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Study of Ephesians 1:13-14

Study of Ephesians 1:13-14

by John Allen · 97 things on Twos

"In Whom"
Jesus Christ
The Creator
The Messiah
The only begotton Son of God
"Ye also trusted"
"Ye"
Saints of Ephesus
Faithful in Christ Jesus
Gentiles predominently
"Also"
As did we who were with Christ, who have seen Christ, who has known Christ.
As did we who first received the Gospel, whose entire purpose since the time of Abraham was to foretell of the coming Messiah.
"Trusted"
Trusted as the Messiah
Trusted as the Saviour
Trusted as the Redeemer
Trusted as the Son of God
"After that ye heard the word of truth"
Whatever the result (we know to be trusting/believing) came after the hearing of the word of truth.
The moving to belief came after the hearing.
The word of truth is the Gospel the…
A hearing requires another to be speaking.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:14-17)
“If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” (Colossians 1:23)
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
Word of Truth
“And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.” (Psalms 119:43)
“By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,” (2 Corinthians 6:7)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18)
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
The word of truth is the Gospel, called the "word" or message of truth, the word of God, etc. The phrase "the word of truth" means "the truth word or message". It was unmixed with Jewish tradition or Gentile philosophy. (Albert Barnes)
The Word [is] always the instrument of the new beginning. (E.W. Bullinger)
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1:23-25)
It is the whole message from God to man, of which the written or spoken word is but one of the channels, and which to those who receive it rightly is the beginning of higher life. (Cambridge Bible)
"The gospel of your salvation"
The true Gospel of Jesus Christ
The need for salvation
The means of Salvation
The way to Salvation (John 14:6)
"In whom also after that ye believed"
A reemphasis of the first.
"Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise"
Seal: "to set a mark upon by the impress of a seal, to stamp"
Cross-References:
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (II Corinthians 1:22)
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19)
"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:14)
The Holy Spirit within the heart of the believer is the seal unto the day of redemption (Eph 4:30).
The seal cannot be broken by man or God.
The mark of a true believer is the Holy Spirit within his heart and on his heart, within his spirit and on his spirit, on his account.
Why the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is God.
They Holy Spirit is indestructable.
Man cannot kill God.
God cannot kill Himself.
It is a promise to every believer to be given the seal, the Holy Spirit, for Him never to be removed.
"Which is the earnest of our inheritance"
Earnest: "money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid"
Cross-references:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8:15-17)
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:23)
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (II Corinthians 1:22)
"Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." (II Corinthians 5:5)
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent for the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father." (Galatians 4:6)
In this context, the Holy Spirit is not only the seal of our Salvation but also the earnest of our salvation.
The Spirit within our hearts (Gal.3:14) is the earnest given by God the Father to the beliver for their inheritance.
Our sin-debt is paid in full by the blood of Christ but we have not yet received our inheritance. What is that inheritance?
"Until the redemption of the purchased possession"
Redemption: "deliverance, liberation procured by the payment of a ransom"
Cross-references:
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)
“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-57)
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
Redemption, as dealt with here, is the full presence of the believer with God, in Heaven.
The presence of body, soul, and spirit as seen in Romans 8:23.
We are redeemed from sin (1:7) but we have not yet been redeemed in the body. We still struggle with the lasting effects of a sin nature, of a sinful condition.
Those who have gone to Heaven before us no longer deal with the sinfulness in their flesh but they have not received their glorified body; they have not yet received the redemption of the body.
The redemption of the body, as believed by Scripture, will take place at the rapture, the resurrection of the saints. It is then that in the twinkling of an eye we shall all be changed (I Corinthians 15:52).
Purchased possession
The redeemed in Christ are the purchased possession of Christ, purchased by His blood.
Cross-references:
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
“Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.” (Psalms 74:2)
“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:10-12)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:14)
“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:12-14)
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” (Revelation 5:9)
"Unto the praise of his glory"
All things are for the glory of God!
Cross-references:
1:7
1:12