word of God is an imperishable seed that communicates life eternal! The Word of God convicts and draws the sinner by revealing the sinfulness of man, the righteousness in Christ and the seriousness of the impending judgment of all who reject Christ. The Word of God reveals the Truth about our Saviour. The Word of God regenerates the believers while it also assures and encourages us to be confident and steadfast in our faith in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. The Word of God is a “laver” – a dedicated ‘bowl of symbolic cleansing’ – cleansing the defilement and purging the believer. God’s wonderful Word is the Truth that works by His Spirit to preserve the believer from sin and error. The Word of God is a “lamp” which gives the believer illumination as we meditate in its Truth. God Himself calls upon us to desire the Word of God and to carefully obey His Holy Word! The Word of God is meant to be the ‘diet” of the believer and by this milk, bread, meat, water and honey we find the strength over discouragement and distress and the discipline in out time of need!
God wants you to know that He loves you. He wants you to know the truth about the extent and degree of His love. He wants you to understand to what great lengths He has gone and to what degrees He has taken this Salvation! The Lord wants you to understand – the great price He has paid to save you, to forgive you, and to bless you! The Truth is not about itself, nor is it limited to just giving us a accurate knowledge about God, no - it is far more! The Truth is the unfolding message of God’s love for you. It was revealed and is written and spoken … to us but primarily FOR US – to His praise and glory!
First we are expected to listen to God’s Word – that means we are to listen to its truth while accepting it as from God Himself. Then “after listening” we are expected to use our soul’s option – to believe! The soul of man is provided a level of competency before God to be truly without excuse. We can choose. We have been offered – as a heavenly blessing – redemption itself. He has bought us back from the bondage to sin but we must accept Him and this blessing of salvation. Then too we have been offered adoption, another legal term and another legal benefit but faith in Christ is still the essential element to benefit from this blessing. It might be helpful to explain that redemption and adoption may be understood as external blessings and the internal blessings would be regeneration and sanctification. These all depend upon God’s forgiveness of our sin.
We are responsible or free to use the liberty of our soul to believe, to trust in God and to adhere to and rely upon Him. “Having also believed” now takes the matter to the next step…
6.2 THE SEALING RELATIONSHIP “IN CHRIST”. 1:13b
Being … “sealed, in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise” is an exciting truth and is certainly reassuring in times of doubt, but there is more than this to consider. Having this “seal” is literally having a life intertwined with the ministry of the Spirit of God in this dispensation of the New Covenant. Being a “New Covenant” believer means being afforded many of the spiritual blessings outlined in Jeremiah 31:31-34. These blessings are outlined in the New Testament Scriptures in Hebrews 8:8-12; 9:15-22 and 10:14-25.
6.3 THE SECURITY OF OUR INHERITANCE. 1:14a
The Father planned and purposed; the Son provided and purchased; the Holy Spirit applied and persuaded. Then, further, the Holy Spirit takes the personal responsibility to be our guarantee until the final day of our eternal redemption when all is, then, complete. Vincent, one of Christianities most famous Greek professors, points out that the idea of a pledge (or earnest) was in times past referred to as “caution money” that was deposited by a purchaser in pledge of a later full payment. One day, the Lord will come – will return in the clouds to Rapture – ‘gather away’ those who make up the body of Christ, in other words – those who are “in Christ.” This will be the final redemption or taking possession of what is His. He has, by His atoning work on the cross, purchased the believer out of the “Market Place” of sin and now we have this additional assurance or “insurance” that He will soon come and take that which is His – I am referring to you, you (that is) who believe and call Him your Lord and Saviour.
Dr. A.J. Gordon, explains the matter of security clearly in his statement that: “If (we were) joined to the Lord by a mere external bond only, the believer might well live in fear of being rent from Him by the strain of fierce temptation. But as transcendently intimate is this relation, that the Holy Spirit even uses Christ and the church as interchangeable terms in the Scriptures. Now it is the human body that shadows forth the divine mystery, “As the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so I Christ. Now ye are the body of Christ and member in particular.” And will Christ permit this body to be dismembered?” … God has … reunited … the body (the Church – believers) … “to Himself, that through this union He may communicate to it that divine life and energy, without which all discipline were utterly futile. The method of Grace is precisely the reverse of the method of legalism. Legalism is holiness in order to obtaining or accomplish union with God; Grace is union with God in order to achieve holiness.”
From a broader study of the Scriptures we understand that the Spirit of God has many ministries – actually involved fully with all that the Trinity or the Godhead are collectively doing to save us from our sin. Specifically, though in this passage the reference goes beyond the Spirit’s work of sealing to that of securing our inheritance. We have many enemies such as the world, the flesh and the devil but we need not fret over enemies recognizing that our God is our pledge of “good faith” – our guarantee. “Later in Ephesians 6: 12 we will see that our inheritance is not only in the heavenlies but in this sphere now in the grasp of Satan and all his hosts. Satan is not in hell; he is operating on the earth, in Los Angeles, in New York – everywhere. He has the seat of authority in the heavenlies, but thank God, he will be cast out of that sphere when the day of Christ’s (demonstrated) power begins.
Being overcomers is a blessing and a responsibility – at the same time. We are enabled by His Grace but called upon by His Word to choose to act obediently and with all self-discipline!
SUMMARY: YOUR REDEMPTION … TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. 1:14b.
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory
Psalm 90:1,2 “Lord God, thou art our refuge for ever and ever. Before the mountains were, and the earth and the world were created, art thou God, from eternity to eternity.” “This ‘God of Eternity’ has called the Ages into existence. From Him issues, as the ‘mystery of His will,’ the decree of creation and redemption. He ‘who accomplishes all things according to the decree (the council and design) of his own free will’ has in Himself determined this design and is therefore not only the Creator of the universe but also “the King of the world periods (ages)” He is the beginning. He is the alpha; for “from Him and through Him are all things.” And if then the end returns again to Him “so that God may be all things in all,” this comes to pass because the end lies in the beginning, the omega in the alpha. “To Him are all things. To Him be glory in eternity! Amen.” Romans 11:36.
We are redeemed, in Christ, and as such are the “overcomers!” Dr. B.H. Carroll explains that “… the word ‘overcometh’ is not limited to one definite transaction, but has a continuous meaning – a sweep beyond a single event. What are its terminals? When does the overcoming commence and where does it end? It commences with justification and ends at the death of the body with complete sanctification of the soul. “He that endureth unto the end shall be saved” – “be thou faithful unto death, and thou shalt receive a crown of life.” John elsewhere supplies the object of the verb. Twice he says: “Ye have overcome the wicked one” ( 1 John 2:13-14). Three times he declares the world as the object to be overcome (1 John 5:4-5). Only those “born of God overcome the world.” Dr Carroll continues his explanation by pointing out that: “The means of overcoming is “the blood of the Lamb.” The instrumentality is faith – “and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4). Satan, his emissaries and the world that lieth in him, must be overcome. By faith the child of God goes on from victory to victory – from grace to grace – from strength to strength – from glory to glory.
We will surely overcome in Christ and reign together with Christ in his Messianic Kingdom – in millennial glory! Then, throughout all eternity we will forever be with the Lord! To the praise of His Glory! Dr. Louis Talbot rightly points out, that: “Such a marvellous revelation of the goodness and greatness of the Love of God is not to be found in any other epistle. What God is doing for saved men and women as described in the Epistle to the Ephesians cannot be excelled.” The Effect is great but the Cause is greater!
“Of Father, Son and Spirit we
Extol the threefold care,
Whose love, whose merit and whose power,
Unite to lift us there.”
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